Staff profile

James Craggs is a doctoral researcher specialising in artificial intelligence governance, regulatory theory, and the legal challenges associated with high-risk machine-learning systems. His research explores how regulatory principles such as accountability, proportionality, and oversight can be meaningfully applied in contexts where AI systems are complex, opaque, and difficult to interpret. 

His PhD focuses on the development of a novel governance framework for assessing the viability of high-risk AI systems in environments characterised by limited interpretability and increasing technical complexity. The research draws on interdisciplinary insights from law, machine learning, and risk management, with a particular focus on bridging the gap between abstract regulatory expectations and practical implementation. 

James’s work builds on prior research undertaken during his LLM by Research at the University of Edinburgh, where he examined approaches to aligning AI systems with evolving regulatory standards. His current research extends this work by exploring how governance and assurance mechanisms can be designed to operate effectively in real-world, high-risk environments. 

Alongside his academic work, James has over 20 years’ experience working at the intersection of financial regulation, artificial intelligence, and risk management. He is currently a Director at Mastercard, with a focus on novel concepts within AI-driven product innovation. Previously, he served as Head of Risk Assessment Model Governance at Deutsche Bank, where he led global AI and machine-learning model governance initiatives and worked closely with regulatory authorities across multiple jurisdictions. 

His professional experience informs his research, particularly in understanding the practical challenges organisations face when seeking to demonstrate compliance, robustness, and accountability in complex AI systems.

James has lectured at Queen Mary University of London and University of Cambridge on both undergraduate and postgraduate taught law modules, covering regulatory frameworks, digital assets, and the governance of artificial intelligence systems, reflecting his broader focus on the intersection of law, regulation, and emerging technologies.