FST Government

Thankyou to our incredible sponsors for making the Future of New Zealand Government Summit an exceptional success last week. Your dedication and support allowed us to deliver a day filled with insightful presentations and invaluable networking opportunities among industry pioneers and thought leaders. PLATINUM: Amazon Web Services (AWS) | WalkMe™ GOLD: Logitech | ServiceNow | Thirdera EXHIBITION: 27BC | Freshworks | ManageEngine | Theta (NZ) LUNCH: NRI Australia & New Zealand COFFEE CART: Spark New Zealand

Earlier today we had Andrew H. and Clayton Hubbard, join us on stage at the Future of New Zealand Government Summit for a joint keynote where they delved into the role of AI and innovation in educational cybersecurity. They discussed the importance of staying ahead of cyber threats and fostering a safe digital environment for staff and students. Key takeaways from the session: AI in Cyber Security: AI isn't new—it's been around for 20 years in this space. Today, AI-driven threat detection and response are becoming increasingly autonomous and sophisticated, helping organisations stay ahead of cyber threats. Human Firewall: People are a crucial defence. Emphasising training for both staff and students on online safety, privacy, password management, and device security is critical. Promoting a culture where suspicious activities are reported without fear can greatly enhance cybersecurity. Innovation Opportunities: Investing in R&D for AI-powered cybersecurity technologies and fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government is key to staying ahead. Developing models and frameworks ensures that safety guardrails are in place as these technologies evolve. Thank you, Andrew H. and Clayton Hubbard, for shedding light on the importance of cybersecurity in education and the innovative strategies to keep our digital environments secure! #FSTGOVNZ #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #CyberSecurity #Innovation #Education

Our Cyber Resilience panel, featuring Ben Creet, Derek Robson, Jared L., and Yolanda Wilke, delivered invaluable insights on navigating emerging cyber threats. Here’s a quick overview: Business Risk Mitigation: Building a robust cybersecurity culture starts with education and integrating security into business practices, as emphasised by Yolanda and Derek. Effective risk management involves understanding and owning risk at all levels. Rapid Reprioritisation: Balancing immediate security needs with long-term goals requires a clear understanding of current investments and risks. Ben and Jared highlighted the importance of continuous assurance and informed decision-making to optimise resources. Advancing Practices: Elevating cybersecurity maturity involves leveraging data analytics to understand and mitigate risks. Key strategies include aligning policies, valuing data appropriately, and using vulnerability insights to stay ahead. To sum up, building a strong cyber risk culture and making strategic decisions on resource allocation is essential for staying resilient against evolving threats. Thank you to our panelists for sharing these crucial strategies and insights! #FSTGOVNZ #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #DigitalResilience

Debra Sutton and Guilherme Scomparim from WalkMe™ shared powerful insights on optimising technology investments with a people-first approach. They discussed how 38% of tech investments fail due to poor adoption and showcased WalkMe's AI-powered analytics that reveal where employees struggle with applications. Their product demo highlighted tools for self-learning and reducing digital friction in legacy processes, improving self-service and decreasing support calls. A big thank you to Debra and Guil for their practical and inspiring session! Their insights into digital adoption and automation are invaluable for enhancing software efficiency and digital equity in government practices. 🙌 #FSTGOVNZ #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #DigitalAdoption #TechInnovation #PublicSectorEfficiency

Our Mobilising Digital Panel this morning at New Zealand Government Summit delivered a wealth of insights on deploying innovation to address legacy challenges and embrace emerging ICT. Key takeaways include: > John Baddiley from Reserve Bank of New Zealand advocated for continuous innovation rather than project-based approaches to ensure that digital initiatives stay aligned with modern goals. > Leigh Donoghue from Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Te Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay highlighted the need to adopt international standards and move away from outdated systems, focusing instead on modern platforms. > Stefan Korn from Callaghan Innovation emphasised that breaking down silos is crucial for genuine digital transformation and collaboration. When it comes to resilience through disruption, the focus should be on seeing change as a constant opportunity, upskilling teams, and developing platforms for community-driven collaboration. This approach not only enhances agility but also turns disruption into a strategic advantage. A big thank you to our panelists for their valuable contributions and thought-provoking discussion! 🙏 #FSTGOVNZ #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #DigitalTransformation #InnovationInAction #ResilientGov

