Think Data for Government: Highlights

“We need to bring stories about real people to the table.”

Using storytelling to convince senior leaders of data’s value was a theme when public sector leaders, data professionals and technology partners gathered in Westminster on Wednesday for the Think Data for Government.

The event was a timely forum as data becomes the number one asset for government organisations seeking to transform outcomes for citizens.

The day’s agenda offered a deep dive into some key opportunities and challenges for public bodies and their suppliers. Sessions covered how to build resilient data platforms and governance models, to how to harness data and AI for smarter service delivery while navigating risks around bias, privacy, security and skills gaps.

Speakers and panelists argued that unlocking the potential of data is not just about deploying new tools, but building the right infrastructure, cultivating strong data governance and ethics frameworks, and ensuring the workforce has the capacity and skills to deliver.

At the same time, they acknowledged the headwinds facing government. Many public bodies lack the infrastructure or skills needed to make the most of data and AI. Civil society concerns around privacy, bias and security also loomed large, reminding participants that enthusiasm must be tempered with caution and trust-building.

The foundations of agentic AI in government

Agentic has been the buzzword of 2025, with AI evolving from predictive analytics to autonomous, agentic systems capable of reasoning, decision-making and action. So how can government prepare for an agentic AI world?

“AI is only as good as the foundations below it,” noted Sumitra Varma deputy director for data engineering, data science and AI at the Ministry of Justice, who urged leaders to treat data as a core part of service design.

Jim Stamp, head of technology at Made Tech, pointed to the importance of context and metadata, arguing that “data products… designed to be used by agents” and clear data contracts are essential, while warning that agentic systems require tight constraints.

Both speakers called for transparency, stronger ethical frameworks and clearer testing approaches, with Varma noting that algorithmic reporting standards help “build trust that we are doing things the right way.”

Elsewhere, how to make data secure, connected and ready for real-world decisions was another topic under discussion. For his part, the Home Office’s Richard Appiah described the pace and pressure of migration and borders work, where ministers and frontline officers “need the right data to make the right decisions,” often in politically charged, high-stakes contexts.

The panel touched on balancing data-driven and expert-led decisions (“it’s data-informed, not data-determined”) and on the nuanced question of data monetisation, with organisations recognising both the public value of open data and the need for investment in national data assets.

The humans behind the data

“Data is attached to organisations, and it should be attached to people.”

That thread ran through several sessions throughout the day. In a panel session on local government data, speakers argued that information about residents must be treated as memories, life experiences and local relationships – not just fields in a database.

As an example, head of data & insight at North Yorkshire Council, Mark Peterson, described social care records as “how you love and care and protect the digital version of that child.” He warned that language like “data governance” can obscure the human reality behind the screen.

For all speakers, the future of local data is about prevention and better outcomes – avoiding falls, tackling poverty, supporting vulnerable residents – rather than simply “managing the problem harder.”

Their collective Christmas wish-list? More time and capacity to collaborate, a clearer national framework, and someone in every council with explicit responsibility to make sure data genuinely serves people.

Similarly, in a debate over the future of data in government, Martin Waudby, CDO at the London Borough of Camden shared the council’s success in data-driven social care improvements.

By engaging residents through initiatives such as the Camden Data Charter, the council has increased trust and transparency about how data is used and coming up with practical ideas that improve services.

One example is that the council is developing a “single view of debt” and using early indicators to support people before arrears lead to homelessness, court action or costly temporary accommodation. As Wardby explained, “It’s using data to identify leading indicators that people are at risk… The outcomes flip around: the council retains more money and, most importantly, the individual has a much better outcome in circumstances that are probably beyond their control.”

With more than 100 services across the borough, Camden sees this as just one example of how data-driven decision-making can scale meaningful change and deliver better social care at lower cost.

Looking ahead to 2026

The event closed on an optimistic note, with speakers confident that the foundations being laid now will unlock a new wave of smarter, more human-centred public services.

“What a great event! From the opening fireside chat to the final panel discussion on the future of data in government, the conference was full of great insight, challenging topics, significant learnings and lots of conversations from the stage and in the networking breaks,” said Matt Stanley, founder of Think Digital Partners.

“It’s great for our public sector audience to stay in touch with some of the ongoing projects in this space like the National Data Library and the advances in different departments on various AI projects. It’s the perfect way to close off a great year of events.

“We would like to thank all 300 speakers and sponsors and over 4000 delegates that have attended our conferences in 2025. We look forward to helping to curate more great content and conversations in 2026.”