Launching an AI Champions Network at Wellcome Sanger Institute
How a 19-person volunteer network, clear guardrails, and leadership support made AI adoption practical and safe.
Last week, I launched an AI Champions Network at the Wellcome Sanger Institute: 19 volunteers across teams, all committed to making AI feel practical and safe for colleagues.
Together, we built a clear champion role agreement with scope, time commitment, boundaries, and escalation paths. I also created AI FAQs that covered what is allowed, what is not, and why. Leadership received a briefing on how to support champions without adding pressure, and I led an interactive kick-off where people shared early wins and friction points.
What I am learning
AI adoption needs a feedback loop.
Real use cases surface real questions, and champions help bridge the gap between day-to-day teams and the people shaping guidance, training, and tools.
I will be at TechEx Global (AI and Big Data Expo) at Olympia next week. If you are there, come and say hello.