Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Brendan Barrett, Communications Consultant

Governing AI Responsibly - Innovation in the Public Sector

Speaker: Liam McKenna, Partner, Forvis Mazars

• What the EU AI Act and Ireland’s AI strategy mean for public service delivery
• Building transparency, accountability, and trust in AI systems
• Understanding governance and legal risks around AI adoption

Building a Smarter Compliance Culture in Data, Records and FOI

Speaker: Gillian Traynor, Director, Ambit Compliance

• Embedding data protection and records management into daily operations
• PPS numbers and identifiers — ensuring lawful, limited and transparent use
• Aligning GDPR, FOI and audit requirements for joined-up compliance
• Preventing common mistakes that lead to data breaches
• Managing FOI requests with efficiency, consistency and accountability
• Preparing records so they are “compliance-ready” from the start

Change Management - Driving Transformation

Speaker: Niamh Moynihan, CEO, Better Workday

• Understanding the impact of change during reforms and restructuring
• Spotting early signs of resistance and disengagement
• Building staff buy-in and engagement during change
• Balancing change with stability during periods of transformation
• Reducing “change fatigue” and maintaining morale

Smarter Procurement Reducing Risks and Delivering Value

Speaker: Ross McCarthy, MD, Keystone Procurement

• Understanding the latest EU and national procurement obligations
• Getting thresholds, frameworks and tendering processes right first time
• Avoiding specification errors that derail competitions
• Tackling conflicts of interest early and effectively
• Practical case studies of procurement challenges and lessons learned

Audit and Risk Management Staying Ahead of Oversight Demands

Speaker: Colm Laird, Partner, RSM Ireland

• What auditors are focusing on in 2026 and beyond
• Building robust audit trails and defensible documentation
• Identifying and managing financial, operational and reputational risks
• Fraud prevention and early detection systems
• Lessons from recent public sector audit reviews

Ethics and Integrity Safeguarding Trust in Public Service

Speaker: Patrick Downes, Managing Partner, Lionheart Corporate Governance

• Living the Public Sector Code of Conduct every day
• Handling gifts, hospitality and political neutrality
• Reporting and addressing suspected misconduct quickly
• Protecting whistleblowers and promoting accountability
• Real-world examples of integrity failures and how to avoid them

Talent and Performance Management in Public Service

Speaker: Sile O’Donnell, HR Consultant & Adjunct Assistant Professor (HRM, Organisational Behaviour), Trinity College Dublin

• Overview of key HR reforms - public service transformation
• Building the workforce of the future – upskilling and reskilling
• The new capability framework – how it underpins talent attraction and performance management and development
• Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion