Future Leader profile: Oluwole Oyebamiji 

 
Position: DeepMind Academic Fellow at the School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, UK 
 
My journey towards acquiring statistical knowledge can be traced back to growing up in my village, where seemingly mundane activities sparked my curiosity and laid the foundation for my academic pursuits. 
 
Research focus: The theoretical foundations and practical applications of machine learning, data mining, and computational statistics 
 
My research has a broad impact, covering areas such as biology, ecology, and environmental data sciences. Analysing data has been the most enjoyable aspect of my career
 
Leadership philosophy: Leadership is an act of offering direction and guidance to individuals or groups towards set goals and objectives 
 
Outreach activities: Supporting programs that provide more opportunities and empower underrepresented groups in AI and Machine Learning 
 
I am deeply committed to acting as a role model and ambassador who will train the next generation of researchers, especially among the black communities. 
 
Motivations: A natural inclination toward the physical sciences and a strong affinity for mathematics 
 
I could recall my grandmother's method of tasting a small portion from a soup pot to determine if the seasoning was adequate. Similarly, my experiences with palm wine, where a little sip served as a sampling technique to assess the entire bottle's sweetness provided an early introduction to sampling and inference. 
 
Mentors: Prof Chris Robertson, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow; and Prof Neil Edwards, Deptartment of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences  
 
Chris's unwavering patience and understanding served as a beacon of support during challenging times. His belief in my abilities never wavered, and he consistently encouraged and inspired me to persevere with my research studies. Without his guidance and support, I would not have achieved anything significant during my MPhil programme. Similarly, Neil has been very supportive and has provided me with several letters of recommendation, demonstrating his commitment to my success. 
 
Advice to people joining the field: The field of data is constantly evolving, a successful career in data takes time, persistence, diligence and hard work 
 
Hobbies: Listening to news and watching movies