GIW Federal 2025: Welcome from Chair by Mark Williams

Mark Williams, Senior Client Lead Partner, Government at Publicis Sapient, highlighted how governments can harness digital transformation to meet evolving citizen expectations.

Mark Williams, Senior Client Lead Partner, Government at Publicis Sapient, highlighted how governments can harness digital transformation to meet the evolving expectations of their citizens. Publicis Sapient, with 2,025 employees globally and 300 in Australia, supports both public and private sectors in strategy, design, engineering, data, and AI.

Drawing on insights from the Digital Citizen report, now in its fourth year surveying 5,000 Australians, Mark emphasized the need for trust, ethics, and human-centered design alongside technology. Citizens increasingly expect digital-first, accessible, and reliable services.

He showcased Slingshot, Publicis Sapient’s AI-powered platform for modernizing legacy systems. From transforming 1,000,000 lines of COBOL code into modular Java applications to auto-generating documentation, test cases, and API specifications, Slingshot accelerates development and allows teams to focus on citizen-centered outcomes.

Key takeaways:

  1. Prepare data for AI to anticipate citizen needs.

  2. Modernize legacy systems to reduce technical debt.

  3. Reimagine citizen experiences to be inclusive, accessible, and trusted.

Mark concluded by inviting attendees to the Publicis Sapient booth to explore solutions and discuss their transformation journeys—a reminder that future-ready government services combine technology, ethics, and collaboration to drive transformation.

Published by

Marianne Zamoras Marketing Coordinator, Marketing