The Data Challenge judges – Civil Service Data Challenge

Kalbir Sohi

Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Government Digital Service

Kalbir is the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) at the Government Digital Service (GDS), part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. In this role, Kalbir oversees the AI teams within GDS, leading dedicated units focused on identifying, testing, and scaling artificial intelligence solutions across government to create a more productive state and improve citizens’ lives. This work aligns with the objectives set out in the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government.

Before joining GDS, Kalbir served as Product Director for Core Infrastructure at Spotify, where he led teams responsible for building and scaling foundational engineering platforms that underpin Spotify’s global services. Kalbir’s career spans both the public and private sectors, with senior roles at Facebook, Weaveworks, and HM Revenue & Customs, and experience as a startup founder and CEO.

Combining public service, entrepreneurship, and deep technical leadership, Kalbir has extensive expertise in cloud infrastructure, practical use of AI/ML, data governance, and product strategy, with a strong emphasis on the responsible use of advanced technologies.

Caroline Bellamy

Director – Chief Data and AI Officer, Digital Transformation and Digital Business Partnering, Deputy CIO, Ministry of Defence

Caroline Bellamy is the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAIO) where she is responsible for driving and delivering the transformation of Data and AI across Defence and with partners, allies, and Industry to accelerate their application and exploitation. This is focused on outcomes and effect, recognising data as a strategic asset that is second only to our people. As Chief Data and AI Officer, Caroline spearheaded the first Defence Data Strategy, establishing a paradigm shift in data use across Defence, developing new processes, policy, governance, uplifting data skills, advancing the use of leading-edge technology capabilities and delivering data enabled AI and analytics. The strategic objective for data at Defence is to deliver insight and decision advantage at pace in support of Strategic Defence Outcomes and Military Effect. Data advantage is to be realised through cross Defence data interoperability, data exploitation through optimised use of innovative technologies and analytical capabilities such as AI and effective collaboration. Caroline’s work and thought leadership involves her joining forces across the global defence data ecosystem, partnering, and forging strong links with NATO, Five Eyes, Partners, Allies, and Industry.

Caroline’s career to date has seen her work across industry sectors in the FTSE 100 and the Public Sector. As an experienced board level executive director, she has led significant data and digital transformations and is leading is the Digital Transformation at MOD to ensure it realises the clear and ambition as defined in the Strategic Defence Review and associated Defence Reform programme. She is unlocking the power of digital and data to realise decision advantage, commercial, and economic benefits.

A core personal focus for Caroline is the development of data capabilities and skills to build the next generation of digital and data specialists. Caroline uses her platform across the Defence Enterprise and her wider Industry network to affect enduring cultural change, an optimised operating model and effective delivery at pace and scale.

In addition to her role in MOD, Caroline is on the Technology Strategy Advisory Board for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and is an Advisory Board Member for Kubrik. Caroline has been named within the top 50 most influential people in UK technology (2024) and as one of 100 most influential people in data (DataIQ) since 2018, Top 20 Women in Data and Technology (Women in Data) and top 100 Global Data Visionaries (Truata).

Caroline is married to Iain, and they have 2 sons who keep her feet firmly on the ground and help her stay young as does the family dog.

Aimee Smith

Aimee Smith, Chief Data Officer for Government

Aimee is the UK Government’s Chief Data Officer, responsible for implementing the Government-wide Data Strategy, fostering a data-driven culture, strengthening governance, and collaborating with senior stakeholders to ensure coherent, secure, and responsible use of data across government to drive effective and ethical digital services for the Public.

Aimee Smith began her career with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 2001 as an Intelligence Analyst. By 2014, she was leading the UK’s largest Confidential Intelligence Unit, overseeing the collection and dissemination of covert intelligence for major investigations. Aimee recognised the criticality of data to effective operational decision-making and led to her driving a data transformation programme to establish the first Data Office in UK law enforcement.

She also played a pivotal role in creating and chairing the NPCC National Data & Analytics Board across the whole law enforcement sector and spearheaded the position on changes to Data Legislation and future Data Reform.

A passionate advocate for treating data as a strategic asset, Aimee emphasises investment in skilled Data Professionals to enhance accountability, transform digital public services pan-Government, and deliver better outcomes for citizens. Aimee champions improving data quality, proportionality, and accessibility, while promoting transparency and public trust.

