Building the Smarter State

Thomas Beautyman

Lead for Government Digital Capability, Cabinet Office

No bio provided

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Theo Blackwell

Chief Digital Officer for London, Mayor of London

Appointed in 2017 as London's first Chief Digital Officer, Theo leads on London-wide digital transformation, data and smart city initiatives at City Hall.
His role involves:
•    Strategic leadership on the digital transformation agenda for London's public services, across the GLA group and the wider public sector.
•    Convening on behalf of the Mayor, across London local government to support the take-up of innovative, technology, and data-led approaches to service delivery and public engagement.
•    Developing and promoting partnership between the public, private and community sectors to enable and support the development of new public service-oriented technology and innovation.
The new Smarter London Together Roadmap launched by Mayor Sadiq Khan in June 2018, is supporting the collective capabilities of the city through citizen-centred design, data-sharing, smart infrastructure, digital skills and collaboration. Progress can be followed on the Smarter London Together Report Card.
 

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Simon Bourne

Chief Digital, Data, and Technology Officer, Home Office

Simon joined the Home Office in September 2020 and is the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO). Prior to joining the Home Office, Simon spent six years as the Chief Information Officer for the Co-op Group. He has over 30 years of experience of digital and technology leadership roles, working in both financial services and retail sectors.

As the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO), Simon is accountable 
for the delivery of digital, data and technology solutions that support the department’s current operations and future business transformation programmes.  These cover both core Home Office operations as well as delivery of national law enforcement capabilities.  

Simon gained a Masters in Mathematics from Cambridge University. He is married with two children and lives in West Yorkshire.
 

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Karl Hoods

Chief Digital and Information Officer, BEIS

Karl is an experienced Chief Information Officer (CIO) and has worked in the private, public and third sectors. He is currently Chief Digital and Information Officer at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) where he is responsible for the delivery of core services, digital transformation, innovation, knowledge management and shared services. In addition he is SRO for the cross government technology interoperability agenda. 
 
Prior to joining BEIS Karl was CIO for Save the Children where he was responsible for the delivery of technology and digital services to support humanitarian, policy, advocacy and fundraising activities. He has also held business technology leadership roles with web and sports media startups and led major change programmes for publishing leaders TSO.  His career in startups fostered his interest in how emerging technology can be applied to business problems.  
 
Outside of work Karl is interested in education and sits on the board of the Harris Federation and Bournemouth University. He is also a keen runner and has completed a number of marathons.
 

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Chris Howes

CDIO, DEFRA

Chris Howes is the Chief Digital and Information Officer for Defra, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  Defra is responsible for improving and protecting the environment and aims to grow a green economy and sustain thriving rural communities. The systems that Chris’ team deliver help protect the environment and promote sustainability; ensure food and animals cross our borders safely and protect the public from the impacts of flooding and animal diseases. Chris leads the UK Government’s sustainable ICT strategy and ensured Defra was one of the first Government departments to build sustainability into the selection and management of its supply chain. Under his leadership, Defra has established an e-sustainability alliance of over 300 technology companies, culminating in a week-long Technology for Climate Action event at COP26.  He has over 20 years’ experience leading major transformation programmes, involving technology and business change, in large science-based government bodies, and originally trained as an Environmental Scientist gaining an MSc in Environmental Pollution Science. Chris is passionate about IT sustainability, strongly believing that technology has a major role to play in tackling the climate crisis but recognises that the industry must also work hard to ensure it doesn’t exacerbate it.

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Megan Lee

Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Central Digital and Data Office

No bio provided

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Paul Maltby

CDO, DLUHC

No bio provided

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Eileen Montgomery

Belfast Digital Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast

No bio provided

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Sonia Patel

System Chief Information Officer/Director for Levelling Up, NHS Transformation Directorate, NHS England and NHS Improvement

Sonia Patel is the System CIO at NHS England, leading on the multi-billion pound ministerial priority to ‘level-up’ digital infrastructure and literacy for NHS and care this includes ambitions to ensure all organisation have basic digital infrastructure in place by 2025. Working closely with the BCS she is championing as the SRO for a greener digital NHS, technology decarbonisation and sustainability enabled by digital. Her passion as ‘Head of Profession’ is pioneering professionalisation and workforce strategy for digital, data and technology with  diversity at its core. In her previous role as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at NHSX she developed the ‘WGLL framework’   to help local systems accelerate their digital transformation plans. Her 18 year experience includes being a frontline CIO for hospitals and community care services in North West London. Under Sonia’s leadership, North West London underwent a technology revolution which has continued to help improve the lives of citizens, patients and their families.

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Tom Read

CEO and Director, Government Digital Service

Tom Read became the CEO and Director General of the Government Digital Service in February 2021. Tom joined GDS from the Ministry of Justice where he was Chief Digital & Information Officer. While at MOJ he spearheaded reforms to modernise technology used across prisons, probation, and legal aid services. 

Tom is a digital technologist by background with experience across a range of industries including banking, media, and consulting. Tom was Head of Applications at the Guardian Media Group from 2008 before joining HMG as Cabinet Office Chief Technology Officer in 2013.

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