Building the Smarter State 2023

Venus Bailey

Principal Enterprise Architect, Cabinet Office

Venus Bailey is a visionary leader in the fields of technology and architecture. With experience spanning various sectors, cultures and organisations, she has an ability to draw upon diverse strands of knowledge and expertise to create strategies and solve complex problems. 
Her professional journey commenced in Hong Kong, where she embarked on her career as an electronic engineering graduate. Afterward, armed with a master's degree in Telecommunications, she ventured into consultancy in the mobile network industry, working in the UK, China, Malaysia and Singapore. During this time, she thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. 

In 2009, Venus achieved a significant milestone by earning a doctorate in computer science from University College London. Her research focus revolved around the intriguing intersection of machine learning and the Internet of Things. During her tenure as a research fellow at the same institution, she collaborated with esteemed international scientists and researchers. Together, they developed comprehensive solutions and conducted pioneering research in areas such as environmental monitoring, educational technologies, and wearable technologies. 
One of Venus's notable contributions during this period was her involvement in the BBC project Micro:bit, aimed at promoting coding and facilitating children's understanding of abstract computer science concepts through tangible devices. 

In 2017, Venus joined the Government Digital Service (GDS) as a Technical Architect. Here, she lent her expertise to a diverse array of cross-government digital and data projects, including GOV.UK Notify, GovWifi, GOV.UK PaaS, Future Border and HM Treasury data platform. She firmly advocates for a balanced approach, combining Agile practices for iterative development with Enterprise Architecture oversight and robust technical governance. This approach ensures the deliverability and maintainability of technology solutions to the highest standards of quality and excellence.

Venus currently heads the Enterprise Architecture team within the CTO function at Cabinet Office Digital. She also leads the Cabinet Office's Legacy Remediation program, with a primary focus on enhancing governance and control over legacy systems within the organisation. 

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Roz Barrance

Head of Business Development, Civil, Leidos UK

Roz Barrance is the Head of Business Development for Leidos UK’s Civil Division. Previously, she was the Portfolio Development Lead for Leidos UK’s National Security Portfolio, and Programme Director, leading the delivery of one of Leidos’ largest UK government programmes.

Roz is a strong advocate of collaborative working, and passionate about technology and the benefits the combination of both can deliver to public services. Roz works in close partnership with her customers and colleagues to develop and deliver innovative solutions to help solve some of their biggest challenges.

Before joining Leidos in 2017, Roz established a business development consultancy working with SME Clients to support their growth as an integrated part of their team. Prior to that that she worked with multiple clients in IBM’s Global Services business, and in an environmental, technology and sustainability consultancy.

Roz is a keen supporter of women in technology, and mentors STEM graduates and apprentices helping them to make the most of the incredible opportunities that the sector offers.
 

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Dan Brember

Deputy Director, GOV.UK

Dan Brember is Deputy Director for Content, Policy and Strategy at GOV.UK and is an Ambassador for the Digital Poverty Alliance. Dan joined GOV.UK as Head of Policy and Strategy in 2021. Before joining GDS, Dan held various communications and strategy advisory positions to senior leaders across the Civil Service and politics.

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Col Campbell

Partner, Public Services Technology Strategy Transformation, KPMG in the UK, KPMG in the UK

Col is a lead partner for KPMGs Technology Strategy Transformation work across the public sector. Col is experienced in all elements of digital and agile delivery and business growth.

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Piers Campbell

Data and AI Guild Lead, Capita

Piers is an award-winning digital leader with a proven track record of building teams that drive business transformation and deliver tangible benefits. Piers has cultivated a strong collaborative approach and honed client-facing skills at the CxO level across a range of commercial sectors and governmental organisations. He currently leads the digital transformation team for Capita Public Services leveraging digital innovation to design and build the next generation of public services.

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Richard Corbridge

CDIO, Department for Work and Pensions

Richard Corbridge is DWP Digital’s Chief Digital Information Office (CDIO) joining the Digital group in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in April 2023. 

A globally recognised expert in digital technology and its application to a diverse set of business, he has over 25 years’ experience in CIO roles across the healthcare, research, and retail sectors. 

Richard has a passion for innovation, business change and benefits management. As a leader he insists on a focus on engagement and benefits being brought to all technology implementations.

He was previously Chief Information Officer at Boots & No.7 Beauty Company with responsibility for technology throughout the business and held roles at Leeds NHS Trust, eHealth Ireland, and the National Institute for Health Research.

Earlier this year Computer Weekly shortlisted him on its list of the UK’s 50 most influential tech leaders.

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Robin Denton

Director, Microsoft

No bio provided

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Matthew Evans

Director, Markets, techUK

Matthew Evans leads techUK’s Market Programme teams and is a member of the senior leadership team.

The Market Programme teams help techUK members apply innovative technology solutions across a range of sectors, including the Public Sector, Financial Services and Cyber. 

