Unlocking the power of data and AI in government
Data is increasingly central to how government delivers services and makes decisions. While strong progress is visible in some areas, systemic barriers need to be addressed to enable larger-scale transformation.
Across governments, departments are increasingly using data to enhance service delivery, policymaking and operational efficiency, and this webinar will look at how governments around the world are making use of data and AI.
This webinar looked at how governments can coordinate data and AI implementation by enforcing interoperability and data standards. The discussion looked at how to building on existing work in government to better signpost recommended tools and models, and examine how such shared approaches can ensure the sharing of proven solutions and implementation-ready AI use cases and toolkits.
Together we discussed:
- How government can set data standards and principles to drive better use of insights.
- How initiatives like the national data libraries can help better share information across government.
- How government can build openness as a norm in data and AI use to tackle a culture of defensiveness that holds back sharing and innovation.
Panel
Francisco Javier Torres Gella, Secretary General, Spanish AI Market Surveillance Authority (AESIA), Spain
Francisco Javier Torres Gella has been a State Legal Counsel (Advisory and Attorney) of Spain for 23 years and is Member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation. Since 2002, he has held advisory roles in several Ministries and Public Bodies, as well as various litigation positions before all Jurisdictions and in Commercial and Investment Arbitrations. He has also negotiated various EU Regulations and Directives on behalf of the Kingdom of Spain within the European Council.
Currently Mr. Torres Gella serves as Secretary General of the Spanish AI Market Surveillance Authority (AESIA), the Public Body responsible for supervising and promoting responsible and trustworthy AI systems in Spain. He also participates in various Working Groups of the AI Office, and in TAIEX Projects of the European Commission.
Seong Ju Park, Policy Lead on Digital Government and Data, Digital Government Unit, Innovative, Digital and Open Government Division, Directorate for Public Governance, OECD
Seong Ju PARK is a policy lead on digital government and data at the Public Governance Directorate of the OECD and a greater believer in making governments work for their citizens. Since joining the OECD, she has been working on various policy areas to support governments to build foundations for a successful digital transformation. Her work focuses on governance for digital government, a data-driven public sector, and government services in the digital age. Prior to joining the OECD, Seong Ju spent several years working on digital government policies at the Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Seong Ju holds a LLM in International Legal Affairs, and an MPs in Diplomacy and Security.
Kim DesLauriers, Director, AI Compute Access Fund, Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Canada
Kim DesLauriers is the Director of the AI Compute Access Fund at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). She brings over 15 years of experience in public-sector service delivery, where she has led large-scale digital transformation initiatives to improve how governments serve their clients.
Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Public Administration from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Public Administration from the Royal Military College of Canada. Her work focuses on technology development, digital enablement, and strengthening organizational capacity to deliver modern, user‑focused services. In her current role, she works closely with innovators across the AI ecosystem who share a mission to improve the digital enablement of business processes and create positive, global impact through responsible AI adoption.
Sandro Brandão, Sub Secretary of Planning and Digital Government, Planning and Management Secretary, Mato Grosso State, Brazil
Sandro Brandão is the Sub Secretary of Planning and Digital Government for the Planning and Management Secretary in Mato Grosso State. He is more than 26 years experienced in the public administration and has served as Seplag high staff leadership for over five years, in witch has lead public politics related to government planning, innovation, and digital administration. Along his career, he also has led strategic projects focused on modernizing public management and advanced digital transformation. He holds a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property, and is also an author, professor, and speaker. His work has been recognized with awards such as the ABEP-TIC Excellence in Digital Government Award and the Global Public Service Awards.
Jennifer Robinson, Global Public Sector Strategic Advisor, SAS
Working to help governments maximize the use of their data through data integration, data management, and analytics. Her career in software development is complemented by the opportunity to serve as a local elected leader for the last 24 years. Jennifer co-wrote the book A Practical Guide to Analytics for Government and is featured in the book Smart Cities, Smart Future. In addition to writing articles and blogs about data-driven governing, she speaks with government leaders about emerging technologies and how to strategically adopt them.
Webinar chair: Sarah Wray, Research Editor, Global Government Forum
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 is GGF’s research editor, where she leads research projects that work to identify best practice from government leaders around the world, and to understand the skills and priorities of civil servants.
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.
