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. 2d ago

    Why AI relies on human drivers

    Episode Highlights: Crisis Management: Maria's resilience was tested through the COVID crisis and the Ukrainian refugee crisis, where she played a pivotal role in managing the response efforts. Tune in to hear how she used "energy buckets" to build team resilience.Data Security Challenges: Discussing the ongoing data security issues faced by the HSE, Maria underscores the inevitability of cyber threats and the critical role of the CISO.Cross-Departmental Collaboration: The Ukrainian refugee crisis required seamless collaboration across multiple departments and organisations, including EY and Microsoft. Discover the complexities of aligning diverse teams to support refugees, such as ensuring access to cancer treatment centres.Managing Expectations: With a large stakeholder group, prioritising needs and managing expectations were crucial. Maria highlights the importance of plain English communication and open conversations to align everyone's efforts.AI in Healthcare: Maria emphasises that AI must be driven by clinicians to support healthcare effectively. She shares her involvement with Spunout, a charity using AI to support young people's mental health. She also tell us about the innovative Fastrack to IT apprenticeship program. 💡 Key Takeaways: The human element is the hardest and most important part of major projects, requiring honest communication and alignment.Data quality and governance are foundational for successful AI initiatives.The importance of practical education pathways, like tech apprenticeships, to bridge skills gaps and support lifelong learning. Join us as Maria McCann shares her invaluable experiences and insights into the world of digital transformation in government Find out more www.digitalgovawards.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why AI relies on human drivers

  2. Jul 6

    Can AI help immigration services without making decisions?

    How do you redesign a public service used by people from almost every country in the world? In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Paul Rooney and Roshan Wijesinghe from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration about the Department’s digital contact centre for immigration services. This is a story about far more than technology. The Department was dealing with high volumes of applications, fragmented helpdesks, repeated queries, multiple languages, anxious users and staff under pressure. The response was not simply to “build a portal”. It was to redesign the service around users, staff, language, culture, trust and delivery. The conversation explores: Why the project was service-design-led, not technology-ledHow the Department moved towards a more joined-up applicant viewWhy translation is not the same as localisationHow plain English, tone of voice and visuals helped make the service easier to useHow personas helped the team understand both immigration applicants and internal staffHow Microsoft Dynamics, automation and AI-supported tools are helping staff manage information and queriesWhy AI is not being used to make immigration decisionsHow identity verification helped tackle appointment-booking abuseWhy business-led change management was criticalWhat other public sector teams can learn from the project For CIOs, digital leaders, service designers, customer service teams and anyone working on AI or transformation in the public sector, this is a practical look at what digital government really requires: clear purpose, better data, better communication, staff involvement and strong safeguards. Transform Gov is part of the Ireland eGovernment Awards and is brought to you in partnership with Accenture. Find out more at www.digitalgovawards.com Digital government, public sector transformation, Department of Justice, immigration services, AI in government, public sector AI, Microsoft Dynamics, digital contact centre, service design, multilingual services, digital identity, change management, GovTech, Ireland eGovernment Awards, Transform Gov, customer service, public service reform Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Can AI help immigration services without making decisions?

  3. Jun 22

    Could virtual hospitals replace hospital visits?

    What if your next hospital appointment happened from your kitchen table? In Part 2 of Transform Gov, Professor Derek O'Keeffe explains how Ireland is using digital technology to rethink healthcare delivery — from remote islands to nursing homes, prisons and beyond. You'll hear how: *Patients can be monitored safely at home. *Chronic diseases can be managed before emergencies happen. *Virtual hospitals are reducing unnecessary admissions. *AI and robotics could become everyday healthcare tools. This isn't science fiction. It's already happening. Transform Gov is part of the Ireland eGovernment Awards and is brought to you in partnership with Accenture. Find out more about the Ireland eGovernment Leadership Summit and Awards at: www.digitalgovawards.com If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe and share. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:33 Why chronic disease is changing healthcare 04:49 Why hospitals aren't designed for chronic illness 07:24 The idea behind the virtual hospital 09:44 Monitoring patients at home 10:58 Virtual wards explained 15:20 The island healthcare project 17:06 Why islands became the perfect test bed 18:37 A patient, a ferry and lambing season 20:06 Scaling the project across Ireland 21:41 Nursing homes, prisons and remote care 24:23 International interest from Australia 25:21 AI, robotics and the future of healthcare 27:48 Why innovation requires resilience 29:02 Final thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Could virtual hospitals replace hospital visits?

  4. Jun 16

    Could drones deliver your medicine?

