2024 Public Sector Digital Transformation

Robert is the Director of Transformation at North Yorkshire County Council where he leads the transformation function across the council, responsible for Digital, Data and Technology, Projects, and Customer Services. He previously worked for Local Partnership as a Project Director specialising in Digital Exploitation, UK Government in the delivery of the national broadband programme. Prior to this Robert worked at Yorkshire Forward the regional development agency, focusing on programmes increasing business performance through Supply Chain Development, ICT Exploitation, and Sustainable Development. Currently Robert is Programme Director for the merger of the 8 North Yorkshire councils into a single new council on April 1st 2023. Outside of work, Robert who is a resident of Harrogate is also a trustee of Ripon Workhouse Museum and Solidaritech, as social enterprise responsible for repurposing IT and distributing to asylum seekers and refugees.

Kat Sexton, is currently Head of Function - Product at Birmingham City Council, bringing experience from previous roles at North Northamptonshire Council as Head of Digital and as Service Design Lead at the University of Nottingham. With a robust skill set that includes Training, Management, Project Management and more, Kat Sexton contributes valuable insights to the industry.

Jonathan is a digital specialist at the National Audit Office and has over 20 years' experience of assessing digital and technology programmes in the central government sector, including the management of associated technology risk.

He is a contributing author to numerous NAO reports including Digital transformation in government, Challenges in using data across government, Digital transformation in the NHS and The challenges in implementing digital change.

The UK Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) has recently appointed Craig Suckling as Government Chief Data Officer. The CDDO is part of the UK Cabinet Office and it leads the Government Digital and Data function. He joins from Amazon Web Services (AWS) where he served as Head of Data Strategy – Worldwide. Craig is a Data and AI leader with 20 years of experience partnering with organisations in innovating for the future, developing transformation strategies, navigating change, and generating sustainable growth.

John Laurence Curtis current role is Assistant Director Information and Data Governance and DPO at Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester, his role involves working in Information Security, General Data Protection Regulation, Information management Data governance and DPO. John has previously worked with in both the public and private sector, within the public sector he has had roles such as Director Knowledge and Information Management and SIRO at Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Head of information and knowledge management DPO deputy SIRO Sheffield City Council.

As the Public Sector Lead for UK and Ireland at Hyland, a leading Gartner content services provider, Graham helps public sector organisations achieve their digital transformation goals with innovative and reliable software solutions. Bringing in over 15 years of experience in marketing and sales, working with various channels and partners to create and execute effective go-to-market strategies that align with business and sales targets.

With over 30 years’ experience of working in the public and private sectors, Raj Mack is head of Digital Birmingham, a city-wide partnership which aims to accelerate digital investment and opportunities for both businesses and citizens. Its key areas of focus include; attracting digital infrastructure and investment, improving digital skills and capabilities, and stimulating digital innovation and the smart city activities. As Head, Raj works with local, national and international partners and organisations to shape and influence digital and smart city strategies and policies and is responsible for the delivery of a portfolio of digital projects and programmes ranging from digital infrastructure to innovative and cutting-edge smart projects, activities and applications to support both public services, businesses as well as increasing digital inclusion for citizens.

Helen has been a councillor in Redbridge in east London since 2010. From 2014 she has held several different Cabinet roles starting with Regeneration, Planning and Property and leading on the delivery of the Local Plan. Her current portfolio is Resources and Transformation which encompasses ICT, Digital, Customers, Procurement and more. This has given her an in depth understanding of the scale of the challenges facing the Council and the need for technology and innovation to deliver services to citizens efficiently.

Patrick leads the UK government’s centre of expertise in implementing SaaS ERP platforms. This team was established to support the Shared Services Strategy for Government and provides advice and guidance to departments as they work together to establish five shared service centres based on five single SaaS ERP instances.

Patrick has over 20 years of experience in ERP and Shared Services and 15 years of managing a software development function. He has written four books, covering software development, leadership and project management.

