Areeq joined the Elders in September 2026 as Programme Advisor (Artificial Intelligence). Previously, he worked as a Senior Consultant at the Open Data Institute and as Head of Policy at the Royal Society, working with the world’s leading scientists on policy programmes related to data, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. At 21 years old, he founded WebRoots Democracy, an influential think tank focused on progressive and inclusive technology policy.

Areeq’s work has covered a range of subjects including facial recognition surveillance, disinformation, deepfakes, AI for science, and assistive technologies. He has also worked in the UK Parliament, the UK Civil Service, and KPMG. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Political Science from the University of Birmingham and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from BPP University. Outside of work, Areeq enjoys spending time with his children, cooking, and watching Bollywood films from the 1990s and early 2000s.