Making AI Transformation Happen in Government
With AI named the ‘One Big Thing’ by the UK Government, and every department now committed to leveraging agentic AI and workplace transformation to meet their efficiency targets, the public sector is entering a pivotal phase of accelerated change.
The Spending Review 2025 outlines the need to make £14bn in annual efficiency gains by 2028–29 – with improved efficiency to be catalysed by a £3.25bn Transformation Fund to modernise services and accelerate innovation.
This Global Government Forum webinar, supported by knowledge partner Salesforce, explored how AI will play a critical role in helping departments deliver better outcomes with fewer resources – freeing up capacity, reducing costs, and enabling smarter, faster services.
From digital literacy and data fluency to ethical awareness and change management, success depends not only on the technology itself but on the people and culture that support it. This session examined the skills and capabilities needed across teams and leadership to ensure AI is implemented effectively and responsibly.
Join this discussion to hear from senior public sector leaders and industry experts on what it takes to turn this vision into reality. Salesforce also shared insights on the role of AI in delivering measurable, real-world impact for the government.
Panel
David Lewis, Deputy Director – AI Programme Division and Strategic Innovation, COO Group, Government Legal Department
David Lewis has been a Government lawyer for 24 years and has worked for various departments, including the MoD, HMRC and Department for Transport. He has led legal teams working on a range of nationally important projects, such as EU exit legislation, negotiations on the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol, and HS2. Since November 2024 he has led the Government Legal Department’s AI Programme, whose purpose is to find and implement ways to use AI to deliver an even better legal service to the Government.
Shehroze Junejo, Executive Director and Chief Data Officer, UK Government Investments, HM Treasury
Shehroze Junejo is an Executive Director and Chief Data Officer at UK Government Investments (UKGI), the government’s centre of expertise for corporate finance and governance. He leads digital, data and technology transformation at UKGI and advises on some of the UK Government’s most complex fiscal and financial risks.
With a career spanning infrastructure, capital investment and portfolio management, Shehroze has built multidisciplinary teams and shaped fiscal risk management and capital planning across Whitehall by embedding data and analytics into decision-making. He has delivered high-impact frameworks, established new governance standards, and introduced digital and AI-enabled approaches into core operations.
His achievements include leading government–industry initiatives during COVID-19 that safeguarded thousands of jobs, publishing world-leading reports on fiscal risk, and setting the vision for UKGI’s first digital, data and technology strategy.
Shehroze is a frequent speaker on the role of data, AI and digital transformation in building resilient, future-ready organisations.
Edward Steele, IT Fellow for Data Science, Met Office
Dr Edward (“Ed”) Steele is the Met Office IT Fellow for Data Science, championing the development and delivery of the organisation’s artificial intelligence and machine learning capability. Consistent with his expertise in environmental intelligence, and many years of leading high-impact contributions across academia, industry and government, is his enjoyment of working with both internal and external partners to enable them to see around corners and ensure they capitalize on new and emerging scientific and technical improvements; unlocking new opportunities for radically enhanced weather and climate related decision-making.
Francois Zimmermann, Field CTO, EMEA, Salesforce
Francois Zimmermann is the Field CTO for EMEA at Salesforce, where he helps organisations navigate the intersection of AI, data, and digital transformation. With extensive experience in data strategy, analytics, and AI-driven innovation, he advises executive teams on leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive business growth. He has previously held CTO positions at Tableau and Hitachi and has a background in Analytics, Cloud Services, Data Integration and IoT as well as vertical solutions for Health & Life Sciences, Financial Services and Manufacturing.
Emily Hill, Agentforce & Agentic AI Lead, Public Sector EMEA, Salesforce
Emily Hill has vast experience in regulatory industries with background in insurance and law prior to joining Salesforce. Now Emily has seven years of expertise in Salesforce specialising in digital transformation for the public sector, particularly in Defence, Justice & Policing. A passionate public speaking workshop leader, she now focuses on guiding public sector organisations across EMEA in harnessing Agentic AI to transform digital labour. Her work offers a unique perspective on the future of work and the use of AI technology in government.
Webinar chair: Siobhan Benita, Moderator, Global Government Forum
Siobhan was a senior civil servant in the UK with more than 15 years’ Whitehall experience. She worked in many of major delivery departments, including Transport, Environment, Health and Local Government. She also had senior roles at the heart of government in the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, including supporting the then Cabinet Secretary, Lord O’Donnell, to lead work on civil service reform and strategy. Siobhan left to run as an independent candidate in the Mayor of London election. She subsequently joined her alma mater, Warwick University, as Chief Strategy Officer of Warwick in London and Co-Director of the Warwick Policy Lab.
