Building the Smarter State

Matthew Evans

Director for Markets and COO, techUK

Matthew Evans leads techUK’s Market Programme teams and is a member of the senior leadership team.

The Market Programme teams help techUK members apply innovative technology solutions across a range of sectors, including the Public Sector, Financial Services and Cyber. 

Prior to his appointment in early 2019, Matt led techUK’s Smart Infrastructure and IoT work, as well as being CEO of the Broadband Stakeholder Group. During this time he led the telecoms industry’s approach to lowering the cost of network deployment, played a key role in coordinating it’s response to Brexit and was closely involved in the development of the Government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. He also assisted in the development of the UK’s first secure by design Code of Practice aimed at consumer IoT, oversaw the publication of a paper outlining the tech sector’s view of future mobility services and drove engagement around the use of digital twins.

Matt sits on the Steering Board of the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce, Digital Framework Task Group,  andthe advisory board for the Prospering from the Energy Revolution industrial challenge fund.

Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked in Arqiva's public policy team, across the broadcast and telecoms markets. Before that he was a researcher for an MP at Westminster.

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Col Campbell

Partner, Public Services Technology Strategy Transformation, KPMG in the UK, KPMG in the UK

Col is a lead partner for KPMGs Technology Strategy Transformation work across the public sector. Col is experienced in all elements of digital and agile delivery and business growth.

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Megan Lee Devlin

Chief Executive, Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO)

Megan Lee Devlin is Chief Executive of the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), responsible for leading the government’s digital transformation from the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) in the Cabinet Office. CDDO leads the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function for HMG by putting the right conditions and capabilities in place to enable departments to transform through digital and technology. Megan joined the Civil Service from McKinsey & Company, where she worked with private sector and public sector organisations on technology, analytics and organisational transformation topics.

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Chris Howes

CDIO, DEFRA

Chris Howes is the Chief Digital and Information Officer for Defra, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  Defra is responsible for improving and protecting the environment and aims to grow a green economy and sustain thriving rural communities. The systems that Chris’ team deliver help protect the environment and promote sustainability; ensure food and animals cross our borders safely and protect the public from the impacts of flooding and animal diseases. Chris leads the UK Government’s sustainable ICT strategy and ensured Defra was one of the first Government departments to build sustainability into the selection and management of its supply chain. Under his leadership, Defra has established an e-sustainability alliance of over 300 technology companies, culminating in a week-long Technology for Climate Action event at COP26.  He has over 20 years’ experience leading major transformation programmes, involving technology and business change, in large science-based government bodies, and originally trained as an Environmental Scientist gaining an MSc in Environmental Pollution Science. Chris is passionate about IT sustainability, strongly believing that technology has a major role to play in tackling the climate crisis but recognises that the industry must also work hard to ensure it doesn’t exacerbate it.

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Theo Blackwell

Chief Digital Officer for London, Mayor of London

Appointed in 2017 as London's first Chief Digital Officer, Theo leads on London-wide digital transformation, data and smart city initiatives at City Hall.
His role involves:
•    Strategic leadership on the digital transformation agenda for London's public services, across the GLA group and the wider public sector.
•    Convening on behalf of the Mayor, across London local government to support the take-up of innovative, technology, and data-led approaches to service delivery and public engagement.
•    Developing and promoting partnership between the public, private and community sectors to enable and support the development of new public service-oriented technology and innovation.
The new Smarter London Together Roadmap launched by Mayor Sadiq Khan in June 2018, is supporting the collective capabilities of the city through citizen-centred design, data-sharing, smart infrastructure, digital skills and collaboration. Progress can be followed on the Smarter London Together Report Card.
 

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Laura Webb

Partner, Public Services Technology Transformation, KPMG in the UK

Laura is the lead partner for all of KPMGs Technology Transformation work across the Government and Infrastructure markets. Laura has over 20 years experience in successful delivery across central government and higher education, previously having led major transformation programmes for central government and higher education. 

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Megan Lee Devlin

Chief Executive, Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO)

Megan Lee Devlin is Chief Executive of the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), responsible for leading the government’s digital transformation from the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) in the Cabinet Office. CDDO leads the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function for HMG by putting the right conditions and capabilities in place to enable departments to transform through digital and technology. Megan joined the Civil Service from McKinsey & Company, where she worked with private sector and public sector organisations on technology, analytics and organisational transformation topics.

