Building the Smarter State is techUK’s flagship public services conference and the go-to event for public sector digital leaders.
The Blueprint for Modern Digital Government, published in January 2025, sets out a bold vision for transforming the UK public sector, closing the gap between current service delivery and growing citizen expectations. With government ready to harness technology for real impact, this year’s Building the Smarter State will focus on taking the public sector From Blueprint to Brilliance. It’s the place to connect public sector and industry leaders to turn ambition into delivery.
The annual event welcomes over 200 senior leaders and decision-makers from across government and the technology industry to showcase how innovation is reshaping public services today and building the smarter state of tomorrow.
Previous speakers have included Digital Ministers, Chief Commercial Officers, and Chief Digital and Information Officers from Whitehall departments, local government, and UK cities.
We are delighted to confirm that Sir Mark Rowley, QPM, Commissioner of Metropolitan Police will deliver the morning keynote. You will also hear from Rob Thompson (Home Office), Sue Bateman (Defra), and leaders from Cisco, Leidos, Cognizant, Tussell, Netcompany, CACI, Elsewhen, HMRC and Leeds City Council.
What you’ll take away from the day:
- Turn vision into action: Explore how to deliver on the 2025 Blueprint for Modern Digital Government with real-world case studies and lessons from leaders already making it happen.
- Smarter procurement and partnership approaches: Enable faster scaling and help innovation progress past pilots.
- Harness the power of AI and data: Apply ethical frameworks and deliver practical, high-impact deployments that improve services and outcomes.
- Build digital resilience from the ground up: Create secure, interoperable platforms that stand the test of time.
- Equip your teams for success: Grow digital, data and multi-disciplinary skills across your organisation with proven strategies.
Why this event?
-
Proven platform: Event in its 11th year, historically draws a capacity audience, trusted by a community of techUK members and public sector attendees.
Who should attend?
- Public sector leaders and practitioners: Shape delivery with peers, share lessons, and take home practical tools.
- Industry and partners: Meet decision-makers, understand demand, and help scale what works.
Event details:
Location: Central London
Timing: All day conference
Tickets:
- techUK member rate (SME): £179+VAT
- techUK member rate (standard): £299+VAT
- Non-member rate : £399+VAT
- Public Sector - this event is free to attend for public sector delegates, if you have any issues registering please contact [email protected].
Please note: a refund will be given on cancellations received in writing 6 weeks prior to the event. Regrettably no refunds can be given after this date. Full terms and conditions can be viewed here.
For more information, please contact:
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
Margot Stumm
Margot Stumm
Margot joined techUK in September 2022 as the Head of Events and Sponsorship, running the event programme for our flagship events, such as the techUK Annual Dinner, Defence Ethics Summit, Building the Smarter State etc
Prior to this role, Margot managed events and external affairs for the Centre for Policy Studies, a political think tank in Westminster and also worked at the D Group, a London-based business membership organisation, where she was responsible for the events programme, account management and business strategy.
She holds a BA in Technical Translation in English, French and Spanish from Paris 7 - Denis Diderot and a MA in International Relations from the London Metropolitan University.
Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, going to concerts and snowboarding.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- @margot_stumm,@margot_stumm
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-stumm-82ba15128
Dora Pass
Dora Pass
Dora joined techUK in October 2019 as an Events Assistant, coordinating and delivering our flagship events.
Prior to joining the team, Dora worked as a Senior Events Coordinator at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors at Parliament Square managing conferences and high profile ministerial events.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2003
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
Invitation to NHS Notify Market Engagement Webinar: Procurement for Billing Tool
Online Partner event
Turning Devolution into Digital Transformation (a webinar sponsored by Juniper Networks)
Online Webinar
Latest news and insights
Subscribe to our newsletter
Central Government updates
Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities from our Central Government programme.
Contact the team
Georgina Maratheftis
Georgina Maratheftis
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with local public services to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local public services and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face and improve outcomes for our people and places.
Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.
If you’d like to learn more about techUK, or want to get involved, get in touch.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2029
- Twitter:
- @GeorginaMarath
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgina-maratheftis-0a002a102/
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
Fred Sugden
Fred Sugden
Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.
Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.
Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07985 234 170
Austin Earl
Austin Earl
Austin leads techUK’s Education and EdTech programme, shaping strategies that support the digital transformation of schools, colleges, and universities. His work focuses on strengthening the UK’s education technology ecosystem, enhancing core technology foundations, and advancing the adoption of emerging technologies to improve educational outcomes.
Austin also chairs the EdTech Advisory Panel for AI in Education, contributing to national discussions on the future of EdTech, AI, and the UK's Education system.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2000
- Website:
- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spencer-earl/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spencer-earl/
Robert Walker
Robert Walker
Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
- Email:
- [email protected]
Cinzia Miatto
Cinzia Miatto
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.
Prior to joining techUK, Cinzia worked in the third and public sectors, managing projects related to international trade and social inclusion.
- Email:
- [email protected]
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