#1 - Public Sector Digital Trends (Jos Creese)

Data ethics is not just about compliance. It is key to building public trust, designing fair services and using emerging technologies such as AI and automation responsibly. Hackney Council is putting data ethics into practice by using residents’ data responsibly, transparently and fairly. Through ethical frameworks and its data ethics advisory board, the council is building trust, protecting privacy and making evidence-based decisions that benefit residents. In this episode, we talk why ethical data use matters: it helps maintain public confidence and supports fairer, more effective services.⁠ www.socitm.net⁠

Cyber attacks on councils are increasingly targeting weaknesses in third-party suppliers, not just core systems. As outsourcing grows, councils must rethink who owns cyber risk. Stronger collaboration, sharing insight, lessons, and approaches, is key to building resilience across the public sector supply chain. This episode explores Westminster City Council’s approach to supply chain risk management, their challenges and how they’re applying Cyber Assement Framework (CAF). This episode is an adaptation from the ‘Defend as one’ webinar held in April and has been produced with the support of Risk Ledger.⁠ www.socitm.net⁠

In this episode of Socitm Says, Martin Ferguson, former policy and research director at Socitm, talks with Mary Wintershausen. Mary was a leading member in establishing the Socitm London Information Technology Managers Group in the 1990s and was also one of the first women heads of IT in London. Her engineering background helped her become a pioneer in pushing technology forward in the London borough of Waltham Forest. Enjoy hearing about the fascinating story of those early days of Socitm and the vision Mary had for the society and her career as a woman in IT.⁠ www.socitm.net⁠

Welcome to this episode of Socitm Says, where we’re diving into the world of data — not the cold, abstract kind, but the warm, human stories it can unlock. Too often, data is seen as numbers on a page or dashboards on a screen. But when used well, it can transform how decisions are made, how policies are shaped, and ultimately how people’s lives are improved. In this conversation, we explore exactly that. Hear from our two fantastic guests: Darren Rodwell, who led Barking & Dagenham Council for over a decade, and Ben Bennetts, a true data guru who knows how to make the complex simple. Together, they share how the council used data to shape policy, deliver outcomes, and reframe the conversation about what local government can achieve. It’s a fascinating listen - packed with insights you can take back to your own organisation. ⁠www.socitm.net⁠

This episode of the podcast is a comprehensive exploration of data, the social progress index (SPI), and how one size does not fit all when trying to use it in your local authority. Central and local government veterans William Barker and Michael Green are asked questions by David Ogden. Listen to their conversation for ways to use SPI data to impact your strategy and activities. www.socitm.net