Jonathan William Berry
Summary
Jonathan William Berry, 5th Viscount Camrose, born on 26 February 1970, is a British hereditary peer and Conservative politician. He is a great-grandson of William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, a newspaper publisher, and F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead, a prominent politician. He succeeded to the viscountcy following the death of his father, Adrian Berry, 4th Viscount Camrose, in 2016.
Viscount Camrose attended Durham University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in French and German in 1993. He later completed a Master of Business Administration at Carnegie Mellon University. His professional career began in the business sector, where he held several senior roles, including Head of Organisation Change Management at BP and Managing Principal at Chaucer. He has extensive experience in change management, business strategy, and communications.
In the political arena, Viscount Camrose was elected to the House of Lords in a by-election in March 2022, succeeding Lord Rotherwick. He made his maiden speech on 27 June 2022. In March 2023, he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. As Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, he plays a key role in shaping the UK’s strategy on artificial intelligence and intellectual property. His ministerial portfolio also includes cybersecurity, geospatial data, and the Ordnance Survey. He is currently involved in the legislative processes for the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.
Viscount Camrose is the UK's first Minister for AI and has contributed significantly to discussions on AI safety and regulation. His previous roles include co-chairing the AI in Weapons Systems Committee. Before his ministerial appointment, he worked in management consulting across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, financial services, and manufacturing.
Biography
Jonathan William Berry, 5th Viscount Camrose, born on 26 February 1970, is a British hereditary peer and Conservative politician. He is the son of Adrian Berry, 4th Viscount Camrose, and Marina Beatrice Sulzberger. He is also the great-grandson of the renowned newspaper publisher William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, and the prominent politician F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead.
Viscount Camrose received his early education in the United Kingdom before attending Durham University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French and German in 1993. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued further education in the United States, earning a Master of Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, with a focus on Finance, Operations Research, and eCommerce.
Viscount Camrose began his career at Pfizer, where he held various roles over five years, including Senior Manager of Business Technology for Europe and Canada Medical. During his tenure, he led significant projects, such as the deployment of medical applications and a major Customer Relationship Management initiative across multiple countries.
In 2005, he joined British Petroleum (BP) and rose to become Associate Functional Information Director. His responsibilities included leading investments to enhance IT systems and spearheading organisational change management for BP's IT function. From 2008 to 2010, he served as Head of Organisation Change Management and Head of Communications and Capability for BP's Integrated Supply and Trading division.
Viscount Camrose then moved to the consultancy sector, working for Expressworks International and Chaucer. He held key positions such as Practice Director and Managing Principal, overseeing projects for major clients including Shell. His work included leading change management initiatives and developing strategies to improve business alignment and stakeholder engagement.
In 2010, he founded Camrose Communications Ltd., focusing on employee engagement and change management. His consultancy provided tailored solutions to enhance organisational performance and foster sustainable results.
From 2015 to 2021, Viscount Camrose worked at Expressworks International, initially as a Consulting Partner and later as European Practice Director. His role involved driving business alignment and strategy implementation for Shell’s IT systems across global markets. Subsequently, he became the Managing Principal at Chaucer, where he served until January 2023.
Viscount Camrose’s political career commenced with his election to the House of Lords in a by-election in March 2022, following the retirement of Lord Rotherwick. He delivered his maiden speech in the House on 27 June 2022. In March 2023, he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In this role, he serves as the UK's first Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property, guiding the nation's AI strategy and overseeing matters related to intellectual property, cybersecurity, geospatial data, and the Ordnance Survey.
One of his notable contributions in this role is his involvement in the inaugural AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park, where the UK government announced the establishment of a new AI Safety Institute. This institute is tasked with evaluating frontier AI systems to ensure safety and ethical standards.
In addition to his ministerial duties, Viscount Camrose is actively engaged in legislative processes, taking the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill through the House of Lords. His previous parliamentary work includes co-chairing the AI in Weapons Systems Committee, where he provided significant insights into the ethical implications and operational safety of AI in defence.
Viscount Camrose's diverse career spans various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, financial services, and manufacturing. His extensive experience in management consulting and change management has equipped him with the skills to navigate complex organisational and technological landscapes. His contributions to both the private sector and public service highlight his commitment to advancing the UK's position in technology and innovation.
Vision
Viscount Camrose envisions a time when technical innovation and artificial intelligence take the UK lead on the global stage. In addition to ensuring the development of AI that is ethically responsible, his goal is to establish a dynamic ecosystem that uses technology to address difficult societal problems. He aims to establish the UK as a centre for innovative science and technology, boosting economic growth and raising living standards, by encouraging cooperation between the public and private sectors. He envisions strong legal frameworks that safeguard citizens' interests and allow technology to flourish in a highly competitive global economy.
Recognition and Awards
References
- Jonathan Berry, 5th Viscount Camrose | Wikipedia
- Parliamentary career for Viscount Camrose - MPs and Lords | UK Parliamentary
- Jonathan Berry - Minister for AI and Intellectual Property | LinkedIn
- Lord of the Supercomputers! Britain's AI minister is a hereditary peer | Politico
- Register of Interests for Viscount Camrose - MPs and Lords | UK Parliamentary
- Viscount Camrose Jonathan Berry | London Tech Week
- Why Britain's AI minister isn't a tech bro | Polictic Home
- Jonathan Berry, 5th Viscount Camrose | Wikidata
- Rishi Sunak hands ministerial job to second hereditary peer this year | The National
- UK's new 'world first' laws crack down on smart gadget cyber attacks | ET Cisco
- Lord of the Supercomputers! Britain’s AI minister is a hereditary peer – POLITICO