Jessica Dowdall

Jessica Dowdall is Head of Data Operations at the BBC, where she leads a diverse team and the delivery of the organisation’s enterprise data strategy. Her focus is on building strong data foundations and driving value through trusted, accessible data that supports both storytelling and decision-making, while enabling the BBC to harness the opportunities of AI responsibly and effectively.

With more than a decade of experience across cloud, data, and media, Jessica has worked at the intersection of technology and transformation, including at Amazon Web Services, where she partnered with leading media organisations to modernise and scale their data capabilities. She also contributed to talent development initiatives with Rise Women in Broadcast and the Rise Academy Summer School at her time at AWS.
Beyond her role at the BBC, Jessica is Co-Chair of the Women in STEM network, mentors underrepresented talent and contributes to wider education and industry initiatives as a member of the Technology Connected AI Council and a Board member of Cardiff University’s Data Science Academy. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and about creating future-ready learning opportunities that support talent at every stage of their careers.