With the UK government’s landmark decision to ban social media for under-16s exposing a stark pacing gap between lightning-fast technological development and decades-late legislation, a pressing question emerges: can policymakers truly strike a balance between protecting citizens and fostering innovation, or are national solutions fundamentally toothless against global tech giants?

In this third episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Adham Harker (Senior Associate in Media and Communications Law at Brett Wilson) and Dr Elinor Carmi (Senior Lecturer in Data Politics and Social Justice at City St George's). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive amid an era of profound change, technological disruption, and social transformation, they unpack the complex friction between global digital power and local community sovereignty. From the impassioned community resistance against data centres in Brick Lane to the sobering national security vulnerabilities of sub-surface fibre optic cables in Tower Hamlets, they challenge us to look beneath the surface of our digital metropolis.

Moving beyond the fear of cyber threats, this episode explores the vital, often overlooked roles of digital inclusion, media literacy, and the human workers who quietly maintain our tech infrastructure. By tackling the commercial incentives behind fraudulent advertising and charting a hopeful roadmap towards a safer-by-design technological framework for 2035, this discussion provides a rigorous, cross-sector perspective on ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it.

Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.

This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.  

You can access a transcript of this conversation here.

This is a Research Podcasts production.  

Episode Credits 

Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's

Guests: Elinor Carmi and Adham Harker

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts

Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Kirsty Rutter (Director of Fintech Investment at Lloyds Banking Group) and Professor Keith Pilbeam (Professor of International Economics and Finance at City St George’s). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive during an era of profound economic uncertainty and technological disruption, they unpack the strengths and vulnerabilities of the City as a global financial hub, exploring how it must adapt to maintain its stellar reputation.

From the strategic development of a connected network of regional fintech hubs to the critical challenge of securing domestic scale-up capital, this episode explores the shifting dynamics between traditional banking and rapid fintech disruption. By examining the commercialisation of university research, the infrastructure of artificial intelligence, and the market adaptation driving fintech investment, this discussion provides a rigorous, cross-sector roadmap for ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it.

Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.

This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.  

You can access a transcript of this conversation here.

This is a Research Podcasts production.  

Episode Credits 

Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's

Guests: Keith Pilbeam and Kirsty Rutter

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts

Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inaugural episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Professor Michael Mainelli (Emeritus Professor of Commerce at Gresham College and former Lord Mayor of London) and Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein (President of City St George’s). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive, they challenge traditional definitions of the City of London, moving beyond geographic boundaries to explore the complex networks, systems, and global connections that define a modern powerhouse.

From the strategic role of universities as engines of global connectivity to the unexpected cultural indicators of a thriving tech hub, this episode provides a rigorous, cross-sector roadmap for ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it.

Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.

This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.  

You can access a transcript of this conversation here.

This is a Research Podcasts production.  

Episode Credits 

Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's

Guests: Sir Anthony Finkelstein and Michael Mainelli

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts

Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A City That Works is the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London, designed to answer that very question. Hosted by Diana Beech - Director of The Finsbury Institute and Professor & Assistant Vice-President of Policy & Government Affairs - this series serves as a strategic platform bringing world-leading research, public policy, and corporate practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive.

Across the coming episodes, we will unpack the complex challenges and critical opportunities shaping one of the world's most influential cities, engaging in rigorous conversations with foremost academics, policymakers, practitioners, and thinkers.

Hit follow or subscribe on your preferred podcast platform to join the conversation and ensure you never miss an episode.

Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed today, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.

This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.  

You can access a transcript of this trailer here.

This is a Research Podcasts production.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.