Code of Conduct

AI Strategy & Practice
Safe Intelligence Ltd, One Lyric Square, Hammersmith, London W6 0NB
Contact Steven Willmott at steve@safeintelligence.ai

AI Strategy & Practice brings together people with different roles, experiences and perspectives to discuss how AI can be used successfully. We want everyone to feel welcome, participate confidently and enjoy the conference.
Professional curiosity, thoughtful questions and constructive disagreement are central to the event. We ask everyone to help create an environment where people can exchange ideas openly and treat one another with courtesy and respect.

Who the Code applies to

This Code applies to attendees, speakers, panellists, chairs, sponsors, exhibitors, organisers, staff, volunteers and event suppliers. It covers conference sessions, breaks, the drinks reception and official event communications and online channels.

The same expectations apply to everyone, regardless of role, seniority or relationship with the organiser.
Participating respectfully

Please:
•    Treat people with courtesy. Respect different backgrounds, identities, disabilities, communication styles and levels of experience. Avoid assumptions about someone’s knowledge, responsibilities or ability to contribute.
•    Make room for others. Listen, allow people to finish, share discussion time and help colleagues join conversations. Respect reasonable requests for assistance or adjustments.
•    Discuss ideas constructively. Good-faith disagreement, critical questions and challenges to evidence or assumptions are welcome. Direct criticism at the argument or work being discussed and express it professionally.
•    Respect personal boundaries. Accept when someone declines a conversation, invitation, photograph or exchange of contact details. Stop behaviour you are told is unwelcome.
•    Keep networking considerate. Introduce your work and make connections without pressuring people to engage, disclose information or accept repeated approaches.
•    Follow reasonable event instructions. Respect chairing, timekeeping, venue rules and safety directions. Keep access routes clear and take care around other people’s belongings and equipment.
These expectations continue during the drinks reception. Drinking alcohol does not excuse inappropriate conduct. People should feel equally welcome whether or not they drink.

Behaviour that is unacceptable

We do not accept:

•    Harassment, bullying, discrimination or demeaning treatment, including conduct connected with someone’s background, identity, disability or other personal characteristic.
•    Threats, intimidation, violence, personal abuse or deliberately making someone feel unsafe.
•    Unwanted sexual attention, sexual comments directed at someone, inappropriate physical contact or intrusive questions about their personal life.
•    Persistent unwanted approaches or solicitation, including for business, recruitment or social contact.
•    Intrusive photography, deliberately disregarding someone’s stated photography preference, or sharing images or personal information to embarrass, intimidate or target them.
•    Deliberate disruption of sessions or other participants’ ability to take part, including repeatedly ignoring reasonable instructions from a chair or organiser.
•    Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern, supports another person or assists with a report.

 

The organiser neither prohibits nor encourages personal recordings by audience members. The expectations of respectful conduct and respect for others’ rights continue to apply. Our own photography arrangements are explained in the Photography and Publicity Notice at [PHOTOGRAPHY_NOTICE_URL].

 

Getting help or reporting a concern

You can report something that happened to you, something you witnessed or a concern about another participant. You do not need to confront anyone, ask them to stop or gather complete evidence before seeking help.
Contact Steven Willmott at steve@safeintelligence.ai, speak to an organiser, or use 07440 454150 for help on the day. You may instead contact Alessio Lomuscio alessio@safeintelligence.ai including if your concern involves the main contact.

For immediate danger or a medical emergency, alert venue staff and call 999 where needed. Email may not be read immediately.

Tell us what you can about what happened, where and when it happened, who was involved and any immediate help you need. We can help you explain the concern, and you may have a colleague or other support person with you. Reports can also be made after the event.

How we handle concerns

We will listen, take concerns seriously and consider the circumstances fairly. We will handle reports privately and share information only with people who need it to assess the concern, provide support, protect safety or meet legal obligations. This may include relevant organisers, venue staff, advisers or authorities.
We cannot promise absolute confidentiality. Where practicable, we will explain any necessary sharing and take the reporting person’s preferences into account.

An organiser directly involved in a concern should not decide its outcome. We will involve the alternative contact or another appropriate person. Where appropriate, we will seek relevant information and give the person whose behaviour is questioned a fair opportunity to respond.

We will consider context, impact, seriousness and any continuing risk. We will distinguish constructive professional disagreement from conduct that breaches this Code.

Our response

Our response will be proportionate to the circumstances. It may include offering support, clarifying expectations, asking someone to stop particular behaviour, giving a warning, changing participation arrangements, pausing a session or requiring someone to leave.

We may act immediately to protect people or address serious conduct; a warning is not required before such action. We may involve venue security or external authorities where appropriate.

We will explain decisions to those involved as far as we reasonably can while respecting others’ privacy. Anyone seeking a review may contact Jovanca or the alternative reporting contact. Any question about fees or refunds will be considered separately under the applicable terms and legal rights.

Thank you for helping make AI Strategy & Practice a welcoming, useful and professional event for everyone.

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