Room151’s Technology, Data and Finance Forum 2026

With continued rising demand and constrained resources how does local government achieve true transformation through digital innovation and technology?

How should councils prioritise investment and build robust business cases?

What does it take to embed innovation into service design and organisational culture?

How can digital teams be positioned at the centre of decision-making?

What is the role of collaboration between authorities, suppliers, and central government in scaling innovation?

Transformation and LGR how do we reconcile the tension between “safe and legal” and transforming and reimagining?

Your chance to discuss a key issue with fellow conference delegates and feedback your thoughts to the delegation.

How do you select the right suppliers and solutions?

What are the trade-offs in consolidating legacy systems or moving to new technology – does everything need to be cloud-based?

Should councils prioritise local SMEs to support regional growth?

How do you navigate market choices—disruptors vs established providers, vendor-led vs consultant-led approaches?

What is digital sovereignty and how should local government be factoring in concerns around it when choosing suppliers?

How do we build effective business cases for new technology?

Where is AI already delivering measurable efficiencies and ROI?

Is local government too risk adverse and not harnessing the true potential of AI?

How can councils move from pilots to scalable, sustainable programmes?

What risks are the risks around AI, such as bias, governance, and data security, and how should they be managed?

How can authorities collaborate to get the most value from AI vendors?

Your chance to discuss a key issue with fellow conference delegates and feedback your thoughts to the delegation.

How are authorities aligning technology and systems during local government reorganisation?

What opportunities exist for shared services and data collaboration at a regional level?

How can councils prepare for both aggregation and disaggregation of services?

How can councils secure systems while continuing to deliver transformation?

What does a sustainable, cost-effective cyber security model look like?

What are the real costs of cyber incidents and what are the lessons from recovery?

What role should suppliers play in strengthening cyber resilience?

Is cyber insurance worthwhile, and what are the risks?

How should authorities prepare for emerging threats, including AI-driven risks?

How do organisations develop a clear data plan aligned to the council priorities and outcomes?

What is the importance of strengthening data governance to protect, manage and ensure compliance?

Defining data ownership to improve accountability and data quality.

How do we build capability to turn data into actionable insight and better decisions?

What role can AI have in unlocking hidden value in data-sets?

Are organisations keeping pace with technological change and future workforce needs?

How do we manage the change brought about technological advances such as AI?

Will finance professionals evolve into data-driven decision-makers?

How can councils upskill their workforce to adapt and thrive?

Your chance to discuss a key issue with fellow conference delegates and feedback your thoughts to the delegation.

“Great idea to bring together that particular grouping for what is a vital topic”
Executive Director Finance and Resources, Cambridgeshire County Council

“Great to meet people from the sector experiencing the same difficulties and problems. The case studies and details around the learning are invaluable, hearing about what didn’t go so well as well as the great things”
Assistant Director, Design & Digital First, West Sussex County Council

“A very helpful and timely conference for exploring data, tech and AI. Great for sparking some ideas about how we may deliver tech-enabled public services in future, and what risks we need to manage to make it happen”
Director of Finance (Deputy s151), London Borough of Sutton

“I think the idea of bringing the digital and S151 folk together is a great one”
Director, Digital, Essex County Council

“A great opportunity to understand the sector challenges within Transformation better from the perspective of those who are doing it or have already done it”
Founder, RPNA

“I think all the sessions were well thought out and a very nice mixture of content”
Chief Technology Officer, Tailwind Digital

“I enjoyed meeting a range of leads from different sectors”
Director ICT, Digital & Customer Services, London Borough of Hackney

Nana Barfi-Sarpong, director of IT and digital, London Borough of Redbridge

Katy Beale, former chief delivery & engagement officer – digital and innovation, Westminster City Council

Paul Clarke, corporate director of resources, London Borough of Islington

Eddie Copeland, director, LOTI

Candida Flowers, CFO, London Treasury

Ed Garcez, chief digital and information officer, Herefordshire Council

Victoria Goddard, director of finance, London Borough of Sutton

Julie Lorraine, interim director of finance and s151, Bromsgrove Borough and Redditch District Councils

Becky McIntyre, director of resources and transformation, Calderdale District Council

Sarah Murphy-Brookman, corporate director resources, Buckinghamshire Council

Fabio Negro, managing director, Shared Technology Services and chai, London CDIO Council 

Graham Oliver, director – Moore Optima, Moore Insight

Holly Rae, assistant director strategy and transformation, Stockport Council

Rehana Ramesh, director – ICT, digital and customer services, London Borough of Hackney

Rachel Rosewell, chief finance officer, Salford Council

Omid Shiraji, CIO & advisor

Samantha Smith, director of corporate services, Rochdale Council

Rikin Tailor, director of finance, London Borough of Westminster