Sarah Rench, MSc, MBA, is the Global AI Security & EMEA Security Leader at Avanade, where she leads teams in designing, building, and securing Data and AI solutions, with expertise spanning building AI systems as well as securing various IoT and cloud-native architectures.
Sarah, is also the Founder & CAIO of RepresentAI, which focuses on AI upskilling and innovation, helping to remove the barriers to AI adoption.
She founded RepresentAI to help women, LGBTQ+ individuals and underrepresented individuals get into AI careers and thrive, through sharing free in person AI and virtual training, AI news, job opportunities, networking events and pushing for a more inclusive workplace and society. Since 2025, they have helped upskill over 1700 individuals in AI, plan to double it by 2026 and each year.
She has more than 14 years of experience across the Data, AI, and cybersecurity sectors, serving in a range of architecture and technical leadership roles. She is also a Databricks Champion/ Certifed Architect, Microsoft Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Anthropic Claude SME.
Her experience spans the design and delivery of data quality platforms, AI and machine learning models, cloud data migration architectures, AI and data security frameworks, ML-driven threat detection systems, insider risk management solutions, and mobile-to-SIEM security integrations. She has also led the implementation and integration of enterprise AI and security technologies across complex environments.
Sarah has worked extensively across the Finance, Legal, and Healthcare sectors, advising C-suite executives and enterprise leaders on Data, AI, and cybersecurity strategy. She partners with business and technology leaders to design and implement secure, scalable AI systems while addressing emerging cyber risks associated with AI adoption and quantum computing advancements.
She frequently presents in the House of Commons & Parliament on Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and importance of Diversity Equity and inclusion. She was also previously a board member of All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI (AI APPG).
She’s won numerous awards, including recently she won the Bupa Everywomen Cyber Security Award 2025 and the European Diversity Awards Inspirational Role Model of the Year 2024 to list just two.
