Pushing the boundaries of technology to create positive global impact. Advising organisations on AI that solves real problems.

Dr Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe is an AI leader whose career spans commercial strategy, published research and societal impact, with a track record of building and scaling teams that ship AI with measurable results.

Her extensive commercial experience includes serving as the Chief Data and Technology Officer at Boon, creating a platform that integrates AI, psychology, and human expertise to help organisations make informed decisions in high-stakes situations. In her prior commercial role at Zoopla and Hometrack, Chanuki leveraged machine learning and AI technologies to enhance user experiences and property valuations in the UK property market. Chanuki's commercial experience was first established during her tenure as a commercial data scientist at Channel 4, which laid the groundwork for her subsequent role as the Director of Data Science at Culture Trip. In these capacities, she demonstrated an exceptional ability to translate complex datasets into actionable insights, significantly enhancing business performance through innovative data-driven strategies.

Chanuki is also the co-founder of Beautifulplaces.ai, an initiative born of her deep interest in the connection between environmental aesthetics and human wellbeing. This project extends her doctoral research conducted at the University of Warwick and in partnership with the Alan Turing Institute. There, she delved into the relationship between the visual appeal of our environments and wellbeing, employing large online datasets and advanced deep learning techniques. Beautifulplaces.ai embodies Chanuki's dedication to societal benefit, demonstrating her ability to leverage data science for a broad spectrum of applications, ranging from solving business problems to improving public spaces. Beautifulplaces.ai is creating the world's first high-resolution map of beautiful places. Its iOS and Android apps and data API already serve 40,000+ curated beautiful locations around the world, targeting clients across property and travel.

Her research has received international recognition, with findings highlighted in top publications including the Economist, Wired, The Times, Newsweek, The New York Times and the BBC, cementing her status as a thought-leader in her field. Chanuki is an esteemed speaker, invited to discuss her work at conferences around the world. This includes prestigious events such as the House of Beautiful Business, the Generative AI Summit in London, YOW! in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, the World AI Summit in Amsterdam, The Turing Presents: AI UK, and others, further contributing to the discourse on the vital role of data science in improving human experience.

Chanuki also belongs to Azeem Azhar's Exponential Do, the invite-only community of Exponential View that brings together professionals to think, build and invest in the Exponential Age. Here she co-hosts the human embodiment channel along with Robbie Stamp and Luna Lacey.

Before embarking on her data science career, Chanuki had a successful career in the digital domain, including running her own digital design consultancy in London for over eight years. Her digital career saw her work with leading organisations including the Tate, Design Museum, Dezeen, Zaha Hadid Architects, NESTA, the Gulbenkian Foundation, and the Royal Academy. With professional experience spanning California, New York, and Paris, she has cultivated a rich understanding of digital design's impact on user engagement and business strategy.

Chanuki holds a Data Science PhD from Warwick Business School, University of Warwick (2014–2018), and a Behavioural and Economic Science MSc with Distinction from the University of Warwick (2013–2014).