Continuing our Get to Know the Team series, we would like to introduce James Haw, our Digital Transformation and Regulation Analyst.
James is an LLD candidate at Stellenbosch University whose work sits at the intersection of law, technology and public policy. His doctoral research explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the nature and organisation of work, and what this means for the future of labour law and labour-market regulation in South Africa.
James is particularly interested in how organisations navigate technological change in ways that are both forward-looking and grounded in real-world impact. His work focuses on the broader social and economic implications of emerging technologies, including their influence on employment, inequality and access to opportunity, as well as how institutions can adapt to these shifts in a thoughtful and sustainable way.
While he sees significant potential for digital technologies to drive innovation and improve outcomes across sectors, James is equally attentive to the challenges that arise when change outpaces governance and organisational readiness. All too often, AI is presented as the ultimate solution but fails to deliver. His interest is in helping organisations adopt technology in a considered and practical way, supporting the people affected by it and delivering meaningful improvements.
In his role at the Policy Innovation Lab, James contributes to projects focused on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and regulatory innovation. His work has included supporting the policy and regulation workstream of South Africa’s Digital Transformation Roadmap, as well as the national pilot of the Identifying Barriers to Investment Tool (iBIT). The tool uses an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot to help businesses communicate the policy barriers affecting their day-to-day operations.
Outside of work and his doctoral research, James enjoys adventure and spending time outdoors. He loves hiking, cycling, swimming and running, and is always keen to explore places less travelled, often with a camera in hand. He is also a self-confessed coffee fanatic.
We are delighted to have James’s legal expertise, policy insight and thoughtful approach to digital transformation on the team.