Leader in UK Public Affairs, Madeleine Hale, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy (UK&I), Dell Technologies, “Ask for forgiveness, not permission”

Mace Magazine | 15th October 2026 | In-House Public Affairs, Westminster Index

From a music degree and Parliament to five years inside the civil service, Madeleine Hale has built a career around taking opportunities and understanding government from within. Dell Technologies’ UK and Ireland policy chief tells The Mace why authenticity, long-term relationships and human judgement remain indispensable in the age of AI.

Madeleine Hale approaches public affairs with a degree of independence that sets her apart. “Ask for forgiveness not permission,” she says — a piece of advice that has shaped her career, particularly when working in and around government, where “sometimes you just need to take a risk and go for something.” That mindset now sits within one of the world’s largest technology companies. Dell Technologies operates across infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity and digital transformation, with public policy spanning both domestic and global priorities. In her role covering the UK and Ireland, Hale works closely with international colleagues on issues such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and wider tech regulation — areas where policy is increasingly interconnected across markets. Her route into the profession was not conventional. “Unusually I did a music degree before venturing in to politics,” she says, before following “a very classic route starting in parliament working for MPs” an...

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