05/10/2026
Birmingham ICC : Executive Room 9
A smarter state: can AI improve public services?
The Rt. Hon Lord Francis Maude (The Conservative Party, former Minister for the Cabinet Office (Invited))
Lauren Crowley (The FDA, Assistant General Secretary)
Hacer Evans (Accenture UKI, Managing Director Health & Public Service (Invited))
Ryan Shorthouse (Bright Blue, Executive Chair (Invited))
James Wise (Sovereign AI Unit, Chair)
From Sunak's Frontier AI Taskforce to Burnham's Digital Devolution, governments recognise AI’s role in reforming public services. What can we learn from previous waves of Whitehall transformation, and how can a Conservative Party committed to efficiency balance innovation, trust and accountability in delivering public services? This panel will examine the opportunities and challenges of the AI revolution, and how to overcome barriers to adoption.
