Emma Ascroft, Head of Public & Social Policy, Yahoo!
Emma was educated at Edinburgh University and College of Europe, Bruges. She started her career in the European Parliament before becoming a public policy consultant in Brussels, working for 4 years on a range of new media regulation including the Television without Frontiers, Copyright and eCommerce Directives.
On moving back to the UK in 2000, Emma worked for 3½ years at Cable & Wireless leading their UK internet policy strategy. During this time, Emma served on ISPA Council (2001-2003) playing a key role in ISPA’s work on the implementation of the Copyright and eCommerce Directives, the Communications Bill and anti-terrorism legislation. Emma also chaired an advocacy coalition of 18 telecoms operators on the data retention provisions of the ATCS Act throughout 2001-2003, working closely with ISPA.
While at C&W, Emma also served on the Boards of ICRA (2001-2004) and the IWF (2001-2003), chairing the latter’s governance review in 2002/2003.
After leaving C&W in early 2004, Emma joined Ofcom initially working in industry relations and particularly supporting outreach to niche ISPs during the wholesale broadband margin debate and the Telecoms Review. She went on to work in the Strategy and Market Developments group on a range of policy issues including consumer strategy, the nations and regions audit research, international spectrum strategy and the UK Presidency of the EU.
Emma returned to industry in November 2005 to join Yahoo! UK & Ireland as Head of Public & Social Policy where she has responsibility for all public policy matters and Parliamentary and Government relations. The social policy element of this role encompasses abuse management, compliance, product development/launch and related policy discussions including participation in the Home Office Task Force on child protection and the IWF Funding Council.