Jessica Sumner
Research Fellow
Jess holds a Master’s degree from Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs in International Development with concentrations in Intelligence and Diplomacy. Jess has previous experience on issues of security, intelligence, economic research, and foreign policy in Europe and more specifically, the Caucasus region. Having previously interned at the US Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia for the Political Section and the International Rescue Committee in New York, she has worked on a number of issues regarding conflict zones and humanitarian security.
She is currently a consultant for Portulans Institute and has contributed to the Network Readiness Index 2022 and the Global Innovation Index 2022. She works on transforming data to promote sustainable planning that encapsulates citizens rights to health and mobility.
Jess enjoys cycling, making pottery and reading Russian literature.
Languages: English, Russian, French, Portuguese
Beyond a Cold Winter: Assessing transport’s energy efficiency
The transportation sector accounts for a third of Europe’s energy use. With an energy crisis looming ahead, a re-evaluation of the systems that flow through our urban environments is central to transforming energy efficiency.
Caution or Innovation: The drivers of EU and UK AI policy
As artificial intelligence technologies advance, the EU and UK have diverged on their legal, business, and social approaches to regulating AI. With many AI companies conducting business in both markets, they must be meticulous to abide by the stringent laws of the EU while taking advantage of the UK’s innovation-first approach.
Inclusive Innovation: Encouraging Participation in Smart Urbanism
A Smart City approach that catalyses equality and inclusivity and diminishes the perpetuation of existing inequalities is a necessary step in preventing one of the major shortcomings of smart city planning: a lack of inclusion.
Europe’s Clandestine Economy: The Financial Impact of Human Trafficking
Human trafficking in all of its forms significantly hinders both human and economic development. As Europe faces the Covid-19 pandemic, human traffickers may become less of a priority for government officials, creating a more dangerous situation for those who are trafficked.