A delegation from Socitm, the body representing IT and digital professionals across the public sector, is heading to Australia to showcase innovation in UK local government.

The high-level delegation, which comprises Socitm president Geoff Connell, vice president Nicola Graham, and Martin Ferguson, director of policy and research, will attend the MAV Technology Annual Conference in Geelong, Australia, from 18 to 21 March.

More than 300 local government stakeholders from across Australia and around the world will attend the three-day event to discuss current technology trends, the digital maturity of councils, their challenges, the requirements of their communities and how to meet them.

Martin Ferguson will address the conference on how local government is using technology and digital tools to redesign its approach to delivering services that are targeted towards achieving better outcomes.

Geoff Connell will be exploring the role of place-based digital infrastructure in changing service delivery models and considering ways that councils can help communities to help themselves, while Nicola Graham will present aspects of the  transformational work underway in Scotland, particularly through their shared Local Government Digital Programme.

The Socitm delegation will be joined by other members of the Linked Organisation of Local Authority ICT Societies (LOLA) including Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the US.

Each of the LOLA professional associations has been invited to nominate a project to represent their country at the International Awards for Excellence, which will be presented at the conference.

Socitm has nominated the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Digital Transformation Service for the prestigious award. The Digital Transformation Service has used a Digital Transactional Toolkit (DTT) to implement more than 20 digital public services rapidly and cost effectively, saving £1.7 million and increasing the ability of the public to interact with Northern Ireland’s government online.

Speaking ahead of his address, Martin said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to showcase examples of digital transformation in local, UK place-based public services to an international audience.

“Events like this are perfect to share knowledge, build contacts, adapt successful solutions pioneered elsewhere and expand the resources available to all our members.”

For more information about Socitm’s international work, please visit www.socitm.net/policy-influence