There’s no more fitting an occasion than Safer Internet Day for the Online Responsibility Network (ORN) to host its first panel discussion, in partnership with BIMA, at WPP’s campus in Manchester.
Bringing together industry leaders and voices from across agencies, academia and the trust and safety sector, the event explored how digital trust and online safety can be embedded into products, platforms and governance strategies in the age of AI.
As fast-paced AI development continues to reshape how digital services are built and experienced, the discussion focused on the leadership role agencies and brands play in setting and upholding standards and what a safe, trustworthy digital future looks like in practice.
The session was hosted by Andrea Evans-Bilham (Online Responsibility Network) and Matt Sullivan (BIMA), with distinguished panellists Emily Conyard (Manchester Metropolitan University), Natalia Greene (Resolver) and Paul Spreadbury (WPP).
Emily Conyard, Lecturer in Digital Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University, reflected on how AI-generated content is changing expectations of brands and digital services: “Through my work in both industry and academia, I’ve long been interested in how brands stand out in increasingly noisy digital spaces. As AI content continues to scale, the conversation around digital trust and what we expect from brands is getting more important. I believe there’s no better time to host this event as we’re seeing the themes of online safety and trust play out in real time.”
The conversation also highlighted how online services have become deeply embedded in everyday life; bringing clear benefits, but also new and evolving risks. Natalia Greene, Product Principal in Resolver’s Trust and Safety division, drew on her experience working directly with online harm and risk: “Over the past two decades, online services have blended seamlessly into our daily lives. This has brought immense benefit, but it’s also introduced new risks, especially for children. In my role in Resolver’s Trust and Safety division I see first-hand how online harms continue to evolve and diversify. I am excited to be part of this event because I believe that making online spaces safer has potential to transform the world we live in, and that all industry has a positive part to play to help achieve this.”
A key theme emerging from the discussion was the need for stronger collaboration across the digital ecosystem. Paul Spreadbury, Head of SEO Strategy at WPP, highlighted the role of SEO and content strategy in building trust: “We are now living in an era of AI generated content and misinformation. As an SEO professional it is key that we help brands build a strong digital trust signals, ensuring that their content is trusted by the search engines ahead of other websites which are just creating noise. Being at this event will help me learn more about online safety but also allow me share how brands can create quality content that is trusted by humans and search engines alike.”
Matt Sullivan, Managing Director at BIMA, reinforced the importance of collective responsibility:
“At BIMA, we believe digital trust is built through collaboration, not compliance alone. This event with ORN creates space for open, honest conversation between leaders shaping the future of digital and who understand the responsibility that comes with it.”
The discussion underlined the importance of leadership grounded in sustained collaboration, bringing together organisations of all sizes and backgrounds to share insight, best practice and expertise, and to develop practical responses to shared challenges.
ORN would like to thank WPP MCR for hosting the event in such a fantastic venue, and all those who took part in today’s conversation. This event marks the beginning of an ongoing partnership with BIMA, with further discussions planned to continue addressing the urgent issues surrounding digital trust and online safety.
To find out more about Online Responsibility Network and how to get involved, please contact hello@orn.co.