Aimee is a married mother of two, and step mother of two more, she loves Nottingham Forest Football Club and all sports

Anthony Love

Chief Data Architect, Department for Business and Trade

Anthony has been Chief Data Architect at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) since 2023. His role includes leading DBT’s AI experimentation and delivery teams and supporting critical trade-related services for export licensing and the independent UK trade tariff. He also leads the data architecture profession for DBT.

Before 2023, Anthony led the development of best-in-class data infrastructure at the Department for International Trade (DIT) and cross-government tools for business relationship management and tracking of international trade barriers.

Anthony joined the Civil Service in 2014 and has worked in various roles across DBT, DIT, HM Revenue and Customs, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office.

Jacqui Leggetter

Head of Data Platforms & Operations and Deputy Director, Department for Work and Pensions

Jacqui Leggetter is Head of Data Platforms & Operations and Deputy Director at DWP Digital, with over 20 years’ experience driving large-scale digital transformation. She leads the delivery of secure, modern, and interoperable data platforms that enable real-time insights and improved citizen services. Jacqui is passionate about harnessing data and AI responsibly to create better outcomes, and she champions diversity and inclusion across the tech sector. Her vision focuses on accelerating data-driven innovation and ethical AI adoption within government services.

Ravi Gogna

Head of Data Strategy and Transformation, Home Office

Ravi is the Home Office’s Head of Data Strategy and Transformation, and leads a team that is driving the improvement of the Home Office’s data and analytics capabilities across the whole department. Working closely with all parts of the department, his team is developing and implementing a departmental data and analytics strategy, as well as running a highly-regarded data literacy service. Ravi joined the Civil Service following a career in data analytics consultancy at BAE Systems, where he delivered complex data analytics solutions to counter fraud, support law enforcement and protect the border.

Head of Data Science Hub and Head of Data Science Practice, Department for Work and Pensions

Olga Boynton is the Head of Profession for Data Science at DWP Digital and leads the DWP Data Science Hub. She joined the Civil Service in 2019 as a Senior Data Scientist, following a PhD in Control and Systems Engineering and a decade of research in academia for the aerospace industry. Olga quickly progressed to team leadership and now plays a pivotal role in shaping DWP’s digital, data, and analytics strategy.

Her remit includes building innovative services and products to meet DWP’s strategic data and analytics needs, leading the development of data tooling and infrastructure, and generating value from DWP’s rich data assets to benefit citizens. Olga is recognized for her pragmatic approach to technology, favouring simple, effective solutions that deliver real-world impact.

Claire Fry

Director of Functional Integration, Ministry of Defence

Claire Fry was appointed Director Functional Integration for the Ministry of Defence Digital Function in February 2021. Her role providing leadership across the Digital function which is Pan Defence. This includes being the Digital Head of Profession and leading the People agenda across the Digital Function. Her aim is to drive functional impact, working closely with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) community across Defence to ensure cohesion and integration of Digital. Amongst other things her key responsibilities include the £4.6bn Portfolio Digital spend, the Digital governance that reports into the Defence Board and is leading the Digital Skills for Defence Programme, working across Defence and industry to develop ground-breaking Digital skills uplift. Starting off in the private sector, Claire has now worked in Defence for over 20 years, primarily in Digital roles, including working as a Head of CIO in a TLB (setting the Information strategy, driving IT efficiency and delivering business value), leading Digital Programmes and as the IT Head of Profession being responsible for setting up the first Digital Apprenticeship and Graduate programmes and for the professional development of up to 14000 Digital Professionals. She has driven Portfolio development of up to £26Bn and is grounded in ITIL based processes such as Configuration Management, Business Change and driving value from Technology in the business. As a Certified Management Consultant (CMC), running the internal consultancy team for Defence the team was awarded the Institute of Business Consultancy (IBC) premier practice status, delivering business process engineering, organisational development, and team building.

Krisztina Katona

Deputy Director, Head of Data Policy and AI Harms Co-ordination, Home Office

Damon Wingfield

Deputy Director and Head of Profession/Chief Statistician for Statistics , Ministry of Justice

Rob Thompson

Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer, Home Office

Fellow of BCS (FBCS), Fellow of IET (FIET), Chartered Engineer (C.Eng), Batchelor of Engineering (B.Eng), MPLA Graduate.

Rob is an accomplished CDIO & CTO. He spearheads digital, technology and innovation at the UK Home Office. Renowned for strategic vision and impactful leadership, he excels in digital transformation, digital product development, and leading large-scale IT organisations, delivering critical services in complex organisations.

