2026 Conference Agenda

Arrive and network with thousands of public service leaders involved in innovation and transformation the UK and all around the world

This session will delve into how authorities are using automation and generative AI to improve prevention and responsiveness in public service, and create a new model of people-first, tech-enabled services.

Delegates will explore practical insights and case studies on how cities and localities are becoming more responsive and preventative through technology, sharing practical examples such as the development of smart junctions to cut wait times for public transport at traffic signals, which reduces journey times and cuts pollution.

The AI revolution offers huge economic opportunity, and cities are best placed to capture them.

This session explores how cities can create the conditions for AI to stimulate place-based innovation. We will discuss how cities can support high-growth sectors and business investment and build relationships with universities to ensure they have access to the emerging technologies they need.

We will discuss how cities can take a strategic approach to infrastructure and growth, ensuring that the development of data centres supports local innovation ecosystems and can unlock broader opportunities for long-term, innovative economic development.

No AI initiative succeeds without strong data foundations. This session explores the essentials of data governance, interoperability, quality and privacy, and how local governments can break down silos to unlock better insights. It will discuss the building blocks for better data use, and how to integrate existing data systems with AI.

Good procurement decisions can make or break AI transformation. In this session, commercial and legal experts from cities and municipalities will share lessons on structuring flexible contracts, navigating concerns around vendor lock-in, and achieving value for money with emerging technology. This conversation will provide practical insights on how cities can practically procure and deploy AI capabilities.

As governments adopt AI, so too do criminal networks determined to exploit vulnerabilities. This session examines the rapidly evolving risk landscape that cities face, including automated ransomware, deepfake social engineering, and threats to critical infrastructure, and how technology can be the solution as much as the problem. Experts and practitioners will outline how cities can strengthen defences, upskill staff, and build cyber resilience.

Cities, and wider public sector organisations, are running many AI pilots, but even the successful projects can struggle to move to business-as-usual adoption. Building trust – with both citizens and local government workers themselves – is essential to be able to scale AI from pilots to embedded in day-to-day work.

This session will examine how cities can put transparency, fairness, and accountability at the heart of AI programmes to drive them forward. Delegates will explore how to meaningfully involve citizens in design and oversight, while equipping staff with the knowledge and confidence to use AI responsibly at scale.