Transform Gov - the digital government podcast

Maeve Kneafsey
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Transform Gov, the digital government podcast, brings you top names behind many of the most exciting and transformative digital government projects globally. If you are working in, or with, public sector transformers who are digitising the public sector, each episode brings inside tips and insights from talented leaders who have been there and done that. www.digitalgovawards.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The AI race is really an energy and water race

    6D AGO

    The AI race is really an energy and water race

    AI may dominate the headlines — but the real race is happening somewhere else. Energy. Water. Data infrastructure. On this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Alice Charles, Director at Arup and former World Economic Forum infrastructure lead, about the global competition shaping the future of cities, economies and governments. Alice explains why the AI boom is triggering what some leaders are calling the largest infrastructure build-out in history. And why the foundations of AI are not software — but power grids, water systems and data centres. In this conversation: • Why the AI race between the US and China is really about infrastructure • Why AI requires massive increases in energy and water • Why Ireland’s climate gives it an unexpected advantage for data centres • Why smart city projects failed when they focused on technology instead of citizens • Why governments must move from planning to delivery Alice also reflects on lessons from the World Economic Forum, global infrastructure investment, and the strategic decisions countries must make to compete in a rapidly changing technological landscape. If AI is the future — the question is simple: Do we have the infrastructure to support it? Digital Government Infrastructure, AI infrastructure, Data centres, Energy transition, Urban development, Smart cities, Public sector innovation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  2. Inside Dublin City Council’s AI Lab

    FEB 20

    Inside Dublin City Council’s AI Lab

    What does AI actually look like inside a local authority? In this episode of Transform Gov, Dublin City Council’s AI Lab team — Khizer Ahmed Biyabani and Richie Shakespeare — explain how they are moving beyond AI hype to deliver practical tools that improve consistency, save time and build trust. From preventing contradictory council answers to searching decades of records in seconds, they share what works, what doesn’t, and why 80% of AI success comes down to data. Why ListenHow AI prevents conflicting public-sector responsesTurning 1990s PDFs into instant search resultsTraining 500+ staff and shifting sentiment from fear to confidenceWhy data readiness matters more than the AI itselfTimeline00:00 — What the AI Lab is and why it exists 03:30 — Why a sandbox approach matters 11:30 — Training 500+ staff and changing AI sentiment 21:27 — “Ctrl+F on steroids”: AI for council questions 22:04 — Searching records back to the 1990s 24:29 — The truth: data preparation is 80% of the work 27:00 — Building control use cases and operational impact 32:40 — Scaling AI safely in local government AI in government, digital transformation, local government innovation, generative AI, public sector technology, Ireland eGovernment Awards, smart cities, data governance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  3. Quantum computing could upend how governments plan, model and decide — sooner than expected

    FEB 12

    Quantum computing could upend how governments plan, model and decide — sooner than expected

    Quantum computing is often described as “next-generation” technology — but according to Equal1 CEO Jason Lynch, it’s much closer, more practical, and more relevant to government than most people realise. In this episode of Transform Gov, Jason explains quantum computing in plain English, why it follows AI rather than replaces it, and how it could transform public services — from climate modelling and flooding prediction to healthcare, logistics and national infrastructure planning. We also explore why waiting until quantum “arrives” may already be too late for CIOs, and what public-sector leaders should be doing now to prepare. Topic timeline00:01 – What quantum computing actually is (without the jargon)03:10 – Why AI is hitting limits: energy, cost and sustainability04:30 – Healthcare, drugs and why we still don’t know how paracetamol works06:20 – Optimisation problems governments can’t solve today08:00 – Why Equal1’s data-centre approach changes everything11:40 – Why ESA became Equal1’s first customer15:40 – What CIOs should be planning for now17:50 – Quantum, security and post-quantum cryptography20:40 – Digital sovereignty and Europe’s quantum future25:00 – What citizens may notice in five years’ time quantum computing explained, quantum computing government, public sector technology, digital government podcast, future of computing, AI and quantum, government innovation what is quantum computing, how quantum computing affects government, quantum vs AI, when will quantum computing be used, quantum computing public services Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  4. Why telling people what to do doesn’t work

    FEB 4

    Why telling people what to do doesn’t work

    What if improving health didn’t start with another campaign telling people what to do? In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Stephen McPeake, founder of Civic Dollars, about a practical, community-led way councils and health bodies are encouraging healthier behaviour — and actually seeing results. Stephen explains why incentives often work better than awareness campaigns, why people push back when they’re told what to do, and how councils and health bodies are using Civic Dollars to improve wellbeing, support local businesses, and strengthen communities. A smart listen for anyone working in public health, local government, or digital transformation. Topics 00:00 – 01:00 Why public services struggle to change behaviour 01:00 – 03:00 A simple idea: rewarding people for time outdoors 03:00 – 05:30 How health activity turns into community impact 05:30 – 09:00 Using incentives instead of prescriptions 09:00 – 12:10 Why public health campaigns don’t work 12:10 – 15:00 Why place matters more than apps 15:00 – 19:00 How innovation gets stuck in pilot mode 19:00 – 27:00 What councils get, what it costs, and what’s next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  5. AI can now fake identity

