AI Symposium

An opportunity to network and speak with other tech leaders and stakeholders from across the West Midlands.

The Fast Forward View with Tom Loosemore, Founder at Public Digital, and Architecture of Gov.uk

Agentic AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to implementation, requiring organisations to consider its impact as part of today’s digital transformation agenda. This panel will explore how public services are adapting to a future where AI systems can act as well as provide insight. 

Drawing on real-world experience from government, panellists will discuss the implications for service design, citizen engagement, procurement and supply chains, as well as the governance frameworks needed to ensure transparency, accountability and user-centred outcomes. The session will examine how public sector organisations can responsibly prepare for and navigate this next phase of digital transformation. 

Chair: Aaron Powell, Director of Digital and Data Transformation at West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) with panellists: 

• Phil Rumens, Principal Technologist at Government Digital Service (GDS)  

• Kat Sexton, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)  

• Martin Sadler, Director of Digital & Technology Services at Birmingham City Council (BCC) 

• Amardeep Gill, National Head of Public Sector at Trowers and Hamlins  

David Holloway-Bone, Managing Director at Accenture UK & Ireland 

Technical debt can slow innovation, increase costs and limit growth. This session explores how it builds up, the risks it creates, and practical steps organisations can take to reduce complexity, modernise systems and create a stronger foundation for future success. 

AI is moving from tools that generate outputs to agents that take actions. This is a fundamental shift. It changes governance requirements, workforce design, procurement logic and the nature of risk.  

How do organisations find and transact with customers? AI search is already at 56% of traditional Google search volume and is expected to overtake it within three years. B2B buying behaviour has already changed: 94% of B2B buyers now use AI when evaluating products.  

Agentic commerce, where AI agents act on behalf of buyers, is moving from experiment to deployment.  

For organisations in the West Midlands, this is a strategic question about how they position, evidence and transact their value in a world where machines are increasingly in the middle of the buying journey. 

Chair: Professor Elena Gaura, Coventry City University   

• Yiannis Maos,Co-Founder & CEO at Unloq  

• Nick Heap, Principal Software Engineer at One Advanced  

• Kirti Desai, Fin Tech expert 

• John Faria, Head of Product – Digital Workplace at SCC   

• Andrew Burns, Global Head of Data Strategy at National Grid  

Understanding the difference between digitisation and AI tools, any why that matters. 

Bowel cancer screening, reimagined. 
 
Birmingham became the first English city to launch a community-based colon capsule endoscopy, or pill-cams, enabling faster, more accessible diagnosis. Using digital capabilities to flag potential risk markers, this innovation puts diagnostic power in the heart of the community, helping clinicians spot issues earlier and ease pressure on hospital services. 

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and VivaCity have partnered to enhance road safety in the region through the deployment of VivaCity’s Near Miss technology. This UK-first project aims to improve road safety by providing real-time data on near-miss road collisions, allowing authorities to proactively identify and address dangerous hotspots.

Many organisations still view AI primarily as a tool for improving efficiency, automating tasks, reducing costs and increasing speed. As AI adoption becomes widespread, however, these advantages will become the norm rather than a differentiator. This session explores how forward-thinking organisations are using AI to create better customer experiences, deliver greater value, and build lasting competitive advantage. Discover why the biggest opportunity may not be doing the same things faster but reimagining how customers engage with your business altogether.