Prior to his appointment in early 2019, Matt led techUK’s Smart Infrastructure and IoT work, as well as being CEO of the Broadband Stakeholder Group. During this time he led the telecoms industry’s approach to lowering the cost of network deployment, played a key role in coordinating it’s response to Brexit and was closely involved in the development of the Government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. He also assisted in the development of the UK’s first secure by design Code of Practice aimed at consumer IoT, oversaw the publication of a paper outlining the tech sector’s view of future mobility services and drove engagement around the use of digital twins.

Matt sits on the Steering Board of the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce, Digital Framework Task Group,  andthe advisory board for the Prospering from the Energy Revolution industrial challenge fund.

Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked in Arqiva's public policy team, across the broadcast and telecoms markets. Before that he was a researcher for an MP at Westminster.

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James Ewing

Head of Automation, ISG

As the Head of Automation for EMEA, James brings over 30years of experience of working with advanced technologies to bring solutions to life for clients. Helping clients deliver real business benefits and step changes in performance with the practical application of AI, Analytics and Intelligent Process Robotics.  Some key areas focus with ISG’s portfolio include Contact Centre Transformation, IT Operations Automation, Process Orchestration and Test Automation.

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James Freed

Deputy Director, The Digital Academy for Health and Care, NHS England

James Freed leads the Digital Academy for Health and Care, an organisation dedicated to supporting as many teams in health and care deliver more value tomorrow than they did today. He was the last Chief Digital and Information Officer for Health Education England and his career has taken him through Cancer Research, Change Management and Standards development.

In 2017 James was voted by peers as one of the top 100 influencers globally in Health IT as part of the #HIT100 twitter campaign. He is a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a FedIP accredited Leading Practitioner and a Chartered Health CIO accredited through CHIME.

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Giles Herdale

Independent Advisor on Data Ethics in Policing

A leading voice on the development of digital investigative policy, strategy and ethics, Giles has been involved at the cutting edge of the national evolution of law enforcement thinking in this area. With experience from the NCA, NPCC, the Home Office, the College of Policing and NPIA, Giles can translate the fast-evolving technical, legislative and policy environment to the operational context to understand and address the threats and opportunities of the digital age.  He is now a freelance policy advisor working with researchers, think tanks, government and law enforcement.  He is an associate fellow at RUSI and a member of the Validate AI conference steering group. 

 

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Karl Hoods

Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, and Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Karl is an experienced Chief Information Officer (CIO) and has worked in the private, public and third sectors. He is currently the Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology where he is responsible for the delivery of core services, digital transformation, innovation, knowledge management and shared services. 
 
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 leading publishers.  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 boards of the Harris Federation, Bournemouth University, the Safe & Trusted AI Centre for Doctoral Training and King’s College London’s Department for Informatics Industry Advisory Board. In addition he is on the global steering council for an international metaverse association. 

Karl is also a keen runner and has completed a number of marathons.

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Jason Kitcat

Director of Digital, Data & Technology, Department for Business & Trade

Jason Kitcat is a champion for digital transformation and passionate about using technology for good. He is currently Director of Digital, Data & Technology at the Department for Business & Trade, part of the UK Government. Immediately before this role he was Interim Director of Human Centred Design at the Connected Places Catapult. Previously he was Executive Director, Corporate Development at Essex County Council. Beforehand he was Head of Policy & Public Affairs at the fintech accounting firm Crunch. He was previously the award-winning Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council. He has a long background in building digital services having been Head of Technology for Netmums, general manager at The Open Knowledge Foundation and before that led his own digital agency for a decade.

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David Knott

Chief Technology Officer, Central Digital and Data Office

David is Chief Technology Officer for UK Government, working within the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO). He is a technology leader, strategist and architect with over 30 years experience across a range of industries, including banking, insurance, transportation, utilities, media and government. Prior to becoming Government CTO, David's most recent roles have been as an Expert Partner at Boston Consulting Group, focusing on Cloud, DevOps and Digital Transformation, as a Digital Transformation Officer at Google, and as Chief Architect at HSBC. (And, a very long time ago, his first technology job was as a COBOL programmer in HM Customs & Excise!) David has designed, constructed and led many large transformation initiatives throughout his career, including the strategy and design for Lloyds Banking Group’s integration of Halifax Bank of Scotland and divestment of TSB, and for HSBC’s strategic move as the first major global financial institution to adopt public Cloud at scale. David believes passionately in the power of new technologies and new ways of working to liberate organisations from the constraints of their legacy technologies, and specialises in building teams, defining strategies and changing culture to achieve this goal. David holds a PhD in Philosophy, specialising in Ethics. In recent years, he has applied this expertise in the fields of AI and data ethics, helping HSBC define its first set of ethical principles for the use of AI and data, and working as part of the Responsible AI teams at HSBC, Google and BCG. Outside work, David kayaks regularly on the sea where he lives, attempts to keep on top of the latest developments in the field of technology ethics, and writes regularly on topics of technology, leadership and innovation in his weekly newsletter

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Georgina Maratheftis

Associate Director | Local Public Services, techUK

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 councils to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local authorities 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.

