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Many see governance as a roadblock to innovation, but in this keynote, Arizona's inaugural Chief Data and Analytics Officer argues the opposite: governance is the runway that enables innovation to take off safely. This session reframes governance not as a set of rules and restrictions, but as a strategic enabler that provides the trustworthy data, clear guardrails, and confidence needed for new ideas to succeed and scale. You will leave with practical advice for changing the narrative from control to empowerment, ensuring that governance accelerates, rather than obstructs, progress.

• From Enforcer to Enabler: Learn why governance should be embedded early in the innovation process, with stewards acting as partners at the table rather than gatekeepers at the finish line.
• Trust as a Prerequisite for Speed: Discover how making data trust visible—through quality scores, clear lineage, and freshness indicators—allows teams to innovate with confidence and velocity.
• Freedom Within a Framework: Understand how to build self-service analytics capabilities and a shared data language that empowers teams to experiment and collaborate effectively.
• Aligning Governance with Business Value: See how tying governance KPIs directly to innovation goals transforms governance from a bureaucratic chore into a strategic advantage.

New York State is in the midst of an exciting transformation to a new Dedicated Agency Service Model, which has dramatically improved customer service, built trust, restored accountability and sped up the delivery of digital service for hardworking New Yorkers.  See how New York State Chief Information Officer and Director of the state’s Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) Dru Rai has used a business mindset honed from a 30-year private sector career to deliver more cost effective government solutions, enhance the State’s cybersecurity posture, improve key operational success metrics, attract new tech talent, and get more done for the 57 state agencies and numerous local governments served by ITS.

• ITS serves 57 state agencies and numerous local governments, and is the largest consolidated IT organization in America.  To more closely align with the entities it serves, the agency has embarked on a transition to a new Dedicated Agency Service Model, which pairs SMEs with high-level tech support to accelerate digital transformation, drive customer service gains, identify common agency needs to save money, demonstrate long-term ROI and meet operational excellence goals.
• While there is more to be done, early returns show the new model is pointing New York IT in a better direction - - project health metrics are stronger than they have ever been, unresolved incidents and unfulfilled requests have been significantly reduced, and the State’s commissioners are praising the new model, which is allowing then to deliver cost-effective and secure solutions to their customers in a faster, more consistent and more streamlined way.
• As part of this transition, ITS has focused on better defining its products and services, meeting service level agreements with agencies, and providing Commissioners with an annual report card and a proactive customer survey to identify areas for further improvement.  At the same time, NYS is prioritizing talent enhancement at the mid-and-upper levels of its IT and IT-related organizations, developing stronger and more committed leaders, investing in cloud and AI, and upskilling state staff to do even more.
• Through it all, NYS has become a nationally-recognized leader on cybersecurity, building out a Security Operations Center that protects 57 state agencies and more than 100 local governments, and has cemented a comprehensive statewide approach to evolving threats.  Meanwhile, New York is ensuring that its workforce is part of the State’s next phase of AI, delivering a hands-on AI education course and an ITS-certified AI Pro tool that will allow agency employees to safely hone their generative AI skills - - making the future State of Technology in New York more modern, more future facing, and more cost effective.

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to revolutionize how governments deliver services, enhance operational efficiency, and better meet the needs of citizens. This discussion explores how the responsible use of AI can create long-term public value, with risk mitigation strategies ensuring ethical, secure, and equitable deployment.

• Delivering Smarter Public Services: Examine how AI is enabling governments to deliver faster, more personalized, and proactive citizen services—from digital assistants to predictive service delivery.
• Empowering Data-Driven Decision Making: Explore how AI tools are helping public institutions analyze complex data to make informed, transparent, and timely policy decisions.
• Building Trust Through Responsible AI: Discuss frameworks and safeguards to ensure AI is used ethically, respects privacy, and avoids bias—fostering public trust and accountability.
• Future-Proofing Government Operations: Understand how AI enhances operational resilience and workforce productivity, while mitigating cybersecurity and algorithmic risks through robust governance practices.

Steven Hintze

Chief Data and Product Officer, Arizona Department of Child Safety

Michael Moore

Chief Information Security Officer, Arizona Secretary of State

Matt Weber

Chief Information Security Officer, Pima County

Kimberly Clark

Deputy Chief Information Officer, Arizona State University

Kristen Conner Moderator

Senior Partner, State of Arizona, IBM

Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is transforming operations by using data not just to inform decisions, but to reshape how operations work within their IT organization. This session explores how using data-driven decisions helps them streamline operations, control costs, and ensure direction of the department is based on data. We will examine how ADE leverages data and visualization:

• DEVOPS: how the data is being used to develop standard work.
• Call Centers: Analyzing needs across multiple call centers.
• Operational Costs: Using data to reduce operational costs
• Security: Vulnerability management and device usage statistics to drive acceptable device use standards

Discover how agentic AI is enabling government agencies to evolve into “agentic agencies,” fundamentally reshaping the delivery of public services. This session examines how autonomous, intelligent agents can transform workflows, accelerate digital transformation, and elevate both citizen experiences and operational efficiency.

• Defining “agentic agencies” and their role in the future of public service delivery
• Exploring use cases of agentic AI in automating complex government workflows
• Balancing efficiency gains with accountability, transparency, and trust
• Preparing the workforce and infrastructure for agentic AI integration

Arizona’s economic growth is dependent on a digitally skilled workforce. This session explores strategies for upskilling and preparing workers for future technology demands.

• Explore the impact of automation and AI on Arizona’s labor market.
• Discuss initiatives for digital literacy and workforce training programs.
• Examine collaborations between government, academia, and industry for talent development.
• Highlight workforce development policies ensuring an inclusive digital economy.

• Learn the latest Innovations in CX-specific AI (generative, Agentic) for engaging and interacting with students and citizens
• Self-Services on any channel (Front Door)
• Proactive AI Engagement that really works
• Best practices and examples from Universities and Government Agencies

1. Evaluating Today’s Tech Maturity Trifecta: What our Responses to Post-Quantum Cryptography, Observability, and AI tell us About Ourselves Facilitated by: Dr. James Stanger, Chief Technology Evangelist, CompTIA
2. The Role of AI in Automating Public Services Without Losing the Human Touch Facilitated by: Joe Forte, Senior Vice President, U.S. Public Sector NICE
3. Positioning Your Agency for Enhanced Efficiency with the Right Technology Facilitated by: Kristen Conner, Senior Partner, State of Arizona, IBM
4. Safely Enabling AI Chat Tools in Any Environment and Preventing Data Leaks Facilitated by: Anthony Bruno, Director of Sales, SLED, iboss
5. Public-Private Tech Collaborations: How Can Industry Partners Drive Government Innovation Facilitated by: Dallas Pesch, Lead Solutions Engineer, Dynatrace
6. Positioning Your Agency for Enhanced Efficiency with the Right Technology Facilitated by: Todd White, Account Executive AWS

Arizona is leveraging digital technologies to accelerate economic growth, attract investment, and foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem. This session explores how AI, automation, and digital infrastructure are transforming industries, enhancing workforce development, and positioning Arizona as a leader in the digital economy.

• Enhancing Interoperability & System Integration – Seamless data exchange between agencies improves efficiency, reduces duplication, and enhances decision-making.
• Cyber Threat Intelligence & Risk Mitigation – Proactively identifying and neutralizing threats helps prevent breaches, ensuring the safety of critical government infrastructure.
• Modernizing Legacy Systems for Resilience – Upgrading outdated systems strengthens security, improves scalability, and ensures reliable public services.
• Public-Private Partnerships in Cybersecurity – Collaboration with industry leaders brings cutting-edge security solutions, reducing costs and enhancing threat response capabilities.

