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January 20th Event

Public Digital Day

A Blueprint for a Future-Ready State

Watch the recordings of Public Digital Day: A blueprint for a future-ready state, an essential online programme for public servants working in digital transformation and public service delivery.

This full-day event was structured around the concept of digital sovereignty, exploring why it matters and what it looks like in practice.

Hosted by PD Senior Director, Anna Hirschfeld and FWD50 founder, Alistair Croll, the programme featured a keynote address from PD Co-Founder Mike Bracken CBE on ‘Why Digital Sovereignty Matters’ as well as sessions covering core challenges and modern solutions in government.

The January 20th Agenda

January 20

2:00 PM

Public Digital Day

Welcome to Public Digital Day!

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
Join FWD50 and Public Digital as they kick of PD Day: A blueprint for a future-ready state, an essential online programme for public servants working in digital transformation and public service delivery. See More.
Alistair Croll
Co-founder & Chair
FWD50
Alexandra MacEachern
Director of Digital Delivery
Public Digital

2:10 PM

Public Digital Day

Why digital sovereignty matters

2:10 PM – 2:40 PM
Why digital sovereignty matters, and what it look like in practise. See More.
Mike Bracken CBE
Founder
Public Digital

2:40 PM

Public Digital Day

Building an adaptability muscle: The foundation for the AI era

2:40 PM – 3:25 PM
Organisations need two things to be successful in the AI era. Firstly they need to understand how it works, and how it will fit in the specific context on their organization to solve their unique problems and opportunities. The second is adaptability. See More.
Dai Vaughan
Consulting Chief Technology Officer
Public Digital
James Stewart
Partner & CTO
Public Digital

3:25 PM

Public Digital Day

Break

3:25 PM – 3:40 PM

3:40 PM

Public Digital Day

Test, learn and grow

3:40 PM – 4:25 PM
Learn practical insights into modern service transformation, including how test and learn is changing the way the UK government is designing and delivering its services. See More.
Philippa Elworthy
Director
Public Digital
Ashish Ramuni
Strategy & Delivery Lead, Cabinet Office, Public Sector Research Establishments
UK Government

4:25 PM

Public Digital Day

Future proofing public services: Lessons on how to embrace change while you deliver and strengthen foundations.

4:25 PM – 5:00 PM
Change in the public service isn't something you wait for, it’s something you build while delivering. This is true now more than ever, as we enter the era of AI. See More.
Natasha Clarke
Former Deputy Minister, Cyber Security Digital Solutions
Nova Scotia Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions

5:00 PM

Public Digital Day

Sovereignty through commodification: A market shaping strategy for sovereignty

5:00 PM – 5:35 PM
An approach for how Canada can think about DS that is politically and financially feasible. See More.
David Eaves
Associate Professor of Digital Government
UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP)

5:35 PM

Public Digital Day

Break

5:35 PM – 6:25 PM

6:25 PM

Public Digital Day

Beyond the Breach

6:25 PM – 6:55 PM
In this international panel, global cyber leaders will break down what really happens after an attack—how to respond decisively, recover quickly, and build the preventative defenses that stop the next breach before it starts. See More.
Jillian Carruthers
Assistant Deputy Minister, Connected Services BC
Government of British Columbia
Adunni Rufai
Principal Consultant
Public Digital
Cate McLaurin
Senior Director
Public Digital

6:55 PM

Public Digital Day

Changing the track: Why Are We Still Having the Same Digital Government Conversation?

6:55 PM – 7:55 PM
For ten years, public servants have talked about user-centred services, empowered teams, modern delivery and better technology. Yet digital talent remains underfunded, delivery teams remain constrained, and the same recommendations keep resurfacing. See More.
Rumon Carter
Executive Director, Visitor & Operational Support Services
BC Parks & Recreation
Dorothy Eng
CEO
Code for Canada
Sean Boots
Open government practitioner, Information and Communications Technologies
Highways and Public Works (Government of Yukon)
Alexandra MacEachern
Director of Digital Delivery
Public Digital

7:55 PM

Public Digital Day

Closing remarks

7:55 PM – 8:00 PM
Join Alex and Alistair as they wrap up the day. See More.
Alistair Croll
Co-founder & Chair
FWD50
Alexandra MacEachern
Director of Digital Delivery
Public Digital

The January 20th Speakers

Mike Bracken

Founder, Public Digital

Jillian Carruthers

Assistant Deputy Minister, Connected Services BC, Government of British Columbia

Natasha Clarke

Former Deputy Minister, Cyber Security Digital Solutions, Nova Scotia Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions

David Eaves

Associate Professor of Digital Government, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP)

James Stewart

Partner & CTO, Public Digital

Ashish Ramuni

Strategy & Delivery Lead, Cabinet Office, Public Sector Research Establishments, UK Government

Rumon Carter

Executive Director, Visitor & Operational Support Services, BC Parks & Recreation

Sean Boots

Open government practitioner, Information and Communications Technologies, Highways and Public Works (Government of Yukon)

Cate McLaurin

Senior Director, Public Digital

Dai Vaughan

Consulting Chief Technology Officer, Public Digital

Philippa Elworthy

Director, Public Digital

Dorothy Eng

CEO, Code for Canada

Alexandra MacEachern

Director of Digital Delivery, Public Digital

Caitlin Evans

Principal Consultant, Public Digital

Adunni Rufai

Principal Consultant, Public Digital

Alistair Croll

Co-founder & Chair, FWD50

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