Professor Mary Aiken

Professor Mary Aiken is a world-leading cyberpsychologist at the forefront of AI, trust and safety. As Professor of Cyberpsychology & Chair of the Department of Cyberpsychology at Capitol Technology University, she examines how intelligent systems shape behaviour, risk and resilience across society. Mary bridges rigorous research with real-world application, advising governments, global tech firms and law enforcement on responsible AI adoption and online harm reduction. A bestselling author, she wrote The Cyber Effect, a Times Book of the Year, which set the agenda for understanding human behaviour in a networked world and continues to inform policy, product design and digital safety strategy.

Mary’s career spans academia, public policy and industry. She has served as Professor of Forensic Cyberpsychology at the University of East London, Academic Advisor to Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and Member of the INTERPOL Global Cybercrime Expert Group. In industry, she is Chief Scientist, Safety Tech at Paladin Capital Group, advancing evidence-based approaches to AI governance and safety technologies. Earlier, Mary directed the CyberPsychology Research Centre at RCSI, co-led a White House research team on “Tech vs Human Trafficking” for the Obama Administration and led Aiken Innovation R&D after senior commercial work as Senior Vice President at Equity Marketing Inc. She has also taught as Adjunct Associate Professor and Adjunct Professor at University College Dublin, shaping the next generation of cyberpsychology and AI safety leaders.

Her contributions have been recognised worldwide. Mary was inducted into the Infosecurity Europe Hall of Fame, appointed Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and Global Fellow of The Wilson Center, and awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin. She has been named among the Top 50 Most Inspiring Women in Technology in Europe, the Top 50 Women in GovTech in the Asia-Pacific region on two occasions and one of the 100 Top Women in STEM. Mary’s perspectives feature widely in the international press, including the Wall Street Journal, the Sunday Times, the Guardian, the New York Post and the New York Times, reflecting her status as a go-to expert on the human impact of AI.

A seasoned keynote speaker, Mary translates cutting-edge research into practical guidance for boards, policy makers and product teams. Popular talks include Cyberpsychology, Human Factors in Cybersecurity, Cyber Behavioural Profiling, Psychology of AI, Active Cyber Defence and Trust & Safety Tech. Drawing on her role as UEL Co-Lead of a €5 million EU Horizon research project into human and technical drivers of cybercrime, and advisory work with the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport on initiatives such as the Online Safety Data Initiative, Mary equips audiences with clear frameworks to anticipate AI-amplified risks, strengthen culture and governance, and build safer digital ecosystems.