Top Public Sector Influencers on Twitter

Ever wondered who to follow and connect with on social to help you better understand and engage with the public sector? Well, this list would be a great place to start!

We welcome your input as we can by no means know everyone in the public sector! There might be someone you know of who would fit this list perfectly – if so, tweet us at @advicecloud so we can add them.

 

Jacky Wright

@WrightJacky  – Microsoft Corporate Vice President

Prioritising her roles as a leader, a mother, and a coach, Jacky is a championing woman in the tech sector. She inspires and leads teams to drive innovation, adopt sustainable and accessible business models, and digitally transform.

In late 2017, Jacky took civic leave from Microsoft to join HMRC in the Chief Digital and Information Officer role. She transformed the organisation into a forward-thinking, digitally-enabled department and undertook decisions regarding EU exit plans. Under her wing, HMRC has successfully trialled several cutting-edge innovative technologies. She is a firm believer of great innovation’s impact on people and businesses – and it’s apparent in her leadership. She is also on the Institute of Coding’s Advisory Board, a renowned organisation led by the University of Bath! Could you want any more as tech career inspiration?

 

Emilia Cedeno

@EmiliaCedeno82 – CCS Category Lead

Emilia is one of our favourite people at CCS! Her passion for making the Digital Marketplace work for both buyers and suppliers shows in her work and inspires us. During her time with CCS as Category Manager, she launched Digital buying community aimed at empowering buyers to make the most of the Digital Marketplace. Buyers are to use their combined knowledge and experiences to improve the purchasing platform. Following her very recent promotion to Category Lead, Emilia has guided CCS through adjustments in the new way of living and working during the pandemic. An example of one of many projects is the recurring ‘Community of Communities’ online event. Public sector procurement is not always the most exciting or understandable topic, but Emilia manages to make it fun and approachable!

 

Janet Hughes

@JanetHughes – Defra Programme Director on Future Farming and Countryside Programme

If you were ever lucky enough to go to UKGovCamp, you must have met Janet. Her energy is boundless! Janet is renowned for having helped numerous public sector bodies in their digital transformation and innovation. Most recently, her role with Defra as the director of the future farming and countryside programme has seen her moving mountains – not only for the industry to become more digital, but also more environmental. As a co-founder of GovCamp, she has empowered the public sector when coming together once a year. At these events, they work to recognise the potential in technology as well as collaborate to tackle the challenges.

 

James Arthur Cattell

@jacattell – UK Civil Service Community Delivery Manager

The other half of the Hughes-Cattell public sector digital powerhouse. James has been helping public sector organisations tackle the complex task of digital transformation for many years. He previously worked for the Government Digital Support Service (GDS) and was the driving force behind DEFRA’s’s open data movement. James is currently in the Cabinet Office working towards shaping its future as being more diverse and inclusive. Alongside Janet Hughes, he facilitates UKGovCamp and is an unconference specialist. What an incredible duo!

 

Theo Blackwell

@CamdenTheo – Chief Digital Officer for the Mayor of London

In his previous job, Theo established Camden as London’s’s leading digital borough through its use of public data. Today, he is London’s’s first CDO. He harmoniously develops and promotes partnership between the public, private and community sectors, enabling the development of new public service-oriented innovation. With a real passion for collaborative working, he is faced with an ambitious task to make London the world’s smartest city.

 

Poss Apostolou

@I_Am_Poss – dxw Digital Chief Operating Officer

Poss has been leading digital teams across the public sector since 2011. Notably, he has led successful transformation programmes such as ‘GOV.UK’, the ’25 digital exemplars’, and ‘GOV.UK Verify’. Before his role at dxw Digital, Poss was head of GDS’ Delivery Operations Team, where he delivered some of the most successful UK Civil Service transformation projects to date.

 

Julian David

@TechUKCEO – CEO of TechUK

Julian has been CEO of TechUK for almost seven years, with a combined 30+ years in the technology industry. It was his experience with IBM earlier in his career that drove his desire to help build a smarter, digitally transformed state which can meet the needs of all UK citizens.

Whilst at TechUK, Julian has chaperoned the organisation transformation from its predecessor intellect, leading the focus on capturing the opportunity for growth and jobs which the tech industry offers in a global economy. Alongside his CEO role, Julian acts as Vice President of National Trade Associations at Digital Europe, and Vice President for Europe at WITSA. He is also an active member of the UK Government’s Industry Cyber Growth Partnership and Digital Economy Council – no wonder he’s on our list!

 

Nicola Graham

@nicolag71 – Head of ICT at Aberdeenshire Council

Another female mover and shaker on the digital side of the public sector! Nicola has almost 30 years of commercial and public sector expertise. Under her leadership, Aberdeenshire Council was one of the first Scottish local authorities to embrace a ”cloud-based” service management tool. Just a couple of months ago, she took the position of Director of Infrastructure and Support Services for Ayrshire and Arran NHS, where she is striving to deliver the best health and care for local citizens. She is also the Immediate Past President of Socitm – the professional network for digital leaders in the transformation of local public services.

 

Sarah Wilkinson

@ SarahFWilkinson – CEO, NHS Digital

If there ever was a woman faced with a tough task, it must be Sarah Wilkinson. The NHS is not a single organisation, it is a fragmented array of collaborating entities, and it is always under immense public scrutiny. Managing the digital transformation under those circumstances certainly can’t be easy. But she is making real strides, despite even the global pandemic we are facing. Following her smooth development and delivery of ”GP Connect” in the West Midlands last month, we will likely see this rolled out across the country.

 

We are so fortunate in the UK to have so many inspiring digital leaders working in the public sector. This list is just the tip of the iceberg. Your next job is to connect with them and start following what they are tweeting!