The Oxford Internet Institute (OII) is pleased to announce Dr Scott A. Hale has been appointed as its next Director, and Dr Kathryn Eccles as Deputy Director. They will take up their roles in January 2026, following the conclusion of Dr Victoria Nash’s tenure as Director in December 2025.
Leadership roles at the OII typically follow three-year tenures, as part of the Institute’s collaborative model of governance.
Dr Scott A. Hale is Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the OII, where he leads the Equitable Access to Quality Information Lab. His research combines computational and social science methods to explore how digital technologies, from social media and large language models to algorithmic systems, shape society. His work focuses on misinformation, collective action, and multilingual communication, helping ensure digital tools serve diverse communities.
Dr Kathryn Eccles is Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the OII, and co-leads the Culture, Creativity and Technology Research Group with Dr Robert Prey. Her work explores the intersection of digital technology, culture, and heritage; in particular, how technologies such as AR, XR, and AI can enhance engagement with museum collections and cultural heritage. She has collaborated with a wide range of cultural organisations, including English Heritage, the National Trust, and Oxford University Museums.
During her time as Director, Dr Victoria (Vicki) Nash has strengthened the OII’s collaborative community at the OII, championed the Institute’s distinctive multidisciplinary approach to research, and deepened engagement with policymakers and practitioners. Under her leadership, the OII has continued to deliver world-class research with impact.
Dr Hale commented: “I am honoured to take on the role of Director at the OII. I look forward to working with our community to build on the great work done in recent years under Vicki’s leadership, and to advance research that explores the evolving relationship between technology and society.”
Conrad Young, Chair of the OII Advisory Board, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Scott and Kathryn to the OII’s leadership. We also wish to recognise Vicki’s outstanding contribution as Director. This planned transition combines continuity with fresh perspectives to guide the OII’s future.”
Watch Dr Hale reflecting on his appointment as Director in a new video.
Watch Dr Eccles sharing her thoughts in a new video about her appointment as Deputy Director.
About the Oxford Internet Institute
The Oxford Internet Institute (OII) has been at the forefront of exploring the human impact of emerging technologies for 25 years. As a multidisciplinary research and teaching department, we bring together scholars and students from diverse fields to examine the opportunities and challenges posed by transformative innovations such as artificial intelligence, large language models, machine learning, digital platforms, and autonomous agents.
Associate Professor, Senior Research Fellow
Dr Scott A. Hale is an Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow. He develops and applies computer science techniques to the social sciences focusing on increasing equitable access to quality information.
Associate Professor, Senior Research Fellow
Kathryn Eccles has research interests in the impact of new technologies on Humanities scholarship, and the re-organisation of cultural heritage and higher education in the digital world.
Director, Associate Professor, Senior Policy Fellow
Victoria Nash is the OII's Director and a Senior Policy Fellow. Her research focuses on the opportunities and risks experienced by children using digital technologies; she also leads OII engagement on Internet regulation and digital policy issues.
Advisory Board Chair, Visiting Policy Fellow
Conrad is an independent consultant with over 30 years’ experience in tax technology and the digitalisation of fiscal systems.
The Digital Good Network (DGN) delivers an interdisciplinary, social science-led research programme centred on the urgent, neglected question of what the digital good should look like and how it can be achieved.