Rob joined the Home Office as CTO in 2018 and has recently transitioned to the role of CDIO, setting the department 2030 Digital Strategy which has recently been published on GOV.UK.

In addition to his role at the Home Office, Rob is also a Non-Executive Director & Trustee of the British Computer Society, supporting the wider UK IT industry.

Amy Caldwell-Nichols

Deputy Director for Data, Analysis and Insight, HM Courts & Tribunals Service

Amy Caldwell-Nichols is Deputy Director for Data, Analysis and Insight at HM Courts & Tribunals Service. She leads HMCTS strategic data transformation, currently focusing on data quality improvement, master data management and integrating AI into our work. With a background in economics and experience in both health and justice sectors, Amy is passionate about fostering collaboration, championing innovation, and mentoring emerging talent.

Julie Pierce

Director of Information & Science, Food Standards Agency

Julie is responsible for the digital, data and technology services the FSA uses. From technology for meat hygiene inspectors in abattoirs to ways to predict whether risky food might be coming in across the UK border. She drives for the use of modern data/digital approaches and technologies, with our partners, and working with big and small businesses. Most recently she has been applying AI to those challenges and looking at technical innovation across the food sector. She also has responsibility for our scientific research ensuring we bring to bear sophisticated data methods, using the academic community to help address real world business problems in relation to the use of data/insight. Food is international and so her role includes engagement with international regulators on development of standards that will benefit the UK.

She spent much of her earlier career in the private sector implementing technology enabled change programmes as a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in financial services, pharmaceuticals, defence as well as central government, both in the UK and mainland Europe.

Toby Hayward-Goulding

Deputy Chief Data Officer, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Toby heads up the Data function at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), where he is responsible for the department’s data models and architectures, governance and strategy and runs the analytical platform. Toby is leading a step-change in DESNZ to make the department more data-driven in its operations, grant delivery, performance reporting and policy-making. Before joining DESNZ, Toby worked at the Ministry of Justice where he created and led the Better Outcomes through Linked Data (BOLD) programme, an innovative data linking programme run jointly between MoJ, DHSC, MHCLG and the Welsh Govt. which has joined up government data from across departments to tackle cross-cutting policy challenges like substance misuse, homelessness and reoffending. Toby is interested in how disparate data sources can be brought together, breaking down organisational boundaries, to answer questions and generate new insight.

Liz Kendall

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Liz Kendall was appointed Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on 5 September 2025.

She was previously Secretary of State for Work and Pensions between 5 July 2024 and 5 September 2025.

She was elected as the MP for Leicester West in May 2010.

Karl Hoods

Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, United Kingdom

Karl is an experienced Chief Information Officer (CIO) and has worked in the private, public and third sectors. He is currently the Group Chief Digital and Information Officer for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology at Integrated Corporate Services where he is responsible for the delivery of core services, digital transformation, innovation, knowledge management and shared services.
Prior to joining BEIS Karl was CIO for Save the Children where he was responsible for the delivery of technology and digital services to support humanitarian, policy, advocacy, and fundraising activities. He has also held business technology leadership roles with web and sports media startups and led major change programmes for publishing leading publishers.  His career in startups fostered his interest in how emerging technology can be applied to business problems.
Outside of work Karl is interested in education and sits on the boards of the Harris Federation, Bournemouth University, the Safe & Trusted AI Centre for Doctoral Training and King’s College London’s Department for Informatics Industry Advisory Board. In addition, he is on the global steering council for an international metaverse association.
Karl is also a keen runner and has completed many marathons.

Fiona James

Chief Data Officer and Director, Data Growth and Operations, Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom

Fiona is Chief Data Officer and Director of Data Growth and Operations at the Office for National Statistics. She is an experienced digital, data, technology and policy expert with a deep understanding of the delivery challenges faced by public sector organisations.

She has a track record in leadership through complexity, projects and people in both a policy and service delivery context.

Fiona joined the Civil Service in 2006 as a generalist Fast Streamer at the Department for Transport, where she held policy, strategy and operational roles across aviation, roads and maritime.

She spent four years working on exiting the European Union, leading transport and digital, data and technology readiness at the Cabinet Office, before moving to the Crown Prosecution Service as a digital technology leader, helping to transform criminal justice during the pandemic.

Fiona is married to Will, and they have three sons.

