Building the Right Foundations for AI

Hosted as part of Leeds Digital Festival, the session brings together senior leaders from Government, public sector bodies (including the National Wealth Fund, British Business Bank, and UK Export Finance), and Microsoft. It aims to:

• Highlight the strategic role of AI in public sector innovation, with opening insights from the National Wealth Fund’s Chief Information Officer.
• Facilitate a panel discussion on:
  • The Government’s role in responsible AI development and adoption.
  • Building the infrastructure, skills, and institutions needed to scale AI.
  • Embedding ethics, governance, and trust in AI deployment.
  • The contribution of major tech players like Microsoft in shaping AI’s future in the public sector.

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the global economy, unlocking opportunities, and challenging traditional thinking across sectors. But as momentum builds, the question remains: Are we laying the right foundations to ensure AI benefits everyone responsibly and strategically?

As part of Leeds Digital Festival, this exclusive panel discussion convenes senior leaders from across Government and the wider public sector, including the National Wealth Fund, British Business Bank, and UK Export Finance, with Microsoft also in attendance, to explore how public-private collaboration can foster a thriving, future-ready AI ecosystem.

The panel will be hosted by the National Wealth Fund’s Chief Information Officer, who will open the session with insights into why AI is a cornerstone of the NWF’s technology strategy. This will be followed by a dynamic panel discussion exploring:

• The government’s role in the responsible development and adoption of AI across the Civil Service and Arm’s Length Bodies
• Building infrastructure, skills, and institutions that support AI at scale
• The importance of ethics, governance, and trust in deployment
• The role of major technology players, like Microsoft, in shaping AI’s future within public sector

Why attend?

Whether you’re in tech, finance, policy, or innovation, this event offers critical insights into how the UK can lead in AI through strong foundations, responsible growth, and cross-sector collaboration.