Summit Dinner

Registration and Breakfast

Welcome and Introductions

Christie Burris, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government, and former Chief Data Officer, State of North Carolina

Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center of Digital Government

State of the Public’s Trust in Government

Based on the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, public sector trust is at a critical low, with the sector falling further behind in trust compared to business. To combat this statistic, governments across the nation are working diligently to advance technology initiatives through collaborative stakeholder engagement and other initiatives to restore trust in their services.

As AI Rolls Out, is the CDO Becoming the “Chief Trust Officer?”

The evolving role of generative AI technology and data in government demands that data leaders balance data protection and data enablement while building strong trust relationships with other members of the leadership team. Data leaders are increasingly responsible for ensuring that data and AI systems are reliable, fair, and understandable while also contributing value to technology transformations as the public sector seeks to leverage AI to rethink government services. Mistakes made by AI systems, whether through inaccurate outputs or biased decisions, can quickly damage credibility. With the pressure on to get their data house in order, the CDO is emerging as pivotal role that must combine technical knowledge with business savvy to architect an enterprise data strategy that delivers.

Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center of Digital Government

Karthik Yajurvedi, Assistant Secretary of Technology Services and Security, Chief Data Officer, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Tom Myers, General Counsel/Chief Privacy Officer, Executive Office of Technology Services & Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Anthony J. O’Neill, Esq., Chief Information & Security Officer, and Chief Risk Officer, Executive Office of Technology Services & Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Break

Round Robin Tabletop Discussions: What is the Blueprint of Today’s AI- Driven Agency?

As governments reimagine the role that generative AI and data will play to improve citizen services, achieve greater efficiency, and enhance decision-making, building a data-driven and AI fluent culture is an imperative. This is cultivated through a mindset shift in the workforce, a keen review of outdated policies and processes, and a foundational technology stack that prioritizes trust and transparency. In this session, attendees will rotate through three focused roundtables. Each table represents a component in the People, Process and Technology (PPT) framework, offering a collaborative space to candidly discuss what is working, what is failing, and how to bridge the gap between policy and progress.

This 1.5-hour workshop is designed to move beyond the theory of AI and data leadership and into the practical "blueprint" of an AI-ready agency. By rotating through all three pillars—People, Process, and Technology—leaders will engage in high value knowledge sharing to discuss the friction points that stall digital transformation.

Three roundtable topics:

1. People: The "RESET" Mindset & Change Leadership

2. Process: What Does Governance in Action Look Like?

3. Technology: Building the AI-Ready Foundation

Lunch

Using Effective Communication and Storytelling to Build Understanding and Show Value in Government’s Use of AI

Building a data-driven and AI fluent culture is paramount for today’s public sector agency. At the center, is the imperative for clear and frequent communication. Breaking down complex technology and regulatory requirements to educate all employees requires effective communication skills and building a compelling narrative. Storytelling gives government agencies a way to explain decisions, highlight positive outcomes, and show the human impact behind technical work. Additionally, sharing clear, relatable stories about how data and AI are used can help residents see the real-world‑ benefits and reduce confusion or fear.

Moderator: Christie Burris, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government and former Chief Data Office, State of North Carolina

The Impact Narrative

A high-speed, collaborative exercise where attendees strip away technical jargon to translate complex data and security initiatives into "human-first" stories designed to win stakeholder trust and secure vital resources.

Break

Adopting Frameworks as a "Shared Language"

In the absence of federal mandates, voluntary frameworks such as NIST AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) are becoming the de facto standard for state and local credibility. At the same time, we’re seeing an increase in governance councils – Cyber, AI, Data, and Privacy and use of other frameworks to govern and manage data (DAMA Data Management, Enterprise Data Management, Privacy by Design, etc.) How are leaders coordinating efforts?

Open Forum: What Does Success Look Like?

Closing Remarks and Next Steps

Christie Burris, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government, and former Chief Data Officer, State of North Carolina

Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center of Digital Government

Summit Adjourns

Conference times, agenda and speakers are subject to change.