Building the Smarter State 2024

Matthew Evans

Director, Markets, techUK

Matthew Evans leads techUK’s Market Programme teams and is a member of the senior leadership team.

The Market Programme teams help techUK members apply innovative technology solutions across a range of sectors, including the Public Sector, Financial Services and Cyber. 

Prior to his appointment in early 2019, Matt led techUK’s Smart Infrastructure and IoT work, as well as being CEO of the Broadband Stakeholder Group. During this time he led the telecoms industry’s approach to lowering the cost of network deployment, played a key role in coordinating it’s response to Brexit and was closely involved in the development of the Government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. He also assisted in the development of the UK’s first secure by design Code of Practice aimed at consumer IoT, oversaw the publication of a paper outlining the tech sector’s view of future mobility services and drove engagement around the use of digital twins.

Matt sits on the Steering Board of the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce, Digital Framework Task Group,  andthe advisory board for the Prospering from the Energy Revolution industrial challenge fund.

Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked in Arqiva's public policy team, across the broadcast and telecoms markets. Before that he was a researcher for an MP at Westminster.

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Karl Hoods

Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, and Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Karl is an experienced Chief Information Officer (CIO) and has worked in the private, public and third sectors. He is currently the Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology where he is responsible for the delivery of core services, digital transformation, innovation, knowledge management and shared services. 
 
Prior to joining BEIS Karl was CIO for Save the Children where he was responsible for the delivery of technology and digital services to support humanitarian, policy, advocacy and fundraising activities. He has also held business technology leadership roles with web and sports media startups and led major change programmes for publishing leading publishers.  His career in startups fostered his interest in how emerging technology can be applied to business problems.  
 
Outside of work Karl is interested in education and sits on the boards of the Harris Federation, Bournemouth University, the Safe & Trusted AI Centre for Doctoral Training and King’s College London’s Department for Informatics Industry Advisory Board. In addition he is on the global steering council for an international metaverse association. 

Karl is also a keen runner and has completed a number of marathons
 

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Simon Bourne

Chief Digital, Data, and Technology Officer, Home Office

Simon joined the Home Office in September 2020 and is the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO). Prior to joining the Home Office, Simon spent six years as the Chief Information Officer for the Co-op Group. He has over 30 years of experience of digital and technology leadership roles, working in both financial services and retail sectors.

As the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO), Simon is accountable 
for the delivery of digital, data and technology solutions that support the department’s current operations and future business transformation programmes.  These cover both core Home Office operations as well as delivery of national law enforcement capabilities.  

Simon gained a Masters in Mathematics from Cambridge University. He is married with two children and lives in West Yorkshire.

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Gill Stewart

Chief Digital Officer, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

With a background in technology and digital transformation across private and public sector, Gill’s career expands over several industries including insurance, education, retail and utilities. Gill joined the civil service two years ago as Chief Technology Officer at the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities, inspired by the digital transformation work in the public sector and how it drives a better service for its users.  She is now the Chief Digital Officer for the department, which has expanded her remit to encompass working in partnership with local authorities to build safe, resilient, cost effective and sustainable digital services.

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The Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham

Former Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General,

Francis Maude was Minister of State for Trade and Investment from 11 May 2015 to 11 April 2016. Francis was previously Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General from May 2010 to May 2015.

Francis was the Conservative MP for Horsham, West Sussex, from 1997 to 2015. He has held several government posts, including Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 1990 to 1992 and Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1989 to 1990.

He was Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2007. Among other roles, he was Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office from 2007 to 2010 and Shadow Foreign Secretary from 2000 to 2001.

After a career at the criminal bar between 1977 and 1985, he served as a councillor for the City of Westminster for 6 years. His other jobs outside politics have included being a non-executive director of ASDA Group, director at Salomon Brothers and managing director of Morgan Stanley.

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