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Jim Stamp

Head of Data, Made Tech

Jim Stamp is the Head of Data at Made Tech with over two decades of experience working in and around software development, spanning many disciplines.
Jim spent many years integrating systems into simulated environments using methods rooted in research and experimentation. At the University of Bristol, he researched the intersection of cybernetics, complexity theory and software development.
He then moved back to the private sector, leading transformative changes to e-commerce and advertising platforms. He led several award-winning machine-learning products and delivered a market-leading, petabyte-scale, greenfield data platform.
Jim has led the way in establishing Made Tech’s data capability while also leading several major data platform projects.
 

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Thomas Beautyman

Lead for Government Digital Capability, Cabinet Office

Thomas joined the Cabinet Office in 2021, in the new Central Digital and Data Office, and is responsible for transforming how Government grows capability in digital and data.  This includes attracting, recruiting and developing critical deep expertise, through to developing the many leaders in government who have specialism in other domains, but increasingly need digital and data confidence to deliver.  Thomas moved to the Cabinet Office from DWP Digital, having joined Government in 2019 from BT where he led workforce planning, apprenticeships and learning transformation.
 

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Angela Essel

Head Joint Security and Resilience Centre, (JSaRC)

Having held a number of senior roles across the Civil Service since 2012, Angela was appointed as Head of JSaRC in 2019. Her role is to bring government, industry and academia together to identify solutions aimed at addressing UK’s security challenges; both at home and overseas. As part of this work, JSaRC leads on driving cross government solutions, and support the growth of the security sector. Alongside her role at JSaRC, Angela is the Senior Sponsor for Diversity and Inclusion for the Homeland Security Group (HSG), creating initiatives and developing opportunities for discussion across HSG to enable the department to become a more diverse and inclusive area of the Home Office. 

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Tim Crofts

VP Sales and Strategy, Leidos UK

Tim is an experienced Sales, Business Development & Strategy leader with 20 years’ experience at IBM before joining Lockheed Martin IS&GS in March 2016 and into Leidos in August 2016 following the merger with LM. He now leads Business Development & Strategy for the UK business, reporting locally to Simon Fovargue, UK Chief Executive. Working across a number of business development roles Tim has built strong relationships with key public sector clients in the UK. He is adept across the full spectrum of Technology Services. Tim has distinguished experience of running large and complex technology based services deals as well as leading a large sales team to deliver pipeline, account growth and new business. Tim has lead the transformation of the Leidos UK Business Development team since 2016. Significant change in personnel with focus on skills development and implementation of the Leidos Win Plan focusing on signing new business with 150% year to year from 2017 to 2018 at $280m with a new business pipeline into billions. He has worked hard to capitalise on building the new Leidos UK brand with much effort on thought leadership with analysts, clients and journalists. In 2019, he led his team to 2 new transformation deals >£100m with the Home Office and Metropolitan Police Service. He is also now the Leidos UK Executive Sponsor for the Journey to High Performance. He serves on the techUK board having previously been a member of the techUK Defence & Security Board, Chair of RISC working with the Home Office. He is an alumni of the inaugural CBI Leadership Programme in 2013. He sits on the Management board on the Institute of Collaborative Working. Tim holds a BA (Hons) degree in Business Studies from Napier University, Edinburgh. He has completed Executive Business Education at INSEAD, Fontainebleau and Boston University. He has 3 children: Oliver, Charlotte and Harry and enjoys coaching his son’s u15 football team, gardening and cooking.
 

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Frank Lee

CEO, Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW)

Frank started his career at CIBA Geigy where we work as a chemist in their pharmaceutical research Laboratories. He is joining ICW at the start of 2023 after over 30 years with BSI, he started with BSI as a client manager, he then worked in new product development, product management, was Operation Director for Continental Europe Middle East and Africa region overseeing BSI assessment delivery across the whole region. 
Frank then went on to be regional Director for the Northern European region where he had R&L responsibility for Germany, France Holland, and Scandinavian countries. 
He became EMEA Compliance & Risk Director. He moved in 2021 into his current tole of UK&I product Certification Director
Frank has been responsible for the introduction into the BSI Portfolio of a number of new products including integrated management systems, OHSAS 18001 (now ISO 45001), BS 11000 (now ISO 44001).
Frank developed the ISO 44001 Certification scheme now used for the certification of organisations to ISO 44001, he has been a fellow on the institute of collaborative working since 2014 and was the Collaborative leader of the year in 2018.  He is currently transitioning into the role of CEO of ICW.
 

