Digitalisation of the Public Sector 2025

John Keegan, Deputy Director, Head of Digital Security at DWP Digital, is transforming how the department protects digital services from cyber threats.

John joined the department as Head of Infrastructure Services in June 2016. Following this he was Head of Production Engineering, establishing an SRE function, before merging this function into Hybrid Cloud Services. John then led a programme to bring in-house hosting and desktop services from managed service providers. Since 2021 John has led the Adaptive Security Programme to improve cyber security controls based on the NIST-CSF (Cyber Security Framework) as well as leading the Digital Security function.

John has established a reputation for being a resourceful, innovative, and highly skilled technical and security leader with over 30 years’ experience in ICT and security; he has built his portfolio from a solid hands-on technical delivery basis through to established business leaders. John holds a range of industry technical certifications including CEng MIET, Cisco CCIE, CISSP and NIST-CSF Practitioner.

Prior to joining DWP Digital, John held various leadership roles within Fujitsu and British Telecom.

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. 

Amrik is an accomplished leader known for his strategic insight and dedication to organisational growth. With 18 years in local government across operational and IT management roles and 16 years in IT leadership, he has consistently focused on enhancing local government and social care.

As Managing Director of the Social Care & Education division at System C, Amrik collaborates closely with customers to deliver high-quality, regulatory-compliant products and services. He leverages technology to reduce back-office costs, optimising budgets for social care and education.

Amrik is particularly passionate about the transformative potential of AI in social care and education, believing it will significantly shape the future, improving efficiency and automating routine tasks.

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.

With over 25 years experience in IT, Paul joined Redcentric in October 2021 as part of the acquisition of Piksel Industry Solutions where he was Managing Director. As CTO, Paul is responsible for driving Redcentric’s technology strategy, both internally and externally by underpinning the solutions we offer to our customers. Paul is a passionate technologist with a keen interest in emerging technologies such as Large Language Models, Low/No-Code solutions as well as developments in established technologies such as data management, machine learning and cloud computing.

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.

Will Plant, Digital Inclusion Lead for Connecting Cambridgeshire. 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, I focus on helping communities and businesses utilise this infrastructure to realise benefits in their lives through digital and technology. We also aim to improve digital skills, literacy, and confidence, and work together with employers and education providers to develop clear pathways into digital and technology roles.