Professor Zena Wood

Zena Wood is an Associate Professor in Digital Economy at the University of Exeter and Director of the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC). Professor Wood’s background is in Computer Science with her research focusing on how value can be derived from datasets that would help understand the impact of digital transformation within the Digital Economy and the Defence sector. She is particularly interested in what can be learnt from other sectors, and the overlap between methods that can be applied to datasets relating to physical and non-physical environments. In 2024, she was recognized part of Digital Leaders 100 in category of AI Expert of the Year, and as one of the TechWoman100.

DDRC comprises a consortium led by the University of Exeter, supported by the Universities of Liverpool and Surrey, and the Digital Catapult. DDRC aims to help Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and the wider UK defence sector, overcome their data and AI related challenges.