In October, Hope & May were delighted to join NCVO for their latest Leaders Lunch – a thought-provoking event bringing together charity leaders and sector professionals to explore one of the most important and fast-moving topics of our time: Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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Hosted at the iconic Wolseley in London, the lunch provided an opportunity for open discussion about how AI is being used across the charity sector, and the challenges it presents from a data protection perspective.
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After a warm introduction from NCVO, Hope & May’s CEO, Mark Burnett opened the conversation by examining the risks and responsibilities surrounding AI and personal data. Drawing on recent developments – including the €15 million fine issued to OpenAI for data protection violations – Mark highlighted the importance of transparency, lawful processing, and accountability when using AI tools.
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From there, the conversation flowed into an open forum, with attendees sharing their own experiences and questions. Many organisations are already experimenting with AI – from automating administrative tasks to drafting reports – but there was a shared sense of caution about accuracy, bias, and how personal information is being handled.
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Hope & May also touched on some of the practical data protection concerns emerging around new technologies, such as AI tools taking meeting minutes or summarising conversations, and the reliability of those systems when sensitive data is involved.
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To close, discussion turned to the proposed National ID system and what its introduction could mean for DBS checks and identity verification processes in the future.
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Overall, the Leaders Lunch offered an engaging space for leaders to exchange insights, raise questions, and reflect on how to embrace innovation while maintaining the highest standards of data protection and trust.
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Hope & May would like to thank NCVO for hosting such a valuable conversation – and all the attendees who contributed their experiences and perspectives.