Our peer-to-peer roundtable discussions are in full swing at the Future of New Zealand Government Summit in Wellington! Attendees are diving into engaging conversations on Digital Leadership, Cyber Uplift, Advanced Data, and more—all led by government and tech experts. The energy and collaboration in the room are inspiring! #FSTGOVNZ #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #GovInnovation #CollaborationInAction #DigitalTransformation

Mark Sowden from Stats NZ (Tatauranga Aotearoa) kicked off the Future of New Zealand Government Summit with an inspiring call for cross-agency collaboration to drive digital transformation. Emphasising citizen-first service delivery, he stressed that all digital services should be built with the end user in mind. Key initiatives include modernising high-priority government services, standardising digital investments, and embracing a resilient infrastructure for the future. Stats NZ is working closely with agencies to advise on the digital investment roadmap and ensure that investments make sense for each agency's unique needs. Moving to the cloud after security assessments and supporting a new digital identity regulatory framework are critical steps in enhancing trust and security. Mark also touched on the ethical use of AI, with a focus on governance and ensuring safe, trustworthy processes. 💡 Key Takeaways: Collaboration, citizen-first digital services, and ethical AI will drive the future of NZ’s digital government. Thank you, Mark Sowden, for your insightful keynote! #FSTGOVNZ #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #DigitalGov #AI #GovernmentInnovation

Yesterday at the Future of Victorian Government Summit, Alena Lindsay from the Department of Transport and Planning delivered a compelling closing keynote on "Digital Twin Victoria: Empowering Data-led Decision Making for Smarter Cities & Regions." Alena highlighted the tremendous growth potential of the global digital twin market, projected to expand from $17.73 billion in 2024 to $259.32 billion by 2032. She discussed the profound economic impacts, including the space economy's anticipated rise to $1.8 trillion by 2035 and AI's contribution of $315 billion to the Australian economy by 2028. With over 500 cities expected to deploy digital twins by 2025, this technology promises significant savings for urban planning, improved response to global and local crises, and enhanced community preparedness. Alena concluded by emphasising the urgency of adopting digital twin technology to drive innovation and growth across sectors. We look forward to hearing more about how this technology will shape our future in 2025. Thank you to Alena Lindsay for such an insightful presentation and to all our speakers and delegates for a successful summit. #FSTGOVVIC #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #PublicSector #DigitalVictoria

Yesterday at the Future of Victorian Government Summit, our panel discussion on “Exploring Data Innovation: Victoria’s Journey to AI Readiness” showcased a wealth of insights from Borhan Kazimipour, Nonna Milmeister, Sean Morrison, and Nikhil Patinge. During their discussion, we gained valuable perspectives on advancing AI readiness while ensuring responsible and impactful use. Borhan Kazimipour highlighted the practical applications of AI, including its role in detecting fraud and automating processes, such as chatbots with significant AI-generated code. Nonna Milmeister from RMIT shared her journey in developing a robust data culture, emphasising the importance of data quality and governance, which support successful AI initiatives like early intervention for at-risk students. Sean Morrison discussed the balance between ethical AI implementation and innovation, stressing the need for accurate data and adherence to existing frameworks. Nikhil Patinge focused on establishing a solid foundation for AI, including data integration and literacy, as well as understanding ethics and the broader impact of AI. We’re excited to continue exploring these transformative insights and applying them to drive innovation and excellence in our public sector. #FSTGOVVIC #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #PublicSector #FutureofGov Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner | Department of Government Services | Australian Taxation Office | RMIT University

Dr Niki Vincent, Victorian Commissioner for Gender Equality, delivered a compelling session on advancing gender equality through public sector innovation at the Future of Victorian Government Summit. Victoria is leading the way in gender equality both nationally and internationally, with a strong focus on reducing biases and fostering diverse, balanced teams. Dr. Vincent highlighted the critical role of data in developing gender equality action plans and ensuring transparency and accountability across public sector organisations. With over 90 million data points collected, Victoria is creating the most comprehensive dataset in Australia to drive evidence-based change. She stressed the importance of embedding gender impact assessments into every program, policy, and service and holding organisations accountable through annual audits and public reporting. The session underscored that true progress requires leadership commitment, transparency, and continuous improvement. Thank you, Dr. Vincent, for your inspiring insights on driving gender equality in the public sector. #GenderEquality #FSTGOVVIC #FSTMedia #FSTGovernment #PublicSector #VictorianGovernment