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.

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Rt Hon Jeremy Quin MP

Minister, Cabinet Office

Jeremy Quin was appointed Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 2022.

He was previously Minister of State (Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire) at the Home Office between 7 September 2022 and 25 October 2022.

He was Minister of State (Minister for Defence Procurement) at the Ministry of Defence between 13 February 2020 and 7 September 2022.

In December 2019, Jeremy became Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office with responsibilities for the Government Commercial Function and other cross-government programmes.

In July 2018, Jeremy accepted a role in the Government as a member of the Whips’ Office and was promoted to serve as a senior Whip (as “Comptroller of Her Majesty’s Household”) in July 2019.

In 2008 to 2009, he served on secondment as senior corporate finance adviser to HM Treasury, assisting them on the UK’s response to the financial crisis.

Before entering politics, Jeremy worked in corporate finance for 25 years latterly as Managing Director of Deutsche Bank.

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Rehana Ramesh

Asst Director - Customer Services, Digital and Data, London Borough of Hackney

A Digital Transformation and Strategic leader with more than 20 years of experience in local government. Rehana Ramesh has an extensive background in developing and implementing digital strategies and programmes, focusing on customer service excellence. She is dedicated to putting customers at the heart of business decision-making and has experience in creating synergies between multidisciplinary teams at all levels. Aside from her busy day job, Rehana champions digital inclusion in the London Borough of Brent and drives social change.

Collaborating with a technology partner, Rehana launched Springboard in 2021, delivering free digital learning to all residents and businesses in Brent Council.

Rehana has a strong track record of stakeholder engagement and relationship building and has actively participated in multiple networking platforms. Her passion lies in driving efficiency, innovation, change, and she has experience establishing Technical Design Authorities and Data Ethics Boards.

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Tom Read

Chief Executive Officer, 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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Gill Stewart

Chief Digital Officer, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

With a background in technology and digital transformation across private and public sector, Gill’s career expands over several industries including insurance, education, retail and utilities. Gill joined the civil service two years ago as Chief Technology Officer at the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities, inspired by the digital transformation work in the public sector and how it drives a better service for its users.  She is now the Chief Digital Officer for the department, which has expanded her remit to encompass working in partnership with local authorities to build safe, resilient, cost effective and sustainable digital services.

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Sam Trendall

Editor, PublicTechnology

Sam is editor of PublicTechnology, the UK’s leading source of daily news and analysis for anyone interested in how the public sector is using technology and digital platforms to transform citizen services. Sam has been a technology journalist for over 10 years and worked for various IT and business publications before joining PublicTechnology in June 2017

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Gus Tugendhat

Founder, Tussell

Tussell was founded in 2015 to fill a gap in the market for the provision of useful and reliable information on government contracts and spending. By consolidating trillions of pounds worth of public procurement data into a single platform, Tussell provides an unparalleled vantage point over the UK public procurement landscape.

Tussell's market intelligence is harnessed by local councils, ministerial departments and NHS Trusts to make better procurement decisions, drive value-for-money, and promote social value.

Before founding Tussell, Gus worked as a Managing Director at Thomson Reuters and an investment banker at Lazard. He has a track record of building subscription-based data businesses.
 

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Mark Watson

Chief Architect, Civil Division, Leidos UK

Mark is the Chief Architect for the Civil Division of Leidos UK. Working across the Central Government, Devolved Government, Transport and Air Traffic Control sectors, Mark brings a wealth of experience to his customers

Mark is a seasoned professional known for introducing groundbreaking solutions to the market. His achievements include spearheading innovative projects such as Biometric services for Borders, Machine Learning applications, and Digital Twin technology for Intelligent Road Management. Mark has also led initiatives in Robotic Process Automation for Passport Control and has contributed to Security Accredited Shared Services, significantly reducing ownership costs for Government Departments.
With a distinguished career spanning over 28 years in the IT industry, Mark has held pivotal roles at renowned companies like IBM, CSC, Fujitsu, and Sopra Steria. In 2021, he joined Leidos UK, where he is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge solutions in the Civil space. Mark's mission centers on creating solutions that foster safety, health, and efficiency through the convergence of technology, engineering, and science. 
Mark is a pivotal member of the TechUK Steering Group for Digital Twin, playing a crucial role in driving the adoption of this transformative technology within the Government. He actively spearheads discussions across prominent entities such as the Cabinet Office, Number 10, NHS, DEFRA, Department for Transport, and HMRC. Mark's contributions are instrumental in fostering valuable conversations and initiatives that shape the digital landscape for the public sector.
 

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Laura Webb

Partner, Public Services Technology Transformation, KPMG in the UK

Laura is the lead partner for all of KPMGs Technology Transformation work across the Government and Infrastructure markets. Laura has over 20 years experience in successful delivery across central government and higher education, previously having led major transformation programmes for central government and higher education. 

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