Public Sector Podcast

In this episode, Lee Hickin, Executive Director, National AI Centre breaks down what responsible AI actually means for small to medium enterprises in Australia—and why vague advice is one of the biggest reasons SMEs hesitate to adopt. Through the work of the National AI Centre, the talk reframes "responsible" as something practical and achievable, not a heavyweight compliance exercise. You'll hear a simple approach to adoption built around the AI Six: clear accountability, basic risk and impact thinking, transparency at the right level, ongoing testing, and maintaining human control. The episode's core message is cultural: confidence comes from leadership setting clear expectations, investing in capability, and treating AI as "you + AI", not "you vs AI." Lee Hickin, Executive Director, National AI Centre For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

Government doesn't transform just by buying new tech — it transforms when it modernises operations. Join Rip Colvin, Executive Director, Florida Justice Administrative Commission as he digs into how leaders upgrade the systems, processes, and capabilities that improve execution, strengthen accountability, and ultimately deliver better public services. Rip explores how "back office" functions like finance, procurement, contracts, and administration become strategic enablers; how to simplify complexity without losing transparency or public trust; and how platforms, automation, and digital workflows can reduce admin load, improve visibility, and free teams to focus on higher-value work — while building organisations that are ready for whatever comes next. Rip Colvin, Executive Director, Florida Justice Administrative Commission. For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

Join Arlene Williams (Associate Deputy Minister and Chief Digital Officer) and Clay Bates (Executive Director of AI and Cloud Engineering) of the Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions, who share how the Government of Nova Scotia is turning AI into a practical, trusted capability that improves how government delivers clear, reliable online services. The focus isn't on AI for hype's sake—it's on using AI in everyday work to lift productivity, modernise service delivery, and build long-term digital resilience across the public service. You'll hear how the Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions (CSDS) is making this real: deploying secure, approved AI productivity tools inside existing platforms, building in-house expertise to design and run AI-enabled services tailored to public sector needs, and reducing reliance on external support by strengthening internal capability—while keeping accountability, security, and the human connection at the centre of public service. Arlene Williams, Associate Deputy Minister, Chief Digital Officer, Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions, Government of Nova Scotia, Clay Bates, Executive Director, AI & Cloud Engineering, Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions, Government of Nova Scotia For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

This week, we are joined by Matt Moffat, Program Director, Department of Treasury and Finance, Sarah Taylor, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director, Corporate Services, Department for Correctional Services who look at what it takes to deliver a world-class Treasury capability through a generational uplift—enabling faster, more accurate, and reformed financial services that better meet modern expectations. Matt and Sarah also cover the practical realities of modernising finance systems so government can make better-informed decisions and allocate resources more effectively as population and business growth increases. A key example is the first pilot with the Department for Correctional Services, showing how automation and improved insights can lift productivity and deliver more value back to the state. Matt Moffat, Program Director, Department of Treasury and Finance, Sarah Taylor, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director, Corporate Services, Department for Correctional Services For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

This week we sit down with Josie Cluer, Global Government & Infrastructure Workforce and Citizens Leader, EY, Alexander Evans, Associate Dean for Strategic Development, School of Public Policy, London School of Economics, Robyn Scott, CEO & Co-Founder, Apolitical and Kate Delgado-Kizer, EY Global Government & Infrastructure Sector Insights Senior Analyst who focus on the growing pressure governments face to deliver public value in a fast-changing, digital environment - while managing challenges like skills shortages, demographic change, and intensifying competition with the private sector for talent. Our guests explore why these forces are stretching public services and why workforce capability is becoming central to successful transformation. At the centre of the discussion is EY's first annual Future-Fit Workforce Study, drawing on insights from 14,000+ public servants across 25 countries to define what "future fit" really means and how ready governments are today. The episode shares early findings and practical perspectives on what it takes to build a well-led, well-managed, highly skilled public service. Josie Cluer, Global Government & Infrastructure Workforce and Citizens Leader, EY, Alexander Evans, Associate Dean for Strategic Development, School of Public Policy, London School of Economics, Kate Delgado-Kizer, EY Global Government & Infrastructure Sector Insights Senior Analyst, Robyn Scott, CEO & Co-Founder, Apolitical For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

This week, our episode marks a timely moment—20 years since New Zealand signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)—and Victoria Wray, Manager Agency Standards and Integration, Department of Internal Affairs and Shu Run Yap, Principal Advisor, Operations and Delivery Strategy & Enablement, Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People use it as a lens to discuss accessibility and inclusion by design. The conversation focuses on how New Zealand can close the digital divide by moving beyond accessibility as a late-stage fix and instead embedding lived experience and inclusive thinking into the architecture of digital service delivery. You'll hear the "why" and the "how" of the shift underway: treating accessibility as core public service infrastructure (not a procurement checkbox), designing services around choice and equitable channels, and transitioning from legacy web standards to a broader digital accessibility standard that covers apps, documents, and more. The episode also explores feedback-driven innovation—making it easier for people to report barriers, using accessibility statements and clear contact channels, and ensuring AI-enabled services don't unintentionally amplify bias or exclude disabled communities. Victoria Wray, Manager Agency Standards and Integration, Department of Internal Affairs and Shu Run Yap Principal Advisor, Operations and Delivery Strategy & Enablement, Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People. For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