Saheel Sankriwala

Chief Data & Technology Officer, Department for Education

Saheel Sankriwala, was appointed Chief Data & Technology officer in December 2024 following his tenure as Chief Technology Officer since March 2023. In this expanded role, he leads the DfE’s Technology and Data Ecosystem, driving innovation, resilience and efficiency across critical domains, including Infrastructure & Cloud platforms, Corporate Systems & Services, End User Devices, Cyber Security, and Data Strategy. His leadership ensures that technology and data solutions empower the Department for Education to deliver exceptional services, fostering seamless collaboration and operational excellence.

I became the Chief Technology Officer at the Department for Education (DfE) in March 2023, following a successful tenure as Deputy Director and Service Owner of the Funding Service at the Education & Skills Funding Agency. In June 2024, I also took on the leadership of the DfE’s Data functions, officially becoming the Chief Data and Technology Officer in December 2024. My journey in the Civil Service began in 2000 as an Admin Assistant, paving the way for a series of progressively influential roles within the realms of Technology and Digital Transformation, primarily at HMRC.

Richard Browne

Deputy Director, Enterprise Data, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Richard is the Deputy Director for Enterprise Data Services and AI within the Information and Digital Directorate at the FCDO. He leads the Data Strategy, focusing on data infrastructure and governance, and is Head of Profession for Data Architecture, Engineering, and Science. Richard also heads FCDO.ai – an initiative designed to embed artificial intelligence (AI) into FCDO operations. Its goal is to drive productivity, efficiency, and impact through the responsible use of AI and automation technologies. FCDO.ai oversees how AI is utilised by FCDO staff across the organisation’s technology platforms and governs the use of FCDO data by AI systems.

Richard has 20 years’ experience in data, analytics, and architecture across both the public and private sector. Previously, Richard worked as Assistant Director for Data and Architecture at Homes England – the Government’s housing and regeneration agency. In this role, he led the definition and delivery of the data strategy; oversaw the development and management of a new data platform, and directed core data functions including DataOps, Data Engineering, and Data Science.

Prior to Homes England, Richard worked in data and analytical consultancy after a lengthy period in local government and law enforcement.

Hattie Kennedy

Chief Data Officer, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

Hattie Kennedy is the Chief Data Officer at MHCLG, leading the organisation’s data strategy, building services and data capability. She has been in MHCLG since 2019, leading the Digital Front Door team, and previously held roles at BEIS and GDS.

Lucy Vickers

Chief Data Officer & Chief Statistician, Department of Health and Social Care

Lucy is Chief Data Officer and Chief Statistician at the Department of Health and Social Care. Her role is to unlock the potential of our health and care data assets to provide robust evidence in order to drive better care to help people live longer, healthier lives; shaping a data driven culture in DHSC which supports and enhances data science, data analysis and research capabilities She has worked at DHSC for five years, joining during the Covid pandemic to set up and lead the data and analytical function in the Test and Trace Programme, then led Statistics and Data Science before moving to her current role. She previously worked at the Office for National Statistics and in other government departments, leading analytical work on health and care; population, administrative data, setting up ONS Data as a Service and the Administrative Data Research Service, the forerunner for ADRUK.

Katherine Williamson

Interim Chief Data Officer, Department for Transport

Sian Thomas

Chief Data Officer, Department for Business and Trade

Beginning her career in the private sector, Sian moved to the Food Standards Agency working in various roles including Social Research, Governance and Ethics and leading the Data, Information Governance and Security team. She has led on projects such as predicting norovirus from Twitter data and piloting a blockchain tool to make better use of data about cows at slaughter.

Siân joined DIT in February 2019. Her remit includes building services and products to enable DIT staff to understand and meet business and customer needs, leading a data infrastructure team to produce more value from its data assets and creating a new data service to allow the UK to implement an independent trade policy for the first time in 40 years. Sian currently leads two portfolios in DDaT in DBT: Data Platforms and Employee Experience.

Mark Thompson

Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Ministry of Justice

Mark Thompson joined the Ministry of Justice in April 2025 as Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO), bringing with him over 25 years of leadership experience in digital and data transformation programmes. His arrival marks a pivotal moment in Justice Digital’s journey, as he leads the mission to build modern, user-focused digital services and harness data more effectively across the justice system.

Prior to joining Justice Digital, Mark served as Head of the Digital Function and Director for Cabinet Office Digital. In this role, he led the central team responsible for digital, data, AI, cyber security, and enterprise services across the Cabinet Office, while also holding accountability as the departmental CDIO.