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Toby Jones

Head of ACE (Accelerated Capability Environment), UK Home Office

Toby leads the Homeland Security Group’s transformation of mission-led innovation for public safety and security with science, technology and data. He founded ACE, the UK’s Accelerated Capability Environment, a Home Office-sponsored partnership between industry, academia, not-for-profits and government, to push smart technologies and skills to the front line with operational tempo. He brings industry experience from the national security and resilience sector, combined with public policy development including legislation for investigatory powers and telecommunications regulation and compliance. His professional background is in systems engineering and computer science.

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Roz Barrance

Head of Business Development, Civil, Leidos UK

Roz Barrance is the Head of Business Development for Leidos UK’s Civil Division. Previously, she was the Portfolio Development Lead for Leidos UK’s National Security Portfolio, and Programme Director, leading the delivery of one of Leidos’ largest UK government programmes.

Roz is a strong advocate of collaborative working, and passionate about technology and the benefits the combination of both can deliver to public services. Roz works in close partnership with her customers and colleagues to develop and deliver innovative solutions to help solve some of their biggest challenges.

Before joining Leidos in 2017, Roz established a business development consultancy working with SME Clients to support their growth as an integrated part of their team. Prior to that that she worked with multiple clients in IBM’s Global Services business, and in an environmental, technology and sustainability consultancy.

Roz is a keen supporter of women in technology, and mentors STEM graduates and apprentices helping them to make the most of the incredible opportunities that the sector offers.
 

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Tom Read

Chief Executive Officer, Government Digital Service

Tom Read became the CEO and Director General of the Government Digital Service in February 2021. Tom joined GDS from the Ministry of Justice where he was Chief Digital & Information Officer. While at MOJ he spearheaded reforms to modernise technology used across prisons, probation, and legal aid services. 

Tom is a digital technologist by background with experience across a range of industries including banking, media, and consulting. Tom was Head of Applications at the Guardian Media Group from 2008 before joining HMG as Cabinet Office Chief Technology Officer in 2013.

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Heather Cover-Kus

Head of Central Government Programme, techUK

Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.

Prior to joining techUK in April 2022, Heather worked in the Economic Policy and Small States Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat.  She led the organisation’s FinTech programme and worked to create an enabling environment for developing countries to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits of FinTech.

Before moving to the UK, Heather worked at the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.

Heather holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from LSE, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Macalester College.

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Paul Maltby

CDO, DLUHC

Paul is the Chief Digital Officer at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities where he is focussed on improving the Department’s digital services, working with local government to develop their digital capacity, and driving digital and data reform to the planning system and housing sectors. 
He previously led the government’s new data agenda as Director of Data in the Cabinet Office’s Government Digital Service, with responsibility for open data, data science in government, data infrastructure and data legislation.
He has a background in public service innovation and reform in government with spells in Leicestershire County Council, the Home Office and the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. 
 

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Karl Hoods

Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, and Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Karl is an experienced Chief Information Officer (CIO) and has worked in the private, public and third sectors. He is currently the Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology where he is responsible for the delivery of core services, digital transformation, innovation, knowledge management and shared services. 
 
Prior to joining BEIS Karl was CIO for Save the Children where he was responsible for the delivery of technology and digital services to support humanitarian, policy, advocacy and fundraising activities. He has also held business technology leadership roles with web and sports media startups and led major change programmes for publishing leading publishers.  His career in startups fostered his interest in how emerging technology can be applied to business problems.  
 
Outside of work Karl is interested in education and sits on the boards of the Harris Federation, Bournemouth University, the Safe & Trusted AI Centre for Doctoral Training and King’s College London’s Department for Informatics Industry Advisory Board. In addition he is on the global steering council for an international metaverse association. 

Karl is also a keen runner and has completed a number of marathons
 

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Nadira Hussein

Chief Executive Officer, Socitm

No bio provided

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Georgina Maratheftis

Associate Director | Local Public Services, techUK

Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services. Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with councils to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local authorities and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face.

Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.

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Simon Bourne

Chief Digital, Data, and Technology Officer, Home Office

Simon joined the Home Office in September 2020 and is the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO). Prior to joining the Home Office, Simon spent six years as the Chief Information Officer for the Co-op Group. He has over 30 years of experience of digital and technology leadership roles, working in both financial services and retail sectors.

As the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO), Simon is accountable 
for the delivery of digital, data and technology solutions that support the department’s current operations and future business transformation programmes.  These cover both core Home Office operations as well as delivery of national law enforcement capabilities.  

Simon gained a Masters in Mathematics from Cambridge University. He is married with two children and lives in West Yorkshire.

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