Sharon Richardson

Sharon Richardson, PhD, serves as the Technical Director and AI Lead at Hoare Lea, focusing on integrating AI capabilities to enhance the built environment and improve people-place experiences, while promoting sustainability as part of Tetra Tech High-Performance Buildings group. Previously, Sharon held the position of Lead Data+AI Strategist for Databricks, assisting senior leadership teams in implementing data-driven innovations. Academic roles include Senior Scientist and Lecturer in Geocomputation at the University of Zurich and Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London. Sharon founded Joining Dots, providing consultancy in digital trends, and held technical architect roles at Capgemini and Microsoft, advising top-tier clients on business productivity technology. Educational background includes a PhD in Cognitive and Socio-Spatial Data Science, an MSc in Smart Cities and Urban Analytics, and a BA in Computer Science and Psychology.