Nicky Stewart

Commercial director, UKCloud

Which tech figurehead do you admire the most?

Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, for architecting the concepts and principles which led to the establishment of GDS, which in turn made the UK government a world leader in digital transformation. Her speeches in the House of Lords are also remarkable for their eloquence and insight.

What's the biggest challenge facing the industry no-one is talking about yet?

Regulation can never keep pace with technology. Industry needs to find a way to ensure technology serves the wider interests of society, rather than serving the sole interests of a few global and unaccountable companies.

If you could invite three famous people to dinner, who would they be?

Dorothy Parker, Frida Khalo and Samuel Pepys.

How has 2017 been for you?

Very busy. Much of 2017 has been taken up with preparing UKCloud for GDPR, and keeping abreast of the emerging thinking.

What's the most extravagant business lunch you've ever had?

My role doesn't really involve extravagant business lunches. I did once go to Paris to meet some people for a business lunch, so if you count the travel, that could be taken as extravagant!

Which global city best matches your personality?

Anywhere in Europe.

What would be your super-hero power?

The power to teleport my family and myself to anywhere in the world, on a whim.

Complete this sentence. The worst thing about our rivals is… I couldn't possibly comment.

What makes you nervous?

Not much. I'm cautious about lots of things, though.

If you could eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

As a student I mostly subsisted on baked potatoes and plain yoghurt. If push came to shove I'd be happy enough with that.

Sum up the channel in three words

Bright, bold, incisive.