James Levell

James Levell

IT Professional | AI Subject Matter Expert | Ethics Advocate

+41 79 575 22 77
Kirchweg 133, 8102 Oberengstringen
02.10.1994

Career Summary

AI engineer, computer scientist, teacher, Ethics student & scout.

I believe technology should serve people, not the other way around. With an MSc in Computer Science and ongoing studies in Ethics at the University of Lucerne, I sit at the intersection of engineering and responsible AI. I am driven by the question of how machine learning can be made safer, fairer, and more socially accountable, and I bring that perspective into every system I build.

On the practical side, I have spent the last decade shipping production software: NLP pipelines, RAG architectures, Azure OpenAI integrations, and cloud-native applications across Europe. I have led AI adoption at enterprise scale, advised international think-tanks, taught apprentices, and co-authored AI policy for an audit firm. Outside the office I help shape IT strategy for Switzerland's largest youth organisation and play drums in a live band.

2023 Subject Matter Expert & AI Lead at BDO Switzerland, shipped production AI solutions and co-authored the company's AI Policy.
Since 2021 Computer Science Advisor at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies.
Since 2019 Teaching interdisciplinary computer science at ZLI Zurich; SVEB-certified course instructor.
Member of the IT Commission of the Swiss Scout Movement (~50 000 members).

Work Experience

Interests & Volunteering

Scout — IT Commission Member

2021 - Present

Shaping IT for Switzerland's largest youth organization (~50 000 members).

  • Co-authoring and driving the national IT strategy
  • Operating shared platforms, tools and communication channels
  • Drafting the organization's AI usage guidelines

Scout — Regional Leader

2018 - 2023

Led a scout region of seven sections with 500 scouts and 150 leaders.

  • Planned and ran educational camps as certified J+S expert
  • Managed the regional budget and coordinated section leaders
  • Organized large-scale events across sections

Scout — Section Leader

2000 - 2018

Grew from young-scout leader to section head (10 leaders, 60 scouts).

  • Organized weekly activities and camps for children aged 6–11
  • Managed the section budget and mentored new leaders

Drummer

2016 - Present

Drummer, songwriter and cover arranger in a live band.

  • Booking and performing live concerts
  • Handling finances and maintaining the band's website