Event details
AI is already being used across public services, but are governance, workforce skills and safeguards keeping pace?
Our latest survey of public-sector professionals shows that organisations are at very different stages of AI adoption, from informal staff use and experimentation to approved applications and wider implementation. It also highlights some common challenges: staff skills and confidence, data protection, information governance and cybersecurity, and establishing clear organisational policies and governance. Against a backdrop of growing debate about AI safety, safeguards and human control, including recent concerns raised by leaders and researchers within organisations such as Microsoft and Anthropic, this webinar will ask what responsible AI adoption actually means for public-sector organisations in practice.
The conversation will focus on four key challenges:
- How do you turn AI governance into practice? What should effective AI governance look like beyond having a policy? We will explore accountability, practical guardrails, security protocols, ethical guidelines and how organisations can establish clear boundaries around appropriate AI use.
- How do you enable innovation without creating unacceptable risk? Public-sector organisations need space to explore the benefits of AI while protecting sensitive information, maintaining human oversight and managing emerging risks. How can organisations create safe environments for experimentation and determine where stronger controls are needed?
- How do you make responsible AI everyone's responsibility? Governance cannot sit solely with IT, digital or senior leadership. With staff skills and confidence emerging strongly from our survey, we'll consider how organisations can give employees the knowledge and confidence to understand what they should and should not do with AI, recognise its limitations and use it responsibly in their roles.
- How do you know whether AI is actually delivering public value? Implementation is not the end of the process. How should organisations review AI use to determine whether it is improving services and outcomes, reducing administrative burden, saving time or cost, and continuing to operate responsibly? We'll also consider sustainability and environmental impact as part of responsible AI decision-making.
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11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
AI Governance in Practice: Innovate Safely, Use AI Responsibly
AI use is developing rapidly across public services, but organisations are having to balance the opportunities it creates with responsibilities around data, security, ethics, accountability and public trust.
Our survey suggests that many public-sector organisations are still working through these challenges, particularly around staff skills and confidence, data and information governance, cybersecurity, and establishing clear organisational guidance for AI use.
This webinar will provide practical insight to help attendees:
- understand what effective AI governance looks like beyond simply having an AI policy
- identify where appropriate guardrails, accountability and human oversight are needed
- consider how to enable safe experimentation without unnecessarily restricting innovation
- build greater understanding and responsibility for AI use across the workforce
- assess whether AI is delivering meaningful improvements to services, productivity and public value
- consider sustainability and environmental impact as part of responsible AI decision-making
Attendees should leave with a clearer understanding of where their organisation may need to strengthen its approach and the practical questions they should be asking as AI adoption develops.
Tanya Arnold Host Public Sector ExecutiveExperienced TV and Radio presenter and reporter and podcast host, recently gone freelance after many years as staff at the BBC.
Most recently I've presented BBC TV's Rugby League World Cup coverage, and hosted the 5Live Rugby League World Cup podcast. I was also the the pitch side reporter on a number of games including doing the interviews with the victorious wheelchair team for radio. For the women's games I played a key role in bringing together an all female on air team and we got record viewing figures for women's rugby league, which will hopefully prove to be a new platform for the game to build.
Host of the former weekly BBC highlights programme Super League Show.
Sports Reporter and presenter for BBC Look North in Yorkshire, reporting, planning and covering all different sports in the region.
I've covered two Olympic Games and one Commonwealth Games - 2012 was a very big career highlight. I found myself live on BBC1 interviewing Peter Wilson moments after he'd claimed Gold in the shooting.
I've hosted numerous awards ceremonies, conferences and panels, both sporting and non sporting.
I'm always looking for new opportunities to do new things, and challenge myself!
Phillip Brough AI and Data Analyst Trainer Activate Business SchoolPhillip Brough brings approximately 30 years of diverse IT experience to his role as a AI and Data Analytics Trainer. His rich background includes network support, data analytics, management, and lecturing at the university level. Phillip's expertise is underpinned by a comprehensive array of certifications from industry leaders such as CompTIA, Novell, Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Cisco.
He is proficient in a wide range of technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, SQL, Python, Java, Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, Google Looker, and IBM Watson Studio. At Activate Learning since June 2022, Phillip has been instrumental in developing data analytics courses, training senior leaders and consulting for a major car manufacturer- client of ours.
He is passionate about guiding learners through their data analytics journey, witnessing their skill development, and seeing the transformative ‘lightbulb moments’ as they unlock the power of data.
Kiki Clements Head of Delivery Activate Business SchoolBrings over 10 years of work-based learning expertise to her role as Head of Delivery at Activate Learning’s Business School.
With experience across diverse industries including manufacturing, engineering and beyond, she understands current and emerging workforce needs. Kiki specialises in helping organisations assess skills gaps and design learning solutions that enhance performance and capability. Her collaborative approach supports individuals in reaching their potential whilst building cultures of continuous improvement.
She excels in using her combined interpersonal, communication and project management abilities to help organisations assess their skills gaps. Her tailored learning solutions are designed to enhance performance, ROI and organisational capability.
Kim Blanchard Interim Director of Digital Education and AI Activate LearningWith substantial leadership experience in digital strategy, artificial intelligence, instructional design, online pedagogy, and digital accessibility across both Activate Learning and the further education sector. Her portfolio spans AI Governance and policy, online curriculum development, IT service management, project delivery, team leadership, inclusion and accessibility, with a strong focus on aligning digital and AI innovation to organisational priorities and learner outcomes.
She is committed to advancing education through the strategic use of digital technologies, immersive learning, and the innovative, responsible and ethical application of AI through clear governance and risk management. Her approach is firmly human-centred, ensuring that professional judgement, creativity and meaningful relationships remain central, while technology is used to enhance human intelligence and extend educational impact for all. Guided by Activate Learning’s Learning Philosophy, Kim champions approaches that foster growth mindsets, emotional awareness and inclusive practice, supporting high-quality teaching, improved learner well-being, and sustainable innovation across the organisation.