Before that, Mark was Director of Platforms, Data and Interoperability within the Cabinet Office’s Government People Group. From 2018 onwards, he spearheaded efforts to modernise the Civil Service’s employee support systems, including recruitment, pensions, learning, and payroll, while driving interoperability across departments through innovative technology. Mark’s strategic insight and passion for public service continue to shape the future of Justice Digital and Data, ensuring that digital transformation delivers meaningful impact for the people who rely on it.

Ming Tang

Chief Data and Analytics Officer, and interim Chief Digital and Information Officer, NHS England

Ming has over 20 years’ experience in managing and delivering large scale change involving implementation of new operating models in complex and challenging environments.

She joined the NHS in October 2009, initially leading commissioning support services in the West Midlands as the Managing Director for Healthcare Commissioning Services and then as the Managing Director for South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Commissioning Support Unit.

Nina Cope

Director General Corporate, Ministry of Defence

Nina Cope is the Director General Corporate Delivery in the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group / Defence Equipment and Support, previously the Chief Operating Officer (COO), she joined Defence in June 2022.

She is accountable for leading the delivery of corporate services for the NAD Group and Defence and leads major programmes of change including delivery of Corporate Services Modernisation. She manages and sponsors three of Defence’s Enabling Organisations.

She was previously the Director General Capabilities at the National Crime Agency (NCA). A COO role, where she led the development of the Agency, ensuring it had the capabilities to meet its mission to fight serious and organised crime. Her direct responsibilities included strategy and transformation, all corporate services, and data and digital. She also led on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – one of her many passions for change!

Nina joined the NCA from High Speed Two (Hs2), the largest infrastructure project in Europe, where she was the Director responsible for organisational development and effectiveness. She oversaw the development of the Company into its role as the client for a significant supply chain accountable for the design and build of the railway. This included the doubling of the workforce over two years in readiness for contract award and the start of construction.

Prior to Hs2 Nina led a major service improvement and cost reduction transformation in the Metropolitan Police Service which led to major delivery changes, whilst reducing crime and increasing public confidence. She has also worked in local government and consulting but started her career in academia where she researched and lectured in criminology and sociology, the subject of her PhD.

Emran Mian

Permanent Secretary of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Emran Mian is the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Alongside its original responsibilities for strengthening the UK’s science, innovation and technology ecosystem, DSIT now also leads work to transform HMG’s own digital and data capabilities.

Emran was the Director General for Digital Technologies and Telecoms at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), from July 2023 to July 2025.

Previously, Emran was Director General for Regeneration at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, from September 2021 to July 2023. Prior to this he was the Director of Strategy and then a Director General at the Department for Education.

Before returning to the Civil Service in 2017, Emran ran the Social Market Foundation, an independent public policy think tank that works across a range of economic and social policy issues. Earlier in his career Emran held senior roles at BEIS and Cabinet Office.

Angela MacDonald

Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, HM Revenue and Customs

Angela became HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary in August 2020. Angela is an Operations professional with 30 years’ experience of service delivery, transformation and change in both the public and private sector.

Angela joined the Civil Service in 2009 to deliver reforms in Child Support. Following four years as a Director at the Department for Work and Pensions, leading service delivery and transformation, Angela moved to HMRC in 2017 and became the Director General for Customer Services.

Before joining the Civil Service, Angela worked in a number of operational, sales and marketing roles at Aviva plc and its legacy companies.

Aimee Smith

Deputy Director of Data, Chief Data Office at Ministry of Defence

Lindsay is Interim Government Chief Data Officer leading the Government Digital Service (GDS) data strategy to improve data maturity throughout its lifecycle. She works closely with Chief Data Officers across government to drive innovation and champion better access to data, supporting more informed decision-making and improved public services.

Prior to joining GDS, Lindsay spent 3 years at the Ministry of Defence, where she led Data and Information Management, Governance, and Skills and Culture.

Before entering the Civil Service in 2022, Lindsay held senior roles in the private sector, where she gained extensive experience in data strategy, leadership, and transformation.

Peter Kyle

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Peter Kyle was appointed Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on 5 July 2024. He was elected as the MP for Hove and Portslade in July 2024.

David Filmer

UK&I Head of Public Sector, NTT DATA UK

David is the UK&I Head of Public Sector for NTT DATA Inc. In this role, he serves as the executive leader and primary senior stakeholder for all of NTT DATA Inc.’s engagements within the public sector. Prior to this, David spent 20 years at Fujitsu and CGI, holding key leadership roles across both organizations.

David is responsible for defining and executing the strategic vision for NTT DATA’s public sector business in the UK and Ireland. His focus spans the core sectors of Healthcare, Central Government, and Public Safety & Defence, ensuring that services are tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each.

