Reimagining Whitehall half-day conference

Government cannot deliver on the people’s priorities unless Whitehall is working at its best. It is where budgets and national priorities, like the Government’s Missions, are set and driven. It acts as a vital catalyst for delivering both public service reform and growth, and one that the PM has personally recognised.  

“Rewiring” the State means building a Whitehall machine in which decision-making is faster, but also more long-term and joined-up across departments; which is underpinned by real-time data and smart technology; and in which civil servants can innovate.  

In an era of global instability, and with the State facing bigger challenges than ever, the task of reforming Whitehall is urgent.  This flagship half-day conference explored the bold but practical steps needed to build a Whitehall that is really capable of delivering against the Government’s missions and for the public.   

Keynote address:

• Georgia Gould OBE MP, Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

Panel 1: ‘Mission control: delivering the Government’s priorities’ 

This panel discussed the tools, approaches, and cultural shifts required for Whitehall to redefine its role in driving new and challenging Missions at the heart of the Government’s agenda. 

• Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education
• Richard Clarke, Director General, Public Safety Group & SRO, Safer Streets Mission, Home Office
• Michelle Clement, Lecturer, King's College London & Author
• Ed Stainton, Managing Director, Public Sector, BT

Panel 2: ‘Getting the machine learning: AI-driven Whitehall’

This panel examined how the civil service can integrate AI into its practices while equipping its workforce with the necessary expertise. It will discuss how Whitehall can use AI to deliver a smarter, more responsive government. 

• Chloe Hoggard, Vice President, Head of MuleSoft Public Sector, Salesforce
• Christophe Prince, Director, Data and Identity, Home Office
• Sapna Sanghvi, Deputy Director, Data Science & AI, Ministry of Justice
• Liam Wilkinson, Head of AI Incubation, Incubator for Artificial Intelligence

This event is kindly being supported by BT and Salesforce.