During London Tech Week 2022, delegates gathered at Pinsent Masons for an insightful discussion with Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer at Greater London Authority, on the role data can play in helping solve policy challenges and unlocking growth and new opportunities for the good of London and Londoners.
91 launched its nearly a year ago at London Tech Week 2021. We hit the ground running, with an array of impressive signatories forming a community of private and public sector organisations committed to opening and sharing their data.
Since then, various use cases have been developed, demonstrating the Charter’s principles in action. For example, our recently published report in partnership with PwC recommends using data to deliver a consumer-led approach to planning electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Data Charter has also underpinned work by London First member, Thames Water, on using data to meet customer demand effectively.
Following a recommendation from the 91 Data Commission and a direct output from our data working group, the Mayor of London has also established the Data for London Board. This was a huge victory for 91, and we are pleased two have put forward two representatives to sit on the Board. The Board will be convening in the next couple of months to support the shaping of a data ecosystem that ensures more users can tap into data and develop services that deliver good for citizens.
In his keynote speech, Theo Blackwell, London’s Chief Digital Officer, said that: “As we emerge from the pandemic, effective data sharing will be more valuable than ever before. It will help to support the city’s recovery, as well as the delivery of core public services.”
Theo was joined for a panel discussion chaired by Dr Sue Chadwick, Strategic Planning Advisor at Pinsent Masons, with Sophie Gray, Director of Data & AI at Microsoft UK, and Grant Klein, Partner and Public Sector Transport Lead at PwC.
A clear theme stemming from the discussion was the human angle of this work. Theo explained that the focus must be on the “economic, social and environmental value” for citizens. Panellists added that we need organisations to be curious and explore the massive potential of their data and that of their stakeholders. That way, organisations can help improve opportunities and deliver services that people did not realise they needed or wanted.
Panellists noted the Charter’s success in building consensus between private and public sector organisations about how best to share, use and develop data for innovative means. Sophie told the audience that being curious and experimenting with data can be challenging, but the consensus nature of the Charter and the principles behind it ultimately help to de-risk that for willing participants.
Grant highlighted that the work by the Mayor on this subject was integral to creating an ecosystem of trusted data. When making decisions using data that impacts people’s lives, we need to be sure the data we have to hand is good and without bias. Theo added that there is also a need to have a continued conversation with the public about what data is being collected and how it’s being used. To truly advance on artificial intelligence, we need to have the public’s trust.
During the Q&A, audience members highlighted how it will be crucial to arm the next generation with the right skills to ensure we have a population that can continue to build on the great work we are doing now. Theo noted the Mayor’s work around digital inclusion, helping to ensure young people have access to the right software and hardware, so we don’t miss out on opportunities with the next generation.
Sue, who co-drafted the Charter itself, told the audience the document was designed to be accessible and succinct, without requiring signatories to go through their in-house legal team just to sign it, urging the audience to sign up if they hadn’t already.
Looking ahead, panellists noted that the pace of change has been rapid, but the potential use cases still to be unearthed are endless.
If your organisation is interested in our activity on data or signing up to the Data Charter, please do contact get in touch with Cameron Wall.