Vaiju Joshi, Portfolio Director, Mobility Transformationn, SA Police looks at next-generation policing at SA Police and how technology can better support frontline work — with the bigger goal of safer communities. It highlights the realities officers face across metro and regional areas: long distances, constant context switching, limited connectivity, and heavy admin. It then outlines SAPOL's "mobile office on the go" approach, where the mobile phone becomes the primary device for accessing systems, completing workflows, and staying informed in the field. The episode also shares early results and why co-design "for frontline, by frontline" is key to making the change stick. Vaiju Joshi, Portfolio Director, Mobility Transformation, SA Police For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

As governments accelerate AI and emerging tech adoption, Tony Daye, Chief Digital Officer, Finance and Treasury Board, Government of New Brunswick explores why trust, transparency, and governance are now just as critical as innovation itself. Featuring insights from the Government of New Brunswick, it highlights how embedding accountability and ethics into day-to-day decision-making helps agencies move faster without losing public confidence. The conversation focuses on practical ways to scale digital innovation responsibly from day one—putting clear governance around AI use, building ethical safeguards into delivery, and strengthening cross-agency coordination so innovation and oversight stay aligned. The takeaway: you can scale transformative technologies with control and confidence, while keeping citizen trust at the centre. Tony Daye, Chief Digital Officer, Finance and Treasury Board, Government of New Brunswick For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

Join Michael Moore, CISO for the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, as he discusses how cybersecurity in government is becoming a leadership and public trust issue—especially in elections, where cyber risk overlaps with physical threats, misinformation, operational logistics, and legal pressures. Referencing a cyber incident he attributes to Iran, he outlines what agencies need now: stronger fundamentals, data classification, AI training, and secure-by-design practices. He also stresses shared responsibility across security, IT, business leaders, and vendors—and the need to keep a human in the loop as AI use expands. Michael Moore, Chief Information Security Officer, Arizona Secretary of State's Office For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

As quantum technologies evolve, the encryption protecting government systems, critical infrastructure, and citizen data is facing emerging risk. This episode brings together Michael Watson, Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth, Virginia Information Technologies Agency and Glenn Schmitz, Chief Information Security Officer, Virginia State Corporation Commission to unpack what the post-quantum era means for the public sector—and why preparation can't wait. Michael and Glenn focus on practical next steps: understanding new cryptographic standards, assessing risk and prioritising which systems to transition first, planning migration across large hybrid environments, and strengthening public-private collaboration to accelerate quantum-safe readiness. Michael Watson, Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth, Virginia Information Technologies Agency and Glenn Schmitz, Chief Information Security Officer, Virginia State Corporation Commission. For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

In this week's episode, Steve Lewis (EY Global Infrastructure Technology Leader and Head of Infrastructure Advisory, Hong Kong) unpacks why decades of digital investment still haven't closed the productivity gap in infrastructure delivery—and why agentic AI could change the equation by surfacing better insight earlier, improving decision-making, and helping teams manage risk and complexity with more confidence. Steve's core message is practical: don't "digitise everything" for the sake of it. Start by getting clear on your outcomes, ROI, and the specific pain points worth transforming—then measure success properly, involve the people doing the work, and communicate change in a way that resonates. The takeaway: focus on transforming the right things, not adding another layer to the digitisation bandwagon. Download EY's new global research report, "The intelligence layer - how agentic AI can connect the infrastructure industry," at https://www.ey.com/en_gl/insights/infrastructure/how-agentic-ai-can-create-an-intelligence-layer-for-infrastructure Steve Lewis, EY Global Infrastructure Technology Leader and Head of Infrastructure Advisory, Hong Kong For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

This week, Sandeep Taileng, Co Chair - National Committee For Information Access & Protection Requirements and Information Security Leader, State Trustees (Victoria) explores why quantum readiness is no longer a future problem, but a responsibility we need to act on today. Sandeep discusses the growing risk of "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, and why organisations must start making technology decisions now that will protect sensitive data not just today, but decades into the future. The conversation also looks at the idea of a fiduciary duty to protect data — moving beyond checkbox compliance toward long-term risk management. By building resilience, automation and crypto-agility into today's systems, organisations can adapt to post-quantum cryptography and ensure the information they safeguard today remains secure tomorrow. Sandeep Taileng, Co Chair - National Committee For Information Access & Protection Requirements and Information Security Leader, State Trustees (Victoria) For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

Mobility is becoming a digital service challenge, not just a transport one. As expectations rise, agencies need connected, secure, user-friendly experiences that make it easier for people and industry to interact with government. In this week's episode, Erika-Kirsten Easton, Chief Data Officer and Director General, Enterprise Service, Data and Architecture, Transport Canada shares how they are modernising service delivery, using data and AI to improve decisions, and connecting systems across teams and jurisdictions. The session offers practical ideas for safer, more accessible services that keep pace with changing needs. Erika-Kirsten Easton, Chief Data Officer and Director General, Enterprise Service, Data and Architecture, Transport Canada For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

How do you move fast in the public sector without compromising security or compliance? In this episode, Ian Pham, Chief Information Security Officer, Victorian Managed Insurance Authority explores how organisations can embed cyber risk thinking into digital services and emerging tech from day one — enabling innovation that's both bold and secure. Ian also discuss why the real transformation happens when delivery, risk, and security teams start speaking the same language, working together to remove friction and make safer innovation possible. Ian Pham, Chief Information Security Officer, Victorian Managed Insurance Authority For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

This week, Sam Jones, Executive Director Corporate Services, Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria explores the rise of the "cybernetic colleague": using AI to expand organisational capacity and take repetitive work off people's plates, so teams can focus on more strategic, human, and high-value tasks. It looks at what this shift means in practice, and how leaders can set teams up to adopt AI confidently rather than resist it. The conversation also focuses on what responsible implementation requires, especially in legal and justice settings: clear AI governance, guardrails, and ethical boundaries. It unpacks how to capture efficiency gains while still applying the right level of human judgement, accountability, and oversight where decisions carry real-world consequences. Sam Jones, Executive Director Corporate Services, Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

In this episode, Corina Hernandez-Muñoz, Head, Cyber Behaviour and Culture | Enterprise Information Security (EIS), Export Development Canada explores why effective cybersecurity depends just as much on people as it does on technology. As digital threats become more complex, organisations are recognising that strong systems alone aren't enough — building awareness, shared responsibility and a culture of vigilance across the workforce is essential. This conversation looks at how federal agencies are strengthening their human layer of defence by investing in skills, knowledge and collaboration. You'll hear how leaders are reshaping cybersecurity as a collective effort that blends technology with trust, empowerment and informed decision-making. From leadership engagement to frontline readiness, the episode highlights practical approaches to building cyber-aware teams, improving threat response capabilities and balancing human judgment with AI-driven tools to create a smarter, more resilient defence. Corina Hernandez-Muñoz, Head, Cyber Behaviour and Culture | Enterprise Information Security (EIS), Export Development Canada For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

In this episode, Aimé Nsengiyumva, Deputy-Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Finance and Administration, State of Tennessee shares how the state is strengthening its cybersecurity posture as threats become more complex. The keynote reflects on recent progress and explains how Tennessee is aligning with growing federal momentum to better protect both state and local government systems. The session highlights key milestones, outlines Tennessee's priorities for cyber resilience heading into 2026, and unpacks how the state is balancing governance, technology choices, and workforce readiness. It also offers practical takeaways for agencies looking to modernise their own cyber programs, including lessons from supporting local government through federally funded initiatives. Aimé Nsengiyumva, Deputy-Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Finance and Administration, State of Tennessee For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

This week's episode brought to you by Objective , features Cassandra Bisset, VP Strategy, Objective who looks back at the Innovation Showcase in Victoria, Australia. Cassie explains how quickly AI has shifted from "emerging" to urgent, with public sector teams under pressure to adopt while managing trust, risk, and tight budgets. The key message is "readiness over hype". With many AI projects failing, Cassandra argues success depends on clear "what good looks like" pathways and strong foundations, especially trusted information, governance, and the "dull" work that makes AI safe and scalable. Visit www.objective.com.au to learn more about how Objective is helping public sector organisations take control of their information; strengthen governance, reduce risk, and enable better decisions. For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.com

This week, Dan Roelink, Director, Office for AI, Digital.NSW, NSW Department of Customer Service explores why the biggest barrier to AI in government is no longer understanding the technology, but removing the organisational and system "friction" that prevents safe, lawful, and scalable adoption. From an inside-government perspective, Dan looks at what it takes to move beyond pilots and experiments by putting the right foundations, governance, and operating models in place. It covers how governments can modernise risk and assurance, build the core components needed to scale (from policy and frameworks to capability and platforms), and strengthen the partnerships and problem-led collaboration required to take AI from idea to production. The episode also considers what "mature" AI-enabled public sector systems could look like in the future, and what effective cross-sector partnerships will need to deliver in a low-friction environment. Dan Roelink, Director, Office for AI, Digital.NSW, NSW Department of Customer Service For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co Check out EY's AI Pioneers series and subscribe for future episodes on your podcast platform of choice.

This week Dr Robbie Melton, Vice President SMART AI Technology Innovations, Tennessee State University explores how AI is changing both education and government, and what it takes for institutions to move beyond experimentation into responsible, practical adoption. The conversation focuses on embedding intelligent tools across curriculum, student services, and institutional strategy in ways that improve efficiency while advancing equity, and on connecting higher education innovation to wider statewide goals. You will hear concrete approaches to modernising learning with immersive technologies such as wearables, holograms, and mixed reality, while aligning institutional plans with AI governance and ethics frameworks. The episode also covers using AI to improve advising and administration, building faculty capability through scalable training and curriculum pilots, and turning academic centres into real-world testbeds that bridge research and public impact through cross-sector partnerships. Dr Robbie Melton, Vice President SMART AI Technology Innovations, Tennessee State University For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co