Millions of people will enjoy shorter waiting lists and better public services as technology leaders, inclusion advocates, and leading academics will shape the government’s new ‘digital centre’ to boost how technology is used to repair public services and drive economic growth.
The group of technology experts, co-chaired by successful start-up founder Baroness Martha Lane Fox and Chair of the Central Digital and Data Office Paul Willmott, will help the government plan changes to how technology is used across public services.
This is in a new bid to cut backlogs, improve service outcomes and make government services more accessible.
It brings in leading industry experts, including Poppy Gustafson, the founder of Darktrace, as well as prominent advocates for digital inclusion and skills, such as Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon.
Uniting technology experts for the digital transformation
The move follows three Cabinet Office and No10 units joining DSIT to unite efforts in the digital transformation of public services under one department.
Together, the teams currently build and manage GOV.UK, the primary platform for accessing government services and information.
They also lead a network of over 28,000 technology experts across the public sector and develop cutting-edge AI tools for a range of uses across Whitehall and public services.
Harnessing the power of technology will be crucial to supporting the government in achieving its mission of making public services work for working people, growing the economy, and improving the lives of everyone across the country.
Improving public services and driving sustainable growth
Announcing the panel today at The Times’ Tech Summit, AI and Digital Government Minister Feryal Clark said: “Poor technology slows down public services too often when new tools should be cutting waiting lists and taking the burden from citizens and the taxpayer.
“With this new responsibility, we will be bold in our plans and the technology experts we are bringing in to advise us will help us deliver on our shared ambitions to improve public services and drive sustainable growth that works for everyone.”
Martha Lane Fox, Entrepreneur and crossbench peer (Co-Chair), added: “The UK has an opportunity to deliver modern, reliable public services that benefit citizens while also helping to grow the economy. I am excited to help.”
The panel includes:
- Martha Lane Fox – Entrepreneur and crossbench peer (Co-Chair)
- Poppy Gustafsson OBE – Technology entrepreneur and co-founder of Darktrace
- Paul Willmott – Chair of the Central Digital and Data Office (Co-Chair)
- Jeni Tennison – Founder and Executive Director of Connected by Data
- Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE – Social Entrepreneur, computer scientist, CEO of Stemettes
- Lou Cordwell – Professor of Innovation, University of Manchester
- Aaron Maniam – Fellow of Practice and Director, Digital Transformation Education, Blavatnik School of Government
- David Eaves – Co-Deputy Director and Associate Professor at UCL
- Sarah Hunter – Technology Policy Advisor, Board member at ARIA and Former Director of Global Public Policy at ‘X the Moonshot Factory’
- Lisa Harrington – Tech and Growth Advisor
- Josie Cluer – Partner, People Consulting, EY
- Lord Richard Allan – Technology Adviser
