26 March
09:00 – 09:30 (GMT) | Welcome AddressChair and Headline Knowledge Partner welcome address |
09:30 – 10:20 (GMT) | Panel Discussion: The Connected CitizenAround the world, people are connected like never before. Citizens can build communities, share ideas and shift opinion using a device they keep in their pockets.In this connected world, citizens expect a meaningful say in how their lives are governed. The tools of the connected world enable them to articulate problems directly and work together to help develop solutions; to take part in global conversations and join global campaigns for change. Do you know these connected citizens? Which of them will be empowered by connectivity, and who risks getting left behind? What will they need and expect from government? How can government change in order to meet these demands? EY is plugging in to connected citizens so we can help you find some answers. Using global public attitudes survey analysis, this panel session will seek to deepen our understanding of citizens – their needs, values and behaviours – both today and in the future. Together we’ll examine how citizens’ lives are changing in the connected world and what this means for the governments that serve them. Panel
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10:20 – 10:50 (GMT) | Coffee Break |
10:50 – 11:40 (GMT) | Panel Discussion: Skills and ToolsWhilst innovation requires the right aptitudes and attitudes, it is also a learned skill. Civil servants need an understanding of how to develop, promote and deliver innovative ideas, plus a good knowledge of some of the key fields – such as digital technologies and staff engagement. And tools are equally important, particularly in supporting collaboration and ensuring that good ideas are picked up and adopted. This session will consider the recruitment, training, promotion and performance management policies that best promote innovation in government, and the equipment and systems required to pursue innovative ideas.Panel
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10:50 – 11.50 (GMT) | Breakout Session – Tackling fraud: can automation work?Our interactive workshop will explore how to tackle fraud and economic crime at an international level through data sharing and automation of due diligence.We will focus on grants - an important policy instrument for governments worldwide. In the UK alone they have an annual value of about £113bn - this represents around 13% of total annual UK government expenditure. However, they are neither consistently awarded nor retrospectively assessed with the rigour expected in other areas of government spending. There is a need to drive improvements to address risk and achieve large-scale efficiencies and value for money. Ivana Gordon will introduce the transformation work embarked by the UK Government Grants Management Function. They will highlight ongoing work to enhance their automated ‘applicant risking tool’, known as Spotlight. This has been identified as one of the top four UK government projects that may catalyse AI adoption in the public sector. They will also look at the automation of due diligence in procurement. The session will also focus on international aspects: how to enable due diligence at an international level so that governments can confidently partner with businesses based outside their own countries. Panel
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11:40 to 12:30 (GMT) | Panel Discussion: Data Management and SharingGood data management and sharing is key to many innovative projects – permitting cross-departmental services built around user needs, for example, and enabling evidence-based policymaking and service delivery. The challenges here are partly technical and organisational, but many countries also face barriers around legislation and public perceptions. As well as considering the systems, protocols and regulatory structures required to support secure, effective use of data across government, this panel discussion will examine different approaches to winning public trust.Panel
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12:30 to 13:30 (GMT) | Lunch and Networking |
13:30 – 14:20 (GMT) | Panel Discussion: Commissioning and Deploying New TechnologiesNew and emerging digital technologies have huge potential to support innovative practices and services. But developing, commissioning and deploying them demands a specific set of skills, along with reformed planning, funding, procurement and management systems. Emerging technologies such as AI bring new challenges around bias, ethics and accountability – and on the horizon loom new generations of tech, such as quantum computing. This session will discuss how civil services can adapt their approach to suit the strengths, demands and risks of digital technologies, and consider how technologies are likely to evolve in the years to come.Panel
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14:20 – 15:10 (GMT) | Panel Discussion: Programme Governance and FinanceMost countries’ systems of accountability, funding and management run vertically down departmental structures – but many civil service innovations demand collaborative, cross-departmental action and programmes. This poses a challenge to traditional approaches to project governance, demanding shared structures that retain clear lines of accountability whilst permitting joint decision-making. And many innovative and digital projects are best developed through iterative ‘Agile’ methods, which can clash with established systems for project approval, business planning and budgeting. This session will consider how programme approval, management and governance processes can best be adapted to support innovation across government.Panel
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15:10 – 15:40 (GMT) | Coffee Break |
15:40 – 16:30 (GMT) | Panel Discussion: Leading InnovationAbove all, civil service innovation demands a supportive environment – and that must come down from the top. Civil servants need to be confident that their ideas will be taken seriously; that innovative projects will receive high-level backing; and that they can experiment and take well-judged risks without damaging their careers. So civil service leaders need to model the right behaviours, champion innovative practice, and clear the path for promising projects. This session will consider how civil services can support and promote innovation in leadership – both amongst today’s senior managers, and in developing the next generation.Panel
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15:40 – 17:10 (GMT) | Breakout Session – Risk management & Supply Chain: Can you spot your next big threat before it reveals itself?For all organizations – including governments – supply chain risks are getting larger and moving quicker. Whether you’re building new infrastructure, commissioning defense contracts, or using partners to provide vital public services, quality and value for taxpayers can be threatened by weaknesses in your supply chain. In this interactive session, you can explore how new technology can be applied to help you see these risks, enabling you to take decisive action to protect vital public services and projects. You can also see a preview of EY’s new Business relationship and economic threat analysis (BRETA) tool.Panel
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16:30 – 16:45 (GMT) | Closing Remarks |