Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

J.R. Sloan, Chief Information Officer, State of Arizona

Keynote

Shawnee Delaney, Founder and CEO, Vaillance Group

Sponsored By: CGI, Traversant Group

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: Red Hat LLC

Concurrent Sessions

Using AI to Stay Ahead of Threat Actors

As threat actors become more sophisticated, government agencies are increasingly turning to AI to strengthen their cybersecurity posture. From threat detection and anomaly monitoring to automated response and data analysis, AI is creating new opportunities to identify and respond to risks faster. In this session, security leaders will explore practical ways agencies are leveraging AI to bolster defenses, protect critical data, and counter evolving cyber threats.

Reducing Technical Debt in the Modern Age

Modernization and technical debt remediation are central to delivering faster and more reliable public services. How can agencies accelerate updates while separating hype from the art of the possible, especially as AI and automation enter the conversation? This session will explore practical use cases, how emerging technologies fit into modernization efforts, and tactics to move faster while reducing technical debt without creating new challenges.

Living with Shadow IT: Governing the Tools You Can’t See!

Government employees today have access to more technology than ever before, and many are using tools outside official IT environments to get their work done faster and more effectively. From AI assistants to unsanctioned apps and automation tools, “Shadow IT” is no longer the exception, it’s the workplace reality. In this session, experts will explore the evolving Shadow IT landscape, the opportunities it presents for innovation, and the risks it introduces for security and governance. Learn how your organization can bring shadow tools into the light, creating guardrails that protect the enterprise while still empowering employees to work smarter and more efficiently.

Managing the Data Lifecycle: Governance, Retention, and Smart Storage

Governments are managing more data than ever, creating challenges around governance, compliance, and cost. This session explores how agencies are taking a strategic approach to data lifecycle management, balancing access, transparency, and security with decisions about what to retain, archive, or dispose of. Learn how data governance and electronic records management work together to reduce risk and improve efficiency.

Lunch

Bits and Bytes

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

When Nothing Bad Happens: Telling the Story Behind Cyber Defense

Cybersecurity teams work every day to prevent breaches and protect critical systems, but much of that work happens behind the scenes. When attacks are stopped or vulnerabilities are addressed early, these “near misses” often go unnoticed. Yet these moments represent some of the most important successes in cybersecurity. So how can leaders communicate the value of defense when nothing bad happens? This session will explore how technology and business leaders can better connect cybersecurity investments to strategic priorities, risk management, and measurable outcomes. Panelists will share approaches for demonstrating the impact of prevention, strengthening executive understanding of cyber risk, and telling the story behind the work that keeps government secure.

Beyond Compliance: Accessibility, Liability, and Human-Centered Digital Services

In April 2026, a major milestone arrived for digital government. Under the Department of Justice’s updated ADA Title II rule, state and local government websites, mobile apps, and digital services are required to meet accessibility standards. This brings long-anticipated clarity and accountability to digital accessibility requirements. This session will explore how agencies are navigating accessibility across applications. Panelists will discuss potential enforcement risks, legal exposure and what organizations should be doing to maintain compliance. Most importantly, the conversation will highlight how accessibility should support human-centered design and inclusive digital services to improve the experience for all constituents.

Future-Proofing IT: Strategies for Resilience and Continuity

In today’s unpredictable world, the continued operation of government services is a disaster is critical, the safeguarding of digital infrastructure and data have never been more important. Public sector organizations must collaborate to build resilience against diverse disruptions such as natural disasters and cyber threats. What lessons have we learned from past incidents that could be applied to future preparedness? This session provides an in-depth exploration of continuity of operation plans and highlights best practices in IT continuity and recovery.

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by: J.R. Sloan, Chief Information Officer, State of Arizona

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: Red Hat LLC

General Session – From Dial-Up to Digital Twins: 25 Years of the CDG and the Road to 2050

In 2001, "digital government" meant moving paper forms to static PDF downloads. Today, it means real-time, AI-driven resident services, "whole-of-state" cybersecurity, and cloud-native infrastructure that never sleeps. As the Center for Digital Government (CDG) celebrates its 25th anniversary, we invite you to a high-energy retrospective and a forward-looking strategy session that tracks the evolution of the public sector’s digital DNA. We will walk through the "waves" of transformation we’ve navigated together and will provide a roadmap for the next quarter-century of innovation.

Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

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

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.