Public Sector Leaders Prepare to Tackle Data’s Biggest Challenges

On Wednesday December 3, 2025, policy makers, digital transformation leads and public sector data professionals will convene at One Great George Street in London for Think Data for Government – a one-day, in-person event organised by Think Digital Partners. The agenda addresses a crucial juncture: data is now widely recognised by government as a strategic asset, yet significant questions remain how to harness it effectively, responsibly and at scale.

“Public sector organisations see data as a crucial asset for improving citizen outcomes, and government efforts to encourage the use of data and AI are growing,” explained Matt Stanley, founder of Think Digital Partners.

“However, there are concerns around bias, privacy, security, and whether public bodies have the necessary skills and infrastructure. The conference will explore both the opportunities and challenges, featuring a range of speakers sharing current thinking and best practice.”

One speaker will be Simon McLellan, head of data engagement at the Met Office, who describes the scale and nature of the challenge.

“At the Met Office we consume and generate vast volumes of data every day, monitoring, understanding and predicting the weather on a global scale. We treat these datasets that describe the past, current and possible future states of the weather as critical assets and use them to create our forecasts, advice and weather warnings at local, national and international levels. But their value is only realised when we get those data – those forecasts, advice and warnings – into the hands, and systems, of those who are going to use them to shape their lives and livelihoods and that of those around them.  

The message is clear: managing data isn’t just about collection and analytics, it’s about translating insight into meaningful, trusted services.

Government Digital Service (GDS) performance lead Sarah Crandall also noted: “Data capability is an essential for working effectively in modern government, not just the modern digital government. Digital literacy is an invaluable asset, looking right across the spectrum of data skills in both specialist and non-specialist roles, and data capabilities in leadership.”

This reflects a growing consensus that building capability, not simply deploying tools, is what will differentiate successful public-sector data strategies.

The conference in context

Attendees should anticipate a mix of keynote addresses, panel debates and case study sessions that dig into how agencies are re-thinking their data foundations, how they’re tackling governance and ethics and how they’re building data-capability across the workforce.

One major theme throughout the day will be how to build resilient data platforms and governance models that deliver measurable public service outcomes. Previous events emphasised the importance of legacy modernisation, data maturity and stakeholder expectation-management – and this December edition will build on that thread with fresh insights.

The event is tailored for data and analytics leads in central and local government, health, education and other mission-critical public services. It is also highly relevant for CIOs, CDOs and digital transformation leads seeking to align their strategy with citizen outcomes, as well as supplier organisations and technology partners supporting public-sector data and analytics programmes. Regulators, policy makers and governance professionals concerned with the ethics, transparency and accountability of data-driven government will also find value.

In an age where governments are under increasing pressure to deliver smarter, more responsive citizen services – while maintaining trust and managing risk – Think Data for Government offers a spotlight on how the public sector can make data work for people.

Register or find more information here.