Professor Tom Rodden CBE
Non-Executive Director
The MTC Board represents our visionary founding institutions, The University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, and The University of Nottingham as well as industry leaders. They drive innovation and ensure MTC remains at the cutting edge of UK manufacturing advancement.
Professor Tom Rodden is an interdisciplinary researcher who has championed a human centred approach to computing by drawing upon a range of disciplines to understand and tackle the technical, human and societal challenges emerging from people’s interaction with digital technologies.
A Professor of Computing, Professor Rodden is currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor, for Research and Knowledge Exchange at University of Nottingham and sits on the University Executive Board, having responsibility for the university’s research portfolio. He also chairs the university’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) Steering Group, leading its post-REF2021 review and was recently elected as a Main Panel Chair for the REF2029 assessment.
Professor Rodden served as Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) from January 2019 until September 2023, which included providing scientific lead for a range of government digital strategies and providing support for the DCMS sectors during Covid-19.
He served as Deputy Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Deputy Executive Chair between April 2016 to January 2019 with responsibility for research strategy, acting as the UK Research and Innovation lead in both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and e-Infrastructure.
Professor Rodden is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and of Social Sciences and in 2025, was awarded a CBE for services to Science, Technology and Academia.