‘Producing great results despite constraints’: Five minutes with Martin Waudby, Chief Data Officer, London Borough of Camden
In this series of ‘Five minutes with’ interviews, we share insights from city leaders who will speak at Global AI Cities 2026, taking place in Greater Manchester, UK, on 16 and 17 June.
At the event, leaders from around the world will share insights on how to unlock people-first AI transformation.
Martin Waudby, Chief Data Officer at the London Borough of Camden, will speak at Global AI Cities in the session ‘Making city data useable for AI’.
In this interview, he tells GGF about data transformation at the London Borough of Camden that he says has produced great results despite severe constraints; leaders who have the “communication gene” being an inspiration; and colleagues’ curiosity about his tattoos.
What are you most interested in discussing at Global AI Cities 2026?
I am really looking forward to discussing how we can responsibly and ethically make use of AI across a range of services and organisations. That integration is one of the key challenges the public sector faces.
Find out more about the Global AI Cities conference and register to attend here
What more do you want to achieve before you retire?
I would love to go into an organisation with the required freedom and truly transform how to use digital, data and technology and tangibly demonstrate how it makes a difference to people’s lives. I’ve done pieces but never the whole. The aim would be to really demonstrate what good looks like in all aspects of transformation.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the public sector?
Be curious, be empathetic, really listen and be firm and clear – don’t assume people have any context about what you’re talking about.
What do you like most about working in the public sector?
The purpose, the scale, the variety, and the complexity. I get quite excited when I see something related to digital, data and technology that really touches on everything.
Which public sector leader – past or present – do you most admire and why?
I’m not going to single out a person, but those leaders that have the communication gene are brilliant. When they can do killer talks, it’s just so inspiring. I recently saw a brilliant talk from Joanna Hutchinson [chief data officer at BAE Systems, who previously held senior roles at several central government departments and organisations] which completely blew me away… and all of the audience. Watching great speakers is a bit like a guilty pleasure.
Which government department, city authority or council – either in the UK or abroad – are you most inspired by and why?
I loved working for HM Passport Office. What I learnt there was amazing. The leaders were inspiring and the challenges, especially through Covid, were just enormous.
What projects or innovations at the London Borough of Camden might be valuable to your peers in similar organisations?
We have done a great job of improving outcomes through data via our Data Transformation. It’s a lean team, too lean, but it has delivered some great projects, adopting good test and learn approaches, really embracing the learning and ‘no-blame’ aspect. We achieved things through great collaboration and partnering with suppliers. I would humbly argue that how we do things has produced great results despite severe constraints.
What attributes do you most value in people?
Being receptive to new ideas and a willingness to listen.
Is there something about you that people find surprising?
Recently when I mentioned the Chinese symbols tattooed on my back it sparked quite a few surprised reactions amongst my peers and a lot of curiosity.
What is your most treasured possession?
A digital SLR camera.
What is your dream holiday destination?
Somewhere new that I have not visited where I can explore nature, culture and history.
Find out more about Global AI Cities and register to attend here
Read more:
New Global Government Forum event to explore AI use in cities around the world
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Prioritising people and movement: Five minutes with Peter Boulton, network director highways at Transport for Greater Manchester
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