Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

Dru Rai, Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Keynote - Think Like a Futurist: Turning Trends into Opportunities

Leaders must embrace futures thinking to see signals and trends shaping our world, and to anticipate how we can transform and uncover new opportunities. This session helps you develop foresight to address the most common challenges facing the public sector: evolving constituent expectations, emerging tech, sustainability, misinformation, privacy, security, global megatrends, and domestic shifts in economies, workforces, and societal movements. Nikolas Badminton will guide you through futurist tools and techniques, teaching you to identify signals and trends, harness strategic foresight, and unlock resilience by shifting your perspective from what is to WHAT IF...

Nik Badminton, Chief Futurist and Hope Engineer

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Session

Lightning Round: Demystifying AI – Real Journeys, Real Impact, Real Risks

AI is quickly evolving from buzzword to essential tool in the public sector, helping agencies enhance services, streamline operations, and meet rising citizen expectations. In this fast-paced lightning round, government leaders and industry experts will share real-world AI use cases—from call centers to fraud detection—along with lessons learned and practical insights. Whether you're just starting or scaling AI efforts, this session offers actionable guidance for building a secure, ethical, and future-ready approach to AI in government.

Moderator: Mathan Jebaraj, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Strategy Office, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Securing What’s Next: Future-Proofing Identity and Citizen Services

As government services go digital, securing trust in every interaction is essential to building a future-ready state. This session explores how agencies are modernizing digital identity and access management to deliver secure, inclusive, and user-friendly services. Panelists will discuss how identity-first security approaches can reduce fraud, protect privacy, and strengthen public trust—while enabling seamless, equitable access to critical government programs and resources.

Designing for All: Meeting Accessibility Standards for a Future-Ready State

Inclusive digital services are no longer optional—they’re a legal and strategic priority. As agencies expand online offerings, meeting federal WCAG 2.1 AA standards and preparing for New York State’s WCAG 2.2 AA compliance deadline in 2027 is essential. How can governments ensure digital accessibility is built in from the start—not added on later? This session explores how to embed accessibility into design, procurement, and development processes while meeting requirements, reducing risk, and advancing equity, usability, and innovation to ensure no one is left behind in the digital future.

Future-Proofing You: Building the IT Skill Set of Tomorrow

As technology evolves at a rapid pace, so must the people behind it. Future-ready government isn't just about modern systems—it's about modern skill sets. This session dives into what it takes to stay ahead in the public sector IT landscape, exploring the skills, mindsets, and capabilities that will define tomorrow’s workforce. What do you need to know to remain relevant, resilient, and ready for what’s next? From AI fluency and cybersecurity literacy to agile thinking and human-centered design, join this conversation and learn how to build a personal roadmap for growth.

Moderator: Suzanne Lazar, Product Delivery Manager DOH, Dedicated Support Team, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Lunch

Bits and Bytes: Future-Proofing New York – A Cybersecurity Imperative

As digital transformation accelerates, cybersecurity has become a core challenge shaping modern governance. This session highlights New York State’s bold new law—setting baseline security standards, expanding shared services, and requiring annual cyber training for local government employees. More than compliance, these actions are driving real-time threat awareness, workforce readiness, and a shift from reactive defense to proactive resilience. Learn how New York is translating policy into protection and building a smarter, safer, future-ready state.

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions

Concurrent Sessions

Maximizing Impact: Doing More with What You Have

In a time of rising demands and fixed budgets, public sector leaders are being challenged to do more—with less. How can agencies prioritize effectively, drive efficiency, and still deliver meaningful results? This session explores how to make the most of limited resources by streamlining operations, optimizing existing tools, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Expect real-world insights on building stakeholder buy-in, aligning around high-impact priorities, and selecting the right projects to move forward.

Laying the Groundwork: Building a Strong Data Foundation for a Future-Ready New York

A future-ready New York starts with strong data foundations. As agencies increasingly rely on data to inform decisions, robust governance, clean data, and privacy-first frameworks are essential. This session explores how New York is establishing clear data ownership, enforcing standards, and protecting sensitive information to build trust and drive innovation. Join this conversation where you'll hear real-world strategies for breaking down silos, improving data quality, and turning raw information into actionable insights

Leading Through Change: Empowering Teams for What’s Next

As transformation accelerates, effective leadership requires more than managing change—it demands guiding people through it with vision, empathy, and adaptability. How can leaders not only anticipate what’s next, but also inspire and support their teams along the way? This session explores how to cultivate critical thinking, foster future-focused mindsets, and build resilient team cultures. Discover how to lead with intention and empower your team to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Moderator: Andrew Bellinger, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of the New York State Attorney General

Modernizing Service Delivery: Moving from IT Management to a Product-Driven Model

As citizen expectations rise, agencies are being challenged to rethink how they deliver technology—not just from a usability standpoint, but also in terms of long-term business value and financial sustainability. This session explores how moving from a traditional, project-by-project delivery model to a product-focused approach enables governments to better align IT services with core business missions. Join this conversation to explore how agencies are using product thinking to modernize government services in a way that is not only empathetic and effective—but also financially strategic and operationally sustainable.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by:

Dru Rai, Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Jensen Jacob, Acting Executive Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

General Session - GovTech Radar - A Look at the Future of GovTech

As technology reshapes the public sector, staying ahead of the curve is more crucial than ever. The Center for Digital Government GovTech Radar provides a forward-looking analysis of the key trends, innovations, and disruptions set to define the next wave of government technology. From AI-driven automation and digital identity to next-gen security and the rise of composable government services, this session will unpack what’s on the horizon. Join us for an exclusive look at the technologies that will drive efficiency, security, and citizen engagement in the year ahead — and how agencies can prepare to lead the future of GovTech.

Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government

The Best of New York Awards

Be ready to celebrate with the New York Government Technology community as we recognize the amazing technology and service work done for the people across the state.

Hosted by:

Dru Rai, Chief Information Officer and Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of New York

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.

End of Summit

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change