    What if the biggest challenge in healthcare wasn't medicine... ...but getting the right people to work together? In Part 1 of this fascinating conversation, Professor Derek O'Keeffe — consultant endocrinologist, engineer and founder of the Hive Lab at the University of Galway — explains why solving healthcare problems often starts outside the hospital. From delivering medicines by drone after Storm Ophelia, to creating smart connected medical devices and bringing engineers and clinicians together, this is a story about practical innovation that is already changing lives. In this episode: • Why Derek calls himself a "physicianeer" • Why healthcare is full of engineering problems • The remarkable drone medicine delivery project • Why regulation is often a bigger challenge than technology • The story behind the "digital stent" • Why the best innovations start with a real human problem This isn't a conversation about gadgets. It's about using technology to make public services work better. Transform Gov is part of the Ireland eGovernment Awards and is brought to you in partnership with Accenture. Find out more about this year's Leadership Summit and Awards at: www.digitalgovawards.com If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe and share. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:35 What is a "physicianeer"? 03:20 From engineering to medicine 05:12 Why healthcare is full of problems to solve 08:15 Why technology isn't the difficult part 10:48 "The technology is easy. The people are hard." 11:24 The idea that led to medicine delivery by drone 13:18 Aviation, pharmacy and regulation 16:05 Building the Hive Lab 18:42 Collaboration between engineers and clinicians 21:15 The digital stent project 24:10 The garden hose moment 26:40 Why innovation often stays in the drawer 28:50 Making technology work for people 31:00 Final thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Could drones deliver your medicine?

  5. Jun 9

    The first COVID dashboard didn't exist... until Ireland had about two weeks to build it.

    Justin Gleeson explains how a small team from government, Maynooth University and Ordnance Survey Ireland came together in March 2020 to create the platform that millions of us watched every evening behind Tony Holohan. A fascinating story about what can happen when technology, data and public service all pull in the same direction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The first COVID dashboard didn't exist... until Ireland had about two weeks to build it.

  6. Jun 2

    How Galway digitised 1,000 townlands — and put local heritage on the world map

    What happens when local heritage meets digital innovation? In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, and Brídín Feeney from the GIS team at Galway County Council. Winners of the 2025 Ireland eGovernment Open Data Award, their StoryMaps project is transforming how communities discover, preserve and share local heritage. From digitising more than 1,000 townlands to helping local communities tell their own stories, this project demonstrates how open data, GIS technology and community engagement can deliver real public value. The conversation explores: • Why traditional booklets were no longer enough • Using GIS and StoryMaps technology to connect people with place • Building digital skills within communities • The role of open data in preserving heritage • Creating pride of place through technology • How a local project attracted international interest Transform Gov is brought to you in partnership with Accenture. Find out more about the Ireland eGovernment Awards: www.digitalgovawards.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How Galway digitised 1,000 townlands — and put local heritage on the world map

  7. May 21

    What if the biggest barrier to suicide prevention is fear?

    Fear of saying the wrong thing.Fear of making things worse.Fear of even starting the conversation. In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Ailish O’Neill from the HSE’s National Suicide Prevention Office about “Let’s Talk About Suicide” — the winner of the 2025 Ireland eGovernment Education Award. This is a digital learning programme designed to help ordinary people recognise signs of suicidal distress and feel confident enough to step in and help. But this conversation goes far beyond technology. It explores: • Why lived experience completely changed the design of the programme • How language and tone can determine whether people engage or switch off • Why online learning was the right solution for a deeply sensitive subject • How digital tools can build confidence — not just awareness • What public sector teams can learn about communication, trust, and behaviour change One insight stands out: Many people taking the training were already worried about someone in their lives. That changes everything. Transform Gov is part of the Ireland eGovernment Awards and is brought to you in partnership with Accenture. To read more about free, accessible suicide prevention training from the HSE, or to enrol in Let’s Talk About Suicide, visit www.nosp.ie/training.  This episode includes discussion about suicide and self-harm, which some listeners might find challenging or upsetting. If you, or someone you know needs support, visit the HSE website www.yourmentalhealth.ie for information on mental health, minding yourself and others, and to find services or supports. Samaritans are also available anytime day or night for support, on freephone 116 123. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Why the programme was created during COVID 04:10 Why suicide prevention training is different 07:20 Designing learning that builds confidence 10:15 The power of lived experience 15:05 “We get it now” — the turning point for developers 18:40 Fear of saying the wrong thing 22:10 Real-world stories and impact 25:00 What other public sector teams can learn 28:00 What happens next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    What if the biggest barrier to suicide prevention is fear?

  8. May 15

    From paper forms to AI: 23 years that completely rewired Ireland's Public Services

    What actually happens when a country decides to digitise itself? Not the theory. Not the strategy decks. The real story. Over 23 years, Ireland’s public sector has gone from: • Paper forms, post and phone calls • To online transactions people trust • To fully integrated, citizen-first services • And now… cautiously stepping into AI This episode is a rare step back — a straight, honest look at what changed, what worked, and what didn’t. You’ll hear: • Why early “digital” projects were little more than brochure websites • The moment citizens finally trusted online government services • The internal battles — fiefdoms, silos and systems that wouldn’t talk to each other • How collaboration became the biggest shift of all • Why “citizen-first” wasn’t always the mindset — and how that changed • The truth about AI in government — less hype, more caution And crucially — what all of that means for what comes next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    From paper forms to AI: 23 years that completely rewired Ireland's Public Services
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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.

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