He is passionate about delivering exceptional client satisfaction and is committed to building and leading high-performing teams that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Under his previous leadership, his executive team achieved a 50:50 gender balance. As a proud male ally, he actively champions cognitive diversity both within NTT DATA Inc, and across the broader technology sector.

David also contributes to the wider business and tech community: he is an Advisor at Digital Boost, a Mentor at FastFutures, and a Member of the Forbes Technology Council.

Craig Suckling

Chief Data Officer for HM Government

Craig is the Chief Data Officer for the UK Government, working in the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), part of Cabinet Office. He is a Data and AI leader with 20+ years of experience building companies, leading transformation strategies, navigating complex change, and generating sustainable growth with Data and AI.

Prior to becoming Government CDO, Craig was the Global Head of Data and AI strategy in AWS Worldwide Specialist Organisation. He is also experienced as a Chief Data Officer, startup founder, management consultant, and advisory board member. Craig has featured in the top 100 data leaders in the UK in 2020, 2021, and 2023.

Gina Gill

Chief Strategy Officer, Central Digital and Data Office (Cabinet Office)

Gina has recently taken up the role of Chief Strategy Officer at the Central Digital and Data Office.

Previously she was the Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). She was responsible for supporting the 85,000 staff working in courts, prisons, probation services and across other, smaller agencies by providing simple, intuitive technology solutions and automating basic tasks; building and running digital services that make it easier for the public to get access to justice; and driving user centred service design and transformation.

Gina started her working life as a software developer and has had a long and varied career in technology working in programme delivery, operational and commercial roles.

She joined the Civil Service in 2017, prior to which she worked predominantly in financial services at the Financial Conduct Authority, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays Capital. Before taking up the CDIO position in MoJ, Gina was Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CDIO.

Simon Bourne

CDDO, Home Office

Simon joined the Home Office in September 2020 and is the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO). Prior to joining the Home Office, Simon spent six years as the Chief Information Officer for the Co-op Group. He has over 30 years of experience of digital and technology leadership roles, working in both financial services and retail sectors.

As the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO), Simon is accountable

for the delivery of digital, data and technology solutions that support the department’s current operations and future business transformation programmes. These cover both core Home Office operations as well as delivery of national law enforcement capabilities.

Simon gained a Masters in Mathematics from Cambridge University. He is married with two children and lives in West Yorkshire.

Aydin Sheibani

Chief Data Officer, HM Revenue & Customs

Aydin is the chief data officer at HMRC which he joined in Sep 2021, having spent 2.5 years at the Civil Service at DWP leading the data transformation programme. Prior to that he worked across transport, utilities, health and finance sectors in data & analytical leadership roles.

Heather Wheeler

Heather Wheeler MP was appointed as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, in addition to her current role as an Assistant Government Whip, on 8 February 2022.

She was a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 26 July 2019 to 13 February 2020.

She was previously a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from 9 January 2018 to 25 July 2019. She was a Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) from 15 June 2017 to 8 January 2018 and she was Assistant Government Whip from 17 July 2016 to 15 June 2017.

She was elected Conservative MP for South Derbyshire in May 2010.

Matthew Gould

Matthew is the CEO for NHSX, a joint unit between the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England, set up to ensure that staff and patients have the technology they need.

Matthew was the government’s Director General for Digital and Media Policy for 3 years, until May 2019. Before that he was British Ambassador to Israel, where he set up the UK-Israel Tech Hub, and the UK government’s Director of Cyber Security. As well as Israel, he has done postings in Tehran, Islamabad, Washington and Manila.

Matthew is married with two daughters.

Daljit Rehal

Chief Digital and Information Officer, HMRC

Daljit Rehal is a seasoned technology and data executive with extensive experience in the field. He has a track record of modernizing digital capabilities and adopting cutting-edge technologies such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Agile methodologies.

Prior to his current role, Daljit served as the Global Digital and Data Services Director at Centrica. He has also held senior positions at Centrica, Virgin Media, Three and KPMG, showcasing his leadership in the technology sector.

Daljit Rehal holds the position of Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), he took up the role in Sept 2020. In this role, he is responsible for leading one of the largest digitally enabled transformations in Europe.

As CDIO, he oversees HMRC’s digital and data strategies, manages a complex IT estate, and implements the department’s IT Sourcing Strategy. He also serves as the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO), covering various aspects of security within the organization.

