Data needs diverse thinking: Five minutes with NHS data chief Ming Tang
This interview with Ming Tang, chief data and analytics officer, NHS England, is part of a ‘Five minutes’ series featuring speakers from Public Service Data Live, taking place in London on 19 September.
What more do you want to achieve before you retire?
I would like to support the introduction of greater diversity of thought and background into the civil service. This is why I have set up the Data and Analytics Academy to facilitate learning within the service and also to seek out new recruits from diverse backgrounds into data and analytics.
Are there data innovations from other countries that have inspired you?
I am totally inspired by the digitalisation work by the Indian Government – aka the India Stack. [This initiative] has successfully introduced digital public infrastructure, starting with citizen-centric services. Building out from data, it has enabled digital patents and the formulation of digital identity for 1.3bn people. The approach was not mandated and provided ease and convenience for the citizen to pull them in and transformed the Indian economy over 10 years.
What attributes do you most value in people?
Candour, a can-do attitude, a sense of fun and curiosity to continuously learn from others.
Tang will take part in a panel discussion on the Ada Lovelace stage on the topic of using data to deliver world-class government services. She will be joined by Gina Gill, chief strategy officer, Central Digital and Data Office, and Tariq Khan, chief digital and information officer, London Borough of Camden.
Find out more: Public Service Data Live, Thursday 19 September 2024, Business Design Centre, London
Diversity in data and AI
In line with Tang’s comments on the need for greater diversity of thought and background in the civil service and data and analytics, a session has been planned at Public Service Data Live. The lunchtime session will include a fireside chat with Gina Gill and Amanda Dahl, deputy director, digital service platforms, Government Digital Service.
Topics on the agenda will include:
- Why diversity is crucial for the development and deployment of disruptive technologies like AI in public services
- A snapshot of diversity in public services data and AI workforces today
- Efforts that are in place to rebalance this and how this work can be accelerated given the pace of AI
- How public services organisations are working to mitigate bias in AI systems
Public Service Data Live
The second Public Service Data Live annual conference, held at the Business Design Centre in London, will hear from leaders from across the UK government and wider public sector on how to improve the way data and AI are used in the public service.
Sessions will include a keynote address from Craig Suckling, the chief data officer of the UK government to open the day, as well as a closing session on the next steps for government transformation, with speakers including Sarah Munby, the permanent secretary of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Speakers across the conference will also include Mark Durkee, head of data and technology, Responsible Technology Adoption Unit, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; Daljit Rehal, chief digital and information officer, HM Revenue and Customs; Laura Gilbert, chief analyst and director of data science, 10 Downing Street; and Jenny Brooker, chief data architect, Central Digital and Data Office.
The event is free to attend for civil servants, public servants and those working in the wider public sector.
About Sarah Wray
Sarah has over 15 years’ experience as a journalist with a specialism in the public sector and topics such as digitalisation and climate action. Sarah was formerly the editor of Cities Today and Smart Cities World, as well as a specialist video-based publication in the aerospace sector. She has also written for publications including Smart Cities Dive, Mobile Europe, Mobile World Live and Computer Weekly.
