Ofcom has a new telecoms Czar to oversee the regulator’s policing of the telecoms, post, and network sectors.
She is Natalie Black, CBE, a senior civil servant who was the Deputy Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit and an ex- Director of the Internet Harms Unit*, and Director of the Office of Cyber Security. Black was also the UK’s first HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific from 2018 to 2023. Based in Singapore, she led the UK’s trade strategy and operations across the region.
Before joining the Civil Service, she was the Chief of Staff to the Director of Security at London 2012, a management consultant, and a Fulbright scholar at Harvard University. Black will also lead Ofcom’s work on the implications of Artificial Intelligence, overseeing any future regulatory impact for Ofcom, and will be an Executive Member of Ofcom’s Board.
She said: “It is a privilege to be appointed as Group Director, Networks and Communications, and to play a role in ensuring that people get the most out of their networks and services, which are fundamental to opportunity and economic growth. I’m looking forward to working with the talented and expert teams at Ofcom, which are respected around the world.”
Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes added, “I am delighted to welcome Natalie to Ofcom. She brings a wealth of leadership experience from both the UK and abroad, and her expertise in issues ranging from cyber security to online harms will be invaluable. Whether it is championing the interests of consumers or equipping Ofcom for the risks and opportunities brought by AI, I’m confident that Natalie will make a huge contribution to ensuring that communications work for everyone.”
*The Internet Harms Unit (IHU) was established within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to help develop and implement strategies and policies aimed at making the internet a safer place.