Have You Raised A Ticket?

Joanne Cumper and Darren Mann

Local Government Digital, Data and Technology teams don’t get enough airtime about the reality of using technology for more than technologies sake— so we're changing that. Join Jo Cumper and Darren Mann as we bring energy, honesty and hard-won insight to the conversations that matter across the sector. Real conversations about the people driving it, the challenges shaping it, and why it matters more than ever. From career journeys to council transformation, we're here to amplify the brilliant work happening in local government technology.

Episodes

  1. Jul 9

    Ticket #05 - Return of the President!

    Recorded off the back of Socitm's 40th President's Conference, Darren and Joanne are joined by newly-installed president Yogita Popat and immediate past president Kurt Frary to reflect on four decades of the society — from legacy to leadership. The conversation moves from the real power of the conference (the sidebar conversations, not the agenda) to the challenges of Local Government Reorganisation, why collaboration beats competition in a sector that isn't really competing, and how councils can adopt AI safely as augmentation rather than replacement — freeing people up to do the human things only humans can do. Add in the next generation of sector leaders, a spirited defence of tea over coffee, and the return of "IT people are people too," and you've got a genuinely warm listen about what's kept Socitm relevant for 40 years — and what'll keep it relevant for 40 more.

  2. Jun 4

    Ticket No. 4.... Share, Collaborate and Listen.... at the Socitm Presidents Conference!

    Episode 4 of Have You Raised a Ticket? Is here, and it’s the one we’d point anyone to if they wanted to understand why collaboration in local government isn’t just nice to have — it’s a financial and strategic necessity. Jo and Darren are joined by the current president of Society, Kurt Frary, who is also the CTO and head of IT for Norfolk County Council, and the incoming president, Yogita Popat, who is also the Programme Director, Strategy, Culture and Sustainability for Barnet Council to discuss the drives and needs of DDaT and the benefits of collaboration. We discuss the passing of the chain, the impact of local government even before the cradle and how essential spreadsheets are to time travellers. Also, the biscuit discourse is NOT resolved. We’ll be at the Socitm Presidents’ Conference on the 9th and 10th — if you’re going to be there, come and find us.

  3. Apr 30

    To Transform or not Transform, that is the question!

    Joanne and Darren are joined by Nadira Hussain, Chief Executive of Socitm, and Sam Collins, Assistant Director Digital and Information at City of London Corporation, for a properly honest conversation about Local Government Transformation — digital or otherwise.  We get into the question that nobody in our world quite wants to answer out loud: does "transformation" even exist, or have we just been rebranding "change" for the last twenty years? And if it does, how can we affect it, support it, secure it, lead it?

  4. Apr 1

    Ticket #2 - “Digital Twin of Me”

    Joining Darren and Jo this week for the conversations that DD&T should be having in local government are Nicola Egan, Head of Innovation, Delivery and Data at Luton Borough Council, and Jens Gemmel, published author and advocate for local government digital reform.  We talk about confidence in our careers, practical approaches to encouraging different thinking within organisations and what the correct biscuit choice is for your digital twin!

  5. Mar 6

    Raising our First Ticket! with Rehana and Atika

    We said it was coming. It's here. Have You Raised A Ticket? is officially live — and we meant every word of the build-up. Episode 1 features the brilliant Rehana Ramesh, Director of ICT, Digital and Customer Services at the London Borough of Hackney, and Atika Mohammed, Director of Digital, Data and Technology at Luton Borough Council, and they delivered everything we promised and more. Honest, energising, and full of the kind of insight that only comes from people who genuinely care about this sector. If you work in local government DDAT — or you're thinking about it, navigating it, or trying to change it — this podcast is for you. And this episode is the perfect place to start. #LocalGovernment #DDAT #PublicSector #DigitalTransformation #HaveYouRaisedATicket #NewPodcast

    Raising our First Ticket! with Rehana and Atika
  • 5 Episodes

About

Local Government Digital, Data and Technology teams don’t get enough airtime about the reality of using technology for more than technologies sake— so we're changing that. Join Jo Cumper and Darren Mann as we bring energy, honesty and hard-won insight to the conversations that matter across the sector. Real conversations about the people driving it, the challenges shaping it, and why it matters more than ever. From career journeys to council transformation, we're here to amplify the brilliant work happening in local government technology.

Information

  • Creator
    Joanne Cumper and Darren Mann
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Joanne Cumper and Darren Mann
  • Show Website
    Have You Raised A Ticket?