Daljit is currently the President for the British Computing Society taking up position in March 2025.

Sarah Wilkinson

Sarah Wilkinson Chief Executive NHS Digital

Sarah Wilkinson is CEO of NHS Digital, the executive body of the Department of Health and Social Care which provides information, data and IT systems for health and social care nationally.

Prior to joining NHS Digital, Sarah was CIO at The Home Office, and prior to that worked in Financial Services where she held CIO roles at Credit Suisse, UBS, Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers.

Sarah is also a Non-Executive Director of NatWest Markets, the investment banking arm of The NatWest Group, a member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee of Kings College London and a member of the advisory board of the Department of Computing at Imperial College.

In each of the last four years Sarah has been named within the top ten in the TechUK 50, Computer Weekly’s annual ranking of the Top 50 Most Influential Leaders in the UK IT Industry.

Megan Lee Devlin

Chief Executive, Central Digital and Data Office

Megan is the Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer in the Central Digital and Data Office, the head of the Digital, Data and Technology function for the UK Government. Within CDDO, Megan leads the Strategy and Analysis, Performance and Assurance and Transforming Government Services teams, putting the right conditions and capabilities in place to drive digital transformation at scale in Government.

Megan joined the Cabinet Office from McKinsey, where she led day-to-day management of consulting teams across both public sector and private sector organisations on technology, analytics and organisational transformation topics.

Laura Gilbert

Chief Analyst, 10 Downing Street

Dr. Laura Gilbert is the director of 10DS, a data science and analytics team providing modelling and analysis and promoting evidence-based research within the UK government.

Laura has a doctorate in Particle Physics and GRID computing from the university of Oxford, and undergraduate degrees in natural sciences from Cambridge. She held numerous lectureships and a post-doctoral research position at Oxford, and she is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.

Prior to her doctorate she worked in defence intelligence within the MOD. Following particle physics, Laura spent four years as a financial analyst within a range of hedge funds, working in modelling, analysis and artificial intelligence. Laura has spent the last decade working as a hands-on CTO in medical technologies, bringing a company from start up to SME to acquisition, and has significant experience in software development, wearable technology, systems architecture, data integration and system/data security.

She is fluent in seven programming languages. As part of this role she also performed scientific consultancy, completing diverse projects including creating an algorithm to detect heart rhythm anomalies on minute timescales by measuring patients’ thumbs; providing analytic tools to biologists trying to disrupt the cell cycle of the malaria parasite; providing predictive algorithms based around measuring biomechanics and mental health measures to alert COs when a soldier in training was likely to become seriously injured in the short term, and predicting the behaviour of groups of snipers.

Vicki Chauhan

Head of Public Sector, NTT DATA UK

Vicki has worked with the public sector for over 20 years, in fields including consulting, systems integration and managed services. Following a career with BAE Systems, Detica and BT Syntegra, since 2019 she has managed NTT DATA’s operations across the public and not-for-profit sectors. Vicki is passionate about helping public bodies to improve their programmes, services and staff tools, making a tangible difference to the lives of citizens and staff.

Sue Bateman

Chief Data Officer, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Sue Bateman joined Defra in April 2024 as Chief Data Officer for the group to lead work in how data and information are used to support Defra’s own transformation journey. The vision is to put data and information at the heart of everything we do in Defra group – maximising the rich and varied data that we hold to support our missions – through the delivery of our Data and Information Strategic Roadmap.

Sue is a longstanding civil servant with digital, data and strategy leadership experience – most recently having been the interim Government Chief Data Officer at Central Digital and Data Office where she led on the development and delivery of the National Data Strategy and Digital and Data Roadmap.

Alison Pritchard

Deputy National Statistician and Director General for Data Capability, ONS

Alison became Deputy National Statistician and Director General for Data Capability at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in October 2020.

She was Interim Director General of the Government Digital Service (GDS) from August 2019 to September 2020.

Alison was previously Director of EU Exit and Transformation at GDS. Before joining GDS in 2018, Alison was Director of Transformation at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

She began her Civil Service career in 1987. She has worked across a range of departments including the Ministry of Defence, HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Her career has seen her enjoy a varied and interesting range of roles, including:

spending 5 years in Saudi Arabia with a UK defence programme
leading the independent review of Royal Family and ministerial air travel
being responsible for gambling and the National Lottery

Outside government, Alison has experience as Head of Operations for an IT engineering business and on secondment to the third sector as Director of Programmes for a multi-faith research body supporting counter-radicalisation.

