Digital leaders gather to highlight how tech can help post-COVID

The UK’s biggest single gathering of innovators focussed on digital transformation is taking place this week. 

Digital Leaders Week runs until Friday with 300 speakers and 200 separate events aimed at sharing best practice.

President of Digital Leaders, Jacqueline de Rojas, said: “This week is our platform for inspiring digital transformation across all sectors.  

“Together with the UK, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland governments we are encouraging leaders to build back better and to increase their digital confidence post-pandemic”.

Opening the event, Caroline Dinenage, Minister for Digital, Communications, Media and Sport (DCMS), said: “I am delighted to be welcoming some of the UK’s most influential and innovative thinkers… as we emerge from the pandemic into a new period of turbo-charged digital growth.

“The impact of COVID-19 can’t be understated, but throughout the darkness of the last 12 months tech has provided a beacon of light allowing us to work and stay in touch with our family and friends.  

“The growing importance of tech in our daily lives means we must consider how we can harmonise digitalisation to build a more inclusive, resilient and innovative society.  This government is committed to ensuring a tech-led economic recovery and a new appetite for digital adoption can be found in communities across the country.”

Topics up for discussion at the event range from Scotland’s ambitions for a new space economy to how innovation in Formula One racing could influence our front-line services in the coming years. And from ‘tech for good’ to maximising performance through data management and leading in a digital age.

Lee Waters, Wales Deputy Minister for climate change, commented:  “For too many leaders across organisations it’s not digitalisation, it’s all about kit.  It’s not about culture. It’s not about change.  For me it’s about putting the user at the centre.  

“That’s the message we need to be repeating time and again.  At the core of the new Wales Digital strategy is user need. Tackling old problems in a new way is at the heart of our digital strategy”.

On Tuesday a keynote speaker will be Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health, talking on the subject of leading in a crisis.  

Other speakers include Paul Struthers, UK & Northern Ireland Director of Sage, who will be outlining lessons learned from the past 15 months of the pandemic and planning for post-pandemic recovery.

On Thursday at 1pm Future Care Capital CEO Greg Allen will be part of a panel discussing the keys to effective leadership in the digital world.

More information and access to previous sessions is available here