    JAN 26

    AI can now fake identity

    AI can already create near-perfect replicas of passports, utility bills and other identity documents — good enough to bypass many existing checks. In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Dr Hitesh Tewari, Professor at Trinity College Dublin and researcher at the ADAPT Centre, about what this means for public services that rely on digital identity, from welfare and healthcare to licensing and payments. They explore: Why traditional KYC approaches are no longer sufficientHow fraud becomes dangerous when it becomes scalableHow zero-knowledge proof can allow verification without over-sharing dataHow blockchain can support trust, not speculationLessons from real-world projects in energy, voting and healthcare dataA practical, risk-focused conversation for those responsible for digital public services. Key topics 01:25 – AI-generated identity documents and KYC risk06:30 – Why scalable fraud changes everything10:45 – What blockchain is (and is not) for government13:50 – Zero-knowledge proof explained simply19:40 – Tackling greenwashing with better energy attribution22:15 – Healthcare data, silos and trust25:50 – What’s coming next: opportunities and risks Digital identity, AI fraud, KYC, public sector technology, digital government, blockchain, zero-knowledge proof, cybersecurity, trust in government, ADAPT Centre, Trinity College Dublin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  6. How to design digital government for everyone

    JAN 16

    How to design digital government for everyone

    Digital services only work if everyone can use them. In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Donal Fitzpatrick and Shivaali Scully from the National Disability Authority about accessibility, universal design and the fast-emerging role of AI in public services. They explore if AI can remove barriers for people with disabilities, where serious risks around bias and privacy remain, and why involving users early in design is the single most important factor in getting digital services right. The conversation ranges from real-world examples of AI supporting accessibility, to the impact of the European Accessibility Act, and why Ireland is emerging as a global leader in universal design. This is a must-listen for anyone designing, commissioning or delivering digital services in the public or private sector. Timeline / Topics00:00 – Why accessibility is central to digital government03:00 – AI and accessibility: opportunity versus risk06:30 – Why user voices must shape design from day one09:30 – Privacy, bias and the limits of AI17:00 – European Accessibility Act explained23:00 – Ireland’s leadership in universal design34:00 – The Universal Design Grand Challenge and future talent Accessibility, Universal Design, AI in Government, Digital Public Services, Inclusion, European Accessibility Act, Public Sector Innovation, Transform Gov Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  7. Is government structurally ready for the digital age? OGCIO behind the scenes

    JAN 7

    Is government structurally ready for the digital age? OGCIO behind the scenes

    This is a frank conversation about pace, legislation, risk culture, and delivery at scale — and why digital reform will stall unless governments change how decisions are made, not just what they build. Part 2 of Transform Gov, Dr Tony Shannon, Head of Digital Services at Ireland’s Office of the Government CIO. This interview goes beyond strategy and confronts the real constraints holding back public-sector transformation. Tony explains why: the machinery of government is not yet fit for the digital agelegislation itself must become “digital-ready”life-event based services require cross-government ownershipIreland has a unique opportunity to lead between EU regulation and US innovationThis episode will resonate with anyone responsible for delivery, governance, funding, architecture, or reform in the public sector. Part 2 of 2 Presented by Maeve Kneafsey Transform Gov – part of the Ireland eGovernment Awards, in partnership with Accenture Key moments01:45 – Why 2030 is the end of the digital decade, not the start04:30 – Life events, building blocks and shared ownership07:00 – Digital public infrastructure explained11:25 – Ireland’s position between EU regulation and US innovation17:00 – Why the machinery of government is not yet fit for the digital age18:30 – The case for digital-ready legislation Key subjects: public sector digital transformation, government CIO, digital government Ireland, life events strategy, digital public infrastructure, govtech, public service reform, digital legislation, OGCIO, Transform Gov podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min
  8. The doctor helping to rewire how Ireland delivers public services

    12/17/2025

    The doctor helping to rewire how Ireland delivers public services

    Dr Tony Shannon, Head of Digital Services in Ireland’s Office of the Government CIO, shares his remarkable journey from emergency medicine to the front line of digital government. He shares why healthcare’s chaos taught him how to fix complex systems, how the NHS’s multi-billion-pound IT failure shaped his thinking, and why now—in his words—“is a moment that matters and a decade that matters.” Expect insight, urgency and practical lessons for anyone who believes public services can, and must, work better for people and planet. Part 1 of 2. Listen for: How a doctor’s pattern-recognition mindset applies to digital reformWhat went wrong with the NHS national IT programmeThe three-way equation of People + Process + TechnologyWhy the pandemic briefly showed how agile government can beWhy risk-aversion, if left unchallenged, will cost us all Digital transformation, public sector innovation, Ireland eGovernment, Tony Shannon, OGCIO, Maeve Kneafsey, healthcare informatics, open source, agile delivery, leadership, government reform, risk culture, digital public services, data, AI in government, life-event strategy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
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About

Transform Gov, the digital government podcast, brings you top names behind many of the most exciting and transformative digital government projects globally. If you are working in, or with, public sector transformers who are digitising the public sector, each episode brings inside tips and insights from talented leaders who have been there and done that. www.digitalgovawards.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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