ISfL Annual Conference 2025
Date: Thursday 6th March 2025
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Venue: Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London
AI, Governance & Cybersecurity: navigating the challenges of AI in the public sector
As artificial intelligence continues to transform the public sector, ensuring the security and integrity of these systems has become a critical priority. This conference explores the challenges and opportunities AI presents to cybersecurity in local government and the wider public sector. From defending against AI-driven threats to leveraging AI for enhanced security, experts will share insights on best practices, compliance and governance strategies that safeguard public trust.
This conference includes a supplier exhibition giving attendees the chance to talk about the various solutions on offer from the private sector.
This conference is open to all public sector WARP members and attendance is free. If you are a supplier and are potentially interested in being involved in the conference, please contact ISfL using the contact form.
About the venue: The Queen Elizabeth II Centre is conveniently located in Westminster on Broad Sanctuary just opposite Westminster Abbey. It is the largest dedicated conference space in central London. See https://qeiicentre.london/ for more information. |
Provisional Agenda
| 09:30 | Registration |
| 10:00 | Welcome & Chair’s Keynote – Colin Williams, Chair |
| 10:25 | Partner Keynote I – David Batho, JISC |
| 10:45 | Heather Toomey, ICO |
| 11:15 | Break & networking |
| 11:45 | AI & procurement – LOTI & the LGA (tbc) |
| 12:05 | Partner keynote II – Bluefort |
| 12:25 | Fireside chat with MHCLG – Phil James & Katie Owen, MHCLG |
| 12:45 | Lunch & networking |
| 13:45 | Welcome back – Colin Williams |
| 13:50 | CTAG update – Geoff Connell, Chair – CTAG |
| 14:10 | ISfL update – Peter Douglas & Ranisha Dhamu – ISfL |
| 14:30 | AI workstream – Socitm |
| 14:50 | Break & networking |
| 15:10 | AI subject matter expert – NCSC (tbc) |
| 15:30 | Panel session: Navigating the challenges of AI in the public sector |
| 15:55 | Closing remarks – Colin Williams |
| 16:00 | Close |
Speakers
Colin Williams – ChairAfter 25 years (almost successfully) pretending to have a clue about anything technical, Colin has (mostly) departed from the commercial realm for a short sojourn in full time academia and embarked on a temporary new existence as a PhD student researching the history of British Cybernetics at the University of Oxford. He continues to be an Honorary Fellow at the University of Warwick and a Visiting Professor at De Montfort University.
Phil James – MHCLGPhil is the Defend as One Collaboration and Engagement Manager in the Local Digital Cyber team, MHCLG. As a Civil Servant for over 30 years, he has worked for DWP, DfE, Cabinet Office and MHCLG. He previously worked in the Resilience and Emergencies Division (RED) and has been a Government Liaison Officer (GLO) and Recovery Liaison Officer (RLO) for the Grenfell fire, London terror attacks in 2017, the Salisbury Novichok poisonings, Redcar & Cleveland cyber attack and multiple severe weather events. From October 2018 to March 2020, Phil was the lead programme manager for the National Cyber Security Pathfinder Programme that delivered cyber awareness, training and exercising to local councils and Local Resilience Forum (LRF) organisations around the country. There were over 60 events that saw 3,600 attendees join the Cyber Pathfinders.
Phil returned to MHCLG in April 2022 to work on local digital and cyber security after being at Cabinet Office for two years to work on the Government’s Covid-19 response.
Katie Owen – MHCLGKatie is a Service Owner working in MHCLG’s Local Digital team. Katie has worked with councils to improve local government cyber security for the last 5 years, originally working for the Local Government Association. The team recently rolled out the CAF for Local Government to support councils to assess their cyber resilience and identify areas for improvement.
Peter Douglas – Chair, ISfLAs Peter became more and more involved with security at the London Borough of Haringey, he started attending ISfL and gradually ended up doing most of the security role. He is now the Security and Compliance Manager at the London Borough of Haringey and is responsible for Information Security and ISO27001:13 certification. He was elected as Chair of Information Security for London and has been in this role for the past five years.
Keen Allotment Holder, volunteer-barman and Vice President (honorary title) at my local National 1 Rugby Club, owner of two dogs who drag me around local footpaths on occasion up to fifteen miles from home.
Ranisha Dhamu – ISfLFor the past 25 years, Ranisha has dedicated her career to the local authority sector. Her journey into Information Governance and security began roughly 15 years ago, leading her to her current role as the Cyber & Compliance Manager at Shared Services, overseeing Brent, Lewisham, and Southwark. Her expertise in this field extends beyond her immediate responsibilities, as she chairs the Pan London Information Governance Forum (IGfL), participates in the ISfL steering group, and contributes actively to the National Strategic Information Governance Network (SIGN). Additionally, Ranisha has lent her expertise to numerous working groups, collaborating on large-scale projects spanning the Public Sector, including the NHS. She is also a valued member of SASIG and ISACA.
Beyond her professional commitments, Ranisha is involved in her community. She serves as the chair of governors at her children’s former primary school and holds a directorship within a federation of 10 academy primary schools across Buckinghamshire, Hillingdon, and Slough, where she focuses on Information Governance, Data Protection, Information Security, and Safeguarding.
Headline Sponsors
Exhibiting Sponsors
