Building the Smarter State Week 2026
Welcome to Building the Smarter State Week 2026! This week will feature blogs from techUK members in the run up to our Building the Smarter State conference on Wednesday 13 May.
This year's conference will spotlight real-world examples of digital excellence - both at home and abroad - covering themes including world-leading AI in the public sector, digital sovereignty, and resilience in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. With the UK government's Blueprint for Modern Digital Government and AI Opportunities Action Plan firmly on the agenda, attendees will gain direct insight into how policy is being turned into action.
This week, through blogs from members and stakeholders, we want to explore digital excellence in 2026 and what that looks like, how the UK can effectively deliver digital transformation and turn policy into action, the rise of AI in public services, citizen-centred design, and the lessons that the UK can learn from some of the world’s most advanced digital governments and what that looks like in practice.
Please see below the blogs for the week:
Digital excellence in 2026
What does it mean and why does it matter? As governments accelerate digital adoption in an era of digital sovereignty, resilience, and the rise of AI in the public sector in an increasingly geopolitical landscape, what does a smarter state look like? What are the risks vs benefits?
From policy to practice
How can the UK effectively deliver digital transformation? With the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government and the AI Opportunities Action plan firmly in place, how is policy being turned into action?
Procurement as the engine of digital delivery
Digital ambition is set in policy, but the real driver is procurement. What does good look like when procuring AI-enabled services and scaling digital adoption, and how can industry support this?
Citizen-centred service design
What are the principles of citizen-centred service design, designing systems around citizens not systems, how can we do this right and effectively
Global lessons, local impact
What Governments Can Learn from Each Other – What can the UK learn from some of the world’s most advanced digital governments? How transferable are they?
You can follow the impact day on techUK's LinkedIn #techUKSmarterState
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather is Associate Director, Central Government and Education at techUK, working to represent the tech supplier community to Central Government.
She started as Head of Central Government at techUK in April 2022 and was promoted to Associate Director in August 2025 supporting both the Central Government and Education programmes.
Prior to joining techUK in April 2022, Heather worked in the Economic Policy and Small States Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She led the organisation’s FinTech programme and worked to create an enabling environment for developing countries to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits of FinTech.
Before moving to the UK, Heather worked at the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
Heather holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from LSE, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Macalester College.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-cover-kus-ba636538
Ellie Huckle
Ellie Huckle
Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.
The programme represents the supplier community of technology products and services in Central Government – in summary working to make Government a more informed buyer, increasing supplier visibility in order to improve their chances of supplying to Government Departments, and fostering better engagement between the public sector and industry. To find out more about what we do, how we do this and how you can get involved – make sure to get in touch!
Prior to joining techUK, Ellie completed Sixth Form in June 2015 and went on to work in Waitrose, moved on swiftly to walking dogs and finally, got an office job working for a small local business in North London, where she lives with her family and their two Bengal cats Kai and Nova.
When she isn’t working Ellie likes to spend time with her family and friends, her cats, and enjoys volunteering for diabetes charities. She has a keen interest in writing, escaping with a good book and expanding her knowledge watching far too many quiz shows!
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2015
- Twitter:
- @techUK,@techUK
- Website:
- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx,https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx
Charles Bauman
Charles Bauman
Charles Bauman is a Junior Programme Manager in the Central Government Programme at techUK.
He supports the programme’s mission to represent the technology supplier community to the UK government and advocate for digital innovation to address public sector challenges. Charles helps facilitate market engagement, foster partnerships, and ensure that tech suppliers and the government work collaboratively to improve outcomes, deliver value for money, and enhance public services for citizens.
Before joining techUK, Charles gained significant experience in research, analysis, and strategic advisory roles. At H/Advisors Cicero, he specialised in public affairs and corporate communications, while at Verdantix, he supported sustainability research and advisory projects, focusing on regulatory and environmental challenges.
Charles holds an MSc in Theory and History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and an MA in Medieval History from King’s College London.
Charles enjoys volunteering with a think tank, reading, hiking, and spending time with his dog and family outside of work.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-bauman-75712016b/
techUK - Transforming Public Services
techUK members are transforming public services in the UK. Our community help to shape a smarter, digitally empowered public sector.
techUK drives public sector digital transformation by uniting the public sector and tech industry. Through early market engagement, efficient procurement, and innovative technology adoption, we help to modernise legacy IT, and enable efficient, secure, and personalised services.
Get involved: We run a busy calendar of activity including events, reports, and insights that demonstrate some of the most significant digital transformation opportunities for the sector. Our Transforming Public Services Hub is where you will find details of all upcoming activities. We also send a monthly public services newsletter to which you can subscribe here.
Upcoming 'Transforming Public Services' events
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