Applied mathematics · AI safety · Cardiff, UK

Ioan Barber.
Mathematics for a safer AI future.

A Cardiff mathematician working where AI safety, machine learning, and growth marketing meet. I help people and organisations build things that are careful, effective, and ready for what's next.

MMath
3rd year · Cardiff
VP
AI Safety Society
Founder
AI Safety Hub Wales
Bilingual
English · Welsh
01

About

I'm a third-year MMath student at Cardiff University who believes helping society safely navigate the arrival of transformative AI is one of the defining challenges of our time, and that field-building is one of the highest-leverage ways to help.

I help run the Cardiff University AI Safety Society and I'm founding AI Safety Hub Wales, connecting Welsh businesses with vetted AI safety professionals. Underneath the mission is a solid technical core in mathematical modelling, simulation, and machine learning, plus a performance-marketing background from co-founding a growth agency.

Bilingual in English and Welsh, I lecture and tutor mathematics entirely in Welsh. Whatever the project, I aim for work that's rigorous, honest, and genuinely useful.

Helping society safely navigate the arrival of transformative AI is one of the defining challenges of our time.
My north star
02

Services

Enquire about a service

Tell me what you need and I will come back with whether I can help, a rough scope, and next steps. For maths tutoring specifically, there is a dedicated form further down.

Usually a reply within a day.

Your name, email, phone and message are sent straight to Ioan by email and used only to reply. They are not stored on this site or shared with anyone else.

03

Research & projects

01

Cellular automata × geostatistics

Growing virtual materials: a funded Cardiff project generating realistic microstructures, now extended with neural networks to guide the automata's decision-making.

PythonNeural networksSimulation
View on GitHub ↗
02

Waves in metamaterials

My upcoming Master's individual project (2026–27): applying the Helmholtz equation to model electromagnetic wave scattering through structured 2D and 3D media.

HelmholtzMetamaterialsModelling
03

Ciw: queueing simulation

An open-source Python library for discrete-event simulation of queueing networks. I contributed a feature that lets users pull summary statistics (mean, variance, standard deviation, and range) for any distribution they're using, in a single line.

PythonDiscrete-event simOpen source
View on GitHub ↗
04

Experience & Education

2023–2027

Master of Mathematics (MMath)

Cardiff University · Integrated Master's

Individual project on electromagnetic wave scattering in metamaterials; core training in modelling, operations research, stochastic simulation and machine learning.

2026–Present

Founder

AI Safety Hub Wales

Building the connective body for AI safety across Wales, linking businesses with vetted professionals and creating a talent pipeline into the field.

2026–2027

Vice President (Incoming)

Cardiff University AI Safety Society (AISCU)

Leading operations and outreach; facilitating workshops on AI risk. Selected to represent AISCU at EA Global, New York, October 2026.

Jun–Aug 2026

Summer Research Intern

Cardiff University

Funded project on cellular automata meets geostatistics, now extended with neural networks to guide decision-making.

2026–Present

Co-Founder

Conduit

Performance-marketing agency: paid Meta/Google campaigns, client websites and lead-generation funnels (currently on brief pause).

2025–Present

Mathematics Peer Tutor & Class Lead

Cardiff University

Lecturing modules MA2651 and MA1056 entirely in Welsh, and one-to-one tutoring to build students' problem-solving confidence.

05

Where to find me

I travel through the year for AI-safety and effective-altruism gatherings. If you'll be at any of these, I'd genuinely love to meet. Reach out and we'll find a time.

25–27 Sep 2026
Examination Schools, 75–81 High Street, Oxford, UK

EAGxOxford 2026

Three days of talks, workshops, and one-to-ones with the effective-altruism community. I'll be there across the weekend. Reach out if you'll be in Oxford and want to connect.

Oct 2026
New York City, USA

EA Global: New York

Selected to represent the Cardiff University AI Safety Society. I'll be there across the weekend. Say hi if you're attending.

More events confirmed soon. Drop me a line if you'd like to meet at one.

06

Brands I recommend

PET · SUBSCRIPTION

Butternut Box

Freshly prepared, vet-developed meals for dogs, portioned and delivered to your door. Use my code or link for 50% off your first two boxes.

Shop ↗
BANKING · APP

Monzo

The app-based bank I use day to day: fast signup, clear budgeting, and no fuss. Join through my link for a reward of up to £100.

Some of these are affiliate or referral links. If you sign up through them I may receive a small reward, at no extra cost to you. I only share brands I actually use and rate.

07

Tutoring & mentoring

One-to-one and small-group maths tutoring for A-level, undergraduate, and Master's students, plus academic and career mentoring for people aiming at research or a career in AI safety. Sessions run in English or Welsh. Tell me the level and what you are working towards and I will reply with availability and rates.

Request tutoring or mentoring

For a student under 18, a parent or guardian is welcome to fill this in.

Usually a reply within a day.

Your details are sent straight to Ioan by email and used only to arrange tutoring. They are not stored on this site or shared with anyone else.

08

Introduce a business

If you are building something and looking for early backing, a hands-on collaborator, or an introduction into my network, I would like to hear about it. I take a particular interest in AI, applied mathematics, simulation, and tools that make careful work easier. Early and messy is fine.

Tell me about your business

A few lines is plenty to start. If it looks like a fit I will reply to set up a call.

Read personally by Ioan, usually within a few days.

Your submission is sent straight to Ioan by email and treated as confidential. It is not stored on this site and will not be forwarded without your permission.

Get in touch

Let's work together.

Whether it's AI safety, marketing, automation, or tutoring: book a free 30-minute call, or send a message below and tell me what you need. My full CV is available on request.

Based in Cardiff, UK · usually replies within a day
Send a message

Prefer to write rather than book a slot? Fill this in and it comes straight to my inbox.

Based in Cardiff, UK. Usually a reply within a day.

Your name, email, phone and message are sent straight to Ioan by email and used only to reply. They are not stored on this site or shared with anyone else.

Live tweaks