John Quinn

John Quinn, CIO, NHS England

Biography to be updated shortly

Tamara Finkelstein

Head of the Policy Profession & Permanent Secretary, Defra

Tamara Finkelstein was appointed Permanent Secretary at Defra on 19 June 2019. She was formerly Director General for EU Exit Delivery at Defra from April 2018 to March 2019. Before that, she was leading the Building Safety Programme in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Much of her career has been at the HM Treasury where she started as an economist and worked on tax, macroeconomic policy and debt management. Roles included private secretary and speechwriter to the Chancellor, and leading on public services expenditure including health, education and housing.

She has worked in a number of other government departments on policy and delivery in health and children’s services including as Deputy Head of Sure Start, and as Director General for Community Care at the Department of Health and Social Care, with responsibility for social care and community services.

Her board experience includes roles on the boards of NS&I, the Debt Management Office and the UK Border Agency. She was Secretary to Lord Hutton’s Independent Public Service Pensions Commission.

She is senior sponsor of the Civil Service Jewish Network.

Peter Schofield

Head of the Operational Delivery Profession & Permanent Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions

Peter became the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions on 16 January 2018.

Previously he has worked:

as Director General for Finance at DWP from July 2016
as Director General for Housing and Planning at the Department for Communities and Local Government
as Director of the Enterprise and Growth Unit at HM Treasury
as a director in the Shareholder Executive
on secondment to 3i PLC
in a number of roles, including Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary, at HM Treasury

Julia Lopez

Minister, Cabinet Office

Julia Lopez was appointed Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office on 14 February 2020.

As Parliamentary Secretary, her responsibilities include:

supporting the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Lord Agnew to deliver cross-government efficiency and public sector transformation
supporting the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in coordinating the transition to our future relations with the EU
supporting Cabinet Office primary legislation in the Commons and the Cabinet Office secondary legislation programme
oversight of Cabinet Office corporate activity, including staff within the Equality Hub (NB. responsibility for equalities policy sits with Minister for Women and Equalities, Minister for Women, Minister for Equalities and Minister for Disabled People)

Cat Little

Chief Operating Officer, Civil Service and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office

Cat started her career at the accountancy firm PwC, dedicated to Government and Public Sector finances, mainly working in assurance roles. Over more than a decade, Cat worked with clients across Health, Local Government, Higher Education and Central Government sectors.

Cat joined the Civil Service in 2013 first at the Legal Aid Agency where she worked on the digitisation of civil legal aid, and removing the long standing financial accounts qualification as the Director of Finance and Digital.

Cat went on to become the Group Finance Director at the Ministry of Justice overseeing all aspects of financial management and supporting prison reform, courts reform and transformation programmes. In 2017, Cat joined the Board of the Ministry of Defence as Director General Finance. In this role she was the primary financial advisor to ministers, the Defence Board and Accounting Officer and led the finance, commercial and analytical functions across Defence. During this time, Cat led the reform of Defence Acquisition and Procurement as part of the Modernising Defence Programme and instigated the Financial Improvement Programme. Cat led the oversight of the Defence portfolio, and was the Race Champion for the Department.

Cat joined HM Treasury in 2020 as Director General Public Spending. She took on the role of Acting Permanent Secretary in September 2022, and in October 2022 was appointed to Second Permanent Secretary. In this role Cat oversees public spending, international and national security policy. She combines this with her positions as head of the Government Finance Function and Chair of the Finance Leadership Group for Government. Cat is a chartered public finance accountant and represents the UK as a member of IFAC, PAIB and is also a co-opted member of CIPFA Council. Outside of work Cat lives in the Kent North Downs, enjoys running, cycling and walking the dog with her wife Ruth.

Our senior leadership

The Champions

Liz Kendall

Cat Little

Emran Mian

Aimee Smith

Kalbir Sohi

The Judges

Sue Bateman

Nina Cope

David Filmer

Karl Hoods

Daljit Rehal CB

Mark Thompson

Robert Thompson

The Sponsors

Dr. Olga A Boynton

Caroline Bellamy

Richard Browne

Amy Caldwell-Nichols

Claire Fry

Ravi Gogna

Toby Hayward-Goulding

Fiona James

Hattie Kennedy

Jacqui Leggetter

Anthony Love

Lindsay Mason

Julie Pierce

Aydin Sheibani

Sian Thomas

Lucy Vickers

Katherine Williamson

Damon Wingfield

Krisztina Katona

Information for managers