Frank Sweeney

Chief Information Officer, Arizona Department of Child Safety

Dragan Kesic

Deputy CIO, Arizona Department of Corrections

Sandeep Desai

Chief Information Security Officer, Arizona Department of Education

Kristen Conner Moderator

Senior Partner, State of Arizona, IBM

Government services thrive when powered by real-time insights for quicker, citizen-responsive decision-making. This session highlights how technology vendors can enable agencies to harness real-time data platforms—enhancing service delivery, transparency, and trust.

• Real-Time Dashboards & Visualization: Enabling leaders to monitor metrics and respond proactively.
• Predictive Analytics for Public Services: Anticipating citizen needs—such as resource allocation or emergency response.
• Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing: Balancing transparency with citizen data protection in analytics workflows.
• Citizen-Centric Design in Analytics Tools: Ensuring tech solutions enhance trust, usability, and accessibility for the public.

Agile service delivery depends on using data when and where it matters most. By leveraging location aware insights into decision making, cities are creating tools that allow them to respond faster to operational needs, capture community concerns and strength collaboration across departments and external partners.  

• Geospatial Dashboards & Visualization: Delivering timely, location-aware insights to guide service delivery and resource allocation.
• Location-Aware Workflows: Embedding spatial data into operations to improve efficiency, monitoring, and responsiveness.
• Community-Driven Data Collection: Capturing citizen-reported concerns to guide targeted, equitable interventions.
• Cross-Department Collaboration Platforms: Enabling agencies to share geospatial insights and coordinate more effectively.

Arizona is leveraging digital technologies to revolutionize how public services are delivered—making them faster, more accessible, and more citizen-centric. This panel explores how strategic digitalization efforts are enhancing government efficiency, increasing transparency, and empowering residents across the state.

Discussion Points:

• Enabling Seamless Access: Explore how digital platforms, mobile apps, and self-service portals are improving access to essential services such as permits, healthcare, and social support.
• Modernizing Service Delivery: Examine how cloud computing, and automation are streamlining internal processes and reducing service delivery times.
• Enhancing Trust Through Transparency: Discuss how open data initiatives and real-time dashboards are promoting government accountability and informed public engagement.
• Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure: Analyze the investments in cybersecurity, interoperability, and digital ID systems that are ensuring the reliability and security of Arizona’s digital government.

Jerry J. McPherson

Executive Director, Arizona Commission of African-American Affairs

Kuruvilla Mathew

Chief Information Officer, Arizona Department of State

Jeanine Inman

Director, Government Transformation Office, State of Arizona

Dr. Bianca Lochner

Chief Information Officer, City of Scottsdale

Dallas Pesch

Lead Solutions Engineer, Dynatrace

Kristen Conner Moderator

Senior Partner, State of Arizona, IBM

Arizona is harnessing emerging digital technologies to revolutionize its transportation systems, improve mobility, and fuel long-term economic growth. This panel brings together leaders from government, academia, and infrastructure innovation to explore how connected mobility, automation, and data-driven infrastructure planning are shaping smarter, safer, and more economically resilient communities across the state.

• Digital Infrastructure as an Economic Catalyst: Explore how investments in smart highways, connected intersections, and digital mobility systems are enabling efficient freight movement, reducing congestion, and attracting business.
• Autonomous and Connected Vehicles: Examine the role of the Institute of Automated Mobility (IAM) and public-sector pilots in accelerating safe deployment of autonomous vehicles and supporting innovation clusters.
• Cybersecurity in Intelligent Transportation Systems: Understand how secure, resilient infrastructure is critical to the success of digitally integrated mobility, with insights on threat mitigation strategies.
• From Data to Decisions: Discuss how real-time transportation data and modeling support regional planning, sustainability goals, and smart economic development strategies.

Dan Wilkins

Chief Information Security Officer, Arizona Department of Economic Security

Marissa Walker

Executive Vice President, Infrastructure and Executive Director, Institute of Automated Mobility (IAM), Arizona Commerce

Larry Head

Professor, Systems and Industrial Engineering, The University of Arizona

Joe Cottrell

Traffic Technology Branch Manager, Transportation Systems Management and Operations Division, County of Maricopa

Kristen Conner Moderator

Senior Partner, State of Arizona, IBM