Natalie Banner

Dr Natalie Banner is Chief Ethics and Engagement Officer at Genomics England, an organisation owned by the UK Government to drive advances in genomic research and medicine, and to support the implementation of genomics in healthcare. Natalie is responsible for helping Genomics England navigate the complex ethical challenges that arise at the intersection of genomic technology and care, and ensuring that the organisation is a trustworthy steward of participants’ data. This includes oversight for research regulatory compliance, extensive public and research participant engagement work, and ensuring the organisation embeds meaningful approaches to equity across its programmes. She previously led the ‘Understanding Patient Data’ initiative based at the Wellcome Trust. Her work combined creating accessible communications, qualitative community engagement, policy and advocacy on issues of trust relating to the use of health data, especially in the development of data-driven technologies. While at Wellcome she also led the research sector Parliamentary advocacy on GDPR as it was being taken up into domestic law. Natalie has a PhD in the Philosophy of psychiatry and her academic practice explored conceptual issues relating to mental capacity and decision-making.