Victoria Baines's biography
International Women's Day
- Professor of Information Technology at Gresham College
- Former Europol strategist and Facebook Trust and Safety lead
- Frequent media commentator on technology, ethics and geopolitics
Professor Victoria Baines is a recognised authority on online trust, safety, and cybersecurity, known for bridging law enforcement, technology policy, and public debate. Her work sits at the intersection of digital risk, ethics, and geopolitics, shaping how organisations and citizens respond to technological change.
Victoria has held senior roles across global platforms and international policing, including Trust and Safety Manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Facebook, Strategy Lead at Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, and Principal Analyst at the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency. She is Professor of Information Technology at Gresham College, London’s oldest higher education institution, where her public lectures make complex technologies accessible to broad audiences. Her work at Europol produced the iOCTA, Europe's flagship cybercrime threat assessment, and scenario planning projects that later formed the basis of a short film series. As a visiting lecturer at Stanford University, she co-developed the world's first accredited Trust and Safety Engineering course.
Victoria's book Rhetoric of Insecurity draws on two thousand years of political and cultural history to explain why security debates are so emotionally charged and difficult to resolve. She also co-hosts the award-nominated Cyber Warrior Princess podcast and appears regularly on BBC and Sky News, including The Infinite Monkey Cage, Sliced Bread, and Scam Secrets.
Victoria transforms abstract digital threats into concrete risk management strategies, showing leaders how to protect their organisations whilst maintaining public trust. She is an experienced event host, moderator, and MC, bringing structure and insight to discussions on technology, ethics, and geopolitics. Her interactive, talk show-style sessions bring current tech controversies to life through examples from the past, present, and future.
Audiences learn practical frameworks for evaluating emerging technologies, recognise manipulation tactics in security messaging, and gain tools for building more inclusive, safer digital environments. Victoria delivers interactive sessions that connect historical patterns with current controversies and future scenarios, making complex topics accessible for a range of audiences.
Book Victoria to bring clarity, insight, and informed debate to the most urgent questions shaping our digital future.
Victoria's showreel and videos
Topics, sessions and talks
Victoria Baines explores the often exaggerated portrayals of cyber threats, such as faceless hackers and rogue technology. She examines their real impact on personal safety and organisational security. Baines advocates for empowering individuals to safeguard themselves and addresses the human aspects of cybersecurity. Attendees will learn how to rethink security narratives and adopt innovative approaches to enhance personal and organisational protection against cyber threats.
Cyber Crime and Cyber Threats
Victoria Baines will discuss the implications of end-to-end encryption in her talk on cyber crime and cyber threats. As messaging apps increasingly adopt this protocol, messages remain unreadable in transit, posing challenges for governments seeking access for criminal investigations. Baines will explore the ongoing debate surrounding online surveillance and privacy, highlighting how some governments exploit workarounds to access encrypted communications. Attendees will gain insights into the future of digital privacy and the balance between security and individual rights.
The Next 50 Years of Tech
Victoria Baines invites attendees to embark on a journey through the future of technology, exploring how innovations like Artificial Intelligence, extended reality, and quantum computing will shape our lives over the next fifty years. By drawing on science fiction techniques, she will discuss the convergence of these technologies, the opportunities and challenges they present, and the importance of embracing disruption. Participants will gain insights into the future of jobs, healthcare, and governance in an increasingly digital world.
Cyberdiplomacy: Who Owns the Internet?
Victoria Baines examines how the global Internet challenges state sovereignty over citizens' access to information and expression. She discusses the ways governments restrict internet access for political and security reasons, despite much of the infrastructure being beyond their control. Attendees will gain insights into the dynamics of online regulation and the future of digital interactions in an increasingly interconnected world.
Defeating Digital Viruses: Lessons from the Pandemic
Victoria Baines will discuss how the public health framework used during the COVID pandemic can be applied to enhance online safety and security. She will draw parallels between the measures taken to combat physical viruses—such as handwashing and social distancing—and the need for similar strategies to protect against digital threats. Attendees will learn innovative approaches to safeguarding themselves and others in the online realm, fostering a culture of digital hygiene.
Why we recommend booking Victoria
Victoria Baines brings unmatched expertise in online trust, safety, and cybersecurity, making complex digital risks clear and actionable for any audience. Book Victoria to empower your organisation with practical strategies and fresh perspectives on the challenges shaping our digital world.
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