Aaron Maniam

Aaron Maniam is an alumnus of Somerville (PPE 1998) and current Senior Associate, a position equivalent to Senior Research Fellow but for individuals whose contributions lie outside traditional academia.

In 2023, Aaron became Fellow of Practice and Director, Digital Education Transformation at the Blavatnik School of Government. Aaron’s work at the Blavatnik School focuses on issues connecting technology, public policy and public administration. He teaches on the School’s Master of Public Policy and executive education programmes, and convenes its digital “thematic cluster”, bringing together scholarship and practice on digital issues. He co-chairs the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Technology Policy and is a member of the OECD’s Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Futures.

He was previously a senior civil servant in the Singapore government, including being the founding Head of its Centre for Strategic Futures. Most recently, he served as Deputy Secretary (Industry & International) at the Singapore Ministry of Communications & Information, overseeing the ministry’s work in the digital economy, digital literacy and inclusion, and digital diplomacy – with a concurrent cross-government role coordinating Singapore’s strategy in global branding, soft power and public diplomacy.

At Somerville, Aaron will supervise graduate students interested in public policy and development issues. He will support the College’s career guidance programmes, particularly for students keen on government careers. As a trained facilitator of inter-religious dialogue, he will also contribute to the College’s multi-faith chapel programme.