David is CEO of the Cloud Industry Forum, a not-for-profit trade body that champions and helps accelerate the adoption of cloud technology and services.  He is a well-known strategist, keynote speaker and influencer on business transformation using cloud, digital, social, mobile, collaboration, and ERP.  He spent 9 years at IBM followed by senior management and director roles at Interactive, CSI, Cyberaid, Brook Street Computers, DataWorks, Indus and CODA before starting his own consulting businesses.  David is a regular speaker, chair and moderator at technology events, hosts a weekly interview video podcast called TWF!, and a monthly BrightTALK panel show called Digital Transformation in Action.  He has lectured on digital at Henley Business School, and INSEEC.  A regular awards judge, he is passionate about helping organisations navigate the shift to digital successfully so they can do more with less. 

Alison is leading the transformation in data usage which will see ever more integrated data put to effective and safe use across the private and public sectors. She ensures ONS has the right technology and skills to meet its ambitious goals in data analytics and data science and champions safe and secure data sharing for the public good in ONS and beyond.

Previously Alison was Director General of the Government Digital Service leading the organisation through a busy and critical period. And before that, she was Director of Transformation at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

She began her Civil Service career in 1987. She has worked across a range of departments including the Ministry of Defence, HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Her career has seen her enjoy a varied and interesting range of roles, including: spending five years in Saudi Arabia with a UK defence programme; leading the independent review of Royal Family and ministerial air travel; and being responsible for gambling and the National Lottery.

Alex Yoxall is a Digital Inclusion & Engagement Officer for Wigan Council’s Digital Services Team. Alex leads the council’s digital inclusion offer, which comes in the form of the TechMates programme, Tablet Lending Library and National Databank - which all aim to combat the three main pillars of digital exclusion – which are lack of digital skills, no access to a Device and no access to connectivity. Alex also works alongside partners within the council’s Digital Communities Partnership, which sees local groups, organisations and professionals join together regularly to share resources, information and best practice in the fight to bridge the digital divide. Alex’s previous background is within the voluntary sector as an Activities & Engagement Officer, with a focus on working with volunteers to run services that better the local community.

As The Digital Inclusion Lead for Connecting Cambridgeshire, Will’s objective is to help close the digital divide. Connecting Cambridgeshire is a connectivity/infrastructure/digital programme funded by the CPCA to boost better connectivity across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. As the Digital Inclusion Lead, Will’s focus is on helping communities and businesses utilise this infrastructure to realise benefits in their lives through digital and technology, bringing in his experience from his previous role at Westminster City Council as Digital Inclusion Programme Manager.

Sam is currently the Digital Lead for Digital Inclusion and Capabilities at Kent County Council within the Strategy, Policy, Relationships and Corporate Assurance division, heading up the Digital Kent team. As Digital Lead, Sam oversees the digital inclusion agenda across the county – improving digital access, engagement and skills. Working in partnership with all district and borough councils across the county, along with other partners, such as the NHS – Sam has been able to continue to grow and develop the digital programme, to maximise the impact. Previously Sam worked in the private sector, as a Service Manager for a retail group and latterly as Business Consultant for a global brand supporting franchisees.

Karen Snape is Salford City Council’s digital inclusion manager. Her work aims to help Salford become a digital city.  Salford’s “Digital Everyone” is a council led cross-sector collaboration working to create a 100% digitally inclusive city. In which Salford Council want to make sure no one is left behind as digital becomes the way to access services, communicate with organisations and interact with friends and family.

Dan Porter co-founded Scriberia, one of the world's first visual thinking agencies. He is a pioneer of vision mapping; an innovative form of consultancy that uses drawing as a filter for complex information. It enables key stakeholders to reach consensus and alignment at speed, and communicate their vision at scale. Past projects have included vision mapping the Army’s operating model, the digital transformation of the Prison and Probation Service and Defra’s plans for biosecurity at our borders. Scriberia are an approved Crown Commercial Service supplier.