Posted on 24/08/2017 by

Sarah Wilkinson, the new chief of the national provider of information, data and IT systems for commissioners, analysts and clinicians in UK health and social care, will lead a speakers' programme full of prominent technology executives at the return of Tech Leaders Summit on 14 Sep

'This is a key time for the organisation as it becomes Fit for 2020 and I look forward to building on the strong foundations laid down over the last year, improving public access to data and modernising the way health and care is accessed and delivered'

NHS Digital’s new CEO, Sarah Wilkinson, will take to the stage as keynote speaker at the UK’s flagship tech leadership conference, Tech Leaders Summit, on 14 September.

Wilkinson leads a speaking line-up of prominent tech leaders as 500 IT executives descend on London’s Radisson Portman Blue Hotel for the return of a summit that explores the biggest trends driving innovation, transformation and disruption in businesses. These include digital transformation, the internet of things, cybercrime, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and cyber security.

Wilkinson took the reins at NHS Digital earlier this month. Her previous role was at the Home Office, where she held the position of chief digital, data and technology officer.

After joining the Home Office at the start of 2015, Wilkinson transformed its technology capability and outcomes. She redesigned the IT department to be more closely aligned to Home Office business units, transformed the infrastructure and platforms, moved the department increasingly to agile development approaches and introduced best-practice DevOps capability.

Prior to that, she spent 23 years in financial services, holding CIO roles at Credit Suisse, UBS, Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers. At Credit Suisse she was also head of diversity for EMEA for the CFO organisation.

Wilkinson said NHS Digital has a vital role to play as the key information and technology partner at the heart of the UK’s health and social care system.

She added, “This is a key time for the organisation as it becomes Fit for 2020 and I look forward to building on the strong foundations laid down over the last year, improving public access to data and modernising the way health and care is accessed and delivered.

“Digital and technical capabilities and the fast-evolving market in platforms, software, devices and analytics, are transforming the ability of the medical profession to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases. To be asked to work at the forefront of delivering these capabilities is hugely exciting.”

She will be joined at Tech Leaders Summit by a stellar programme of speakers as attendees are provided with an unparalleled opportunity to learn from the best in the business: the leaders who have experienced the highs and lows, benefits and challenges, of implementing IT strategies and transformations, and kept such projects aligned to business goals.

They include prominent CIOs and CTOs such as Mark Holt of Trainline, Martyn Croft of Salvation Army, Charles Ewen of The Met Office, Lyn Grobler of Hyperion Insurance Group, Helena Nimmo of Euromonitor International and Brendan O’Rourke of Telefonica UK.

Other tech leaders taking the stage include Tim Carmichael, chief data officer at the British Army; Lauren Sager Weinstein, head of analytics at Transport for London; Peter Jackson, head of data at Southern Water; Georgina Owens, head of digital process transformation at Vodafone; Claire Calmejane, director of innovation and digital development at Lloyds Banking Group; Julie George, CISO at Arriva; Natalie Jakonis, head of data at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water; Terry Willis, head of information systems at Age UK; and Abed Ajraou, data and insights director at First Utility.

“We’re exciting to welcome Sarah as the keynote speaker for this year’s Tech Leaders Summit,” said Ben Rossi, editorial director at Vitesse Media, publisher of Information Age and organiser of the event. “She’s one of the UK’s most prominent technology leaders and joins a speaking programme overloaded with talented IT executives driving enormous value from the application of technology in large organisations.”

Source: InformationAge