Why Attend (Technology & Architecture)

As government shifts to platform-based services, delivery is fundamentally changing. Systems are no longer owned by single departments, but built on shared infrastructure, powered by cross-government data, and shaped by automated decision-making. While this enables scale and efficiency, it raises a critical question: when something goes wrong, who is accountable? This panel will explore real-world experiences from senior leaders operating in complex, cross-government environments. Rather than theoretical discussion, speakers will reflect on situations where accountability was unclear, decisions had to be made under pressure, and existing governance models were tested.

• When systems are jointly owned and continuously evolving, how should accountability be defined?
• How do we assign responsibility when decisions become automated?
• Are current governance, audit, and assurance models fit for platform-based government?
• What practical steps can leaders take now to prepare for failure, not just delivery success?

Quantum computing, agentic AI, and other emerging technologies are rapidly reshaping the cyber threat landscape and redefining how governments protect critical systems and data. While these technologies unlock new capabilities for public service delivery, they also introduce systemic risks that current security models are not designed to withstand. For central government leaders, the challenge is no longer awareness, but readiness. This session will explore how to build resilient, future-ready systems while seizing strategic advantage in the face of accelerating technological change.

• Where should government focus investment to balance long-term resilience with near-term operational demands? 
• How can cross-government collaboration strengthen security, ethics, and interoperability at scale?
• What does evidence-led cyber resilience look like across critical national infrastructure, and how do we operationalise it?
• Where should government invest now to prepare for the opportunities and challenges of new technologies?

Legacy tech is a widely recognised barrier to transformation, but a deeper challenge lies in understanding what already exists. Across central government, decades of system changes, undocumented workarounds, and staff turnover have created significant gaps in institutional memory, making modernisation complex, costly, and high-risk. As departments push to adopt AI and new digital services, many are finding that progress is constrained not just by outdated systems, but by a lack of visibility into how those systems operate. This session explores how organisations can take a more strategic approach to modernisation. 

• How can departments better understand and map legacy systems before attempting transformation?
• How should leaders balance the cost of modernisation with long-term operational value?
• What practical approaches enable low-risk migration to modern platforms?