Delivering a Smart Society - Making it Real

The relatively recent widespread availability of reliable high speed access, coupled wth considerable advances in device technologies and associated applications, has made the possibilities for economic and social transformation enabled by digital technology more tangible. This presentation will map out how taking a proactive approach to the exploitation of the digital platform can deliver economic and social growth on a regional scale. In effect we are now at the point where it is feasible to deliver the reality of a SMART society, where technology can start to impact positively on many aspects of citizens work and social lives. Whilst previously many of these benefits where available to only a few, it is now possible to imagine access across all social groups and all industries, both big and small. Drawing upon direct experience of transformation of the Media business model, Global Health and a region wide transformation programme in Northern Ireland (Digital Northern Ireland), as well as examples from other industries, the presentation will look at the importance of applying smart business process models to ensure that real as opposed to cosmetic benefits are delivered. It will also look at the practicalities of different approaches to delivering ubiquitous access to Superfast broadband in mixed urban and rural regions, and also how to engage communities and businesses so that they take advantage of the opportunities available.

Biography
Professor Sinclair Stockman. Having studied Mathematics at Oxford, and obtained a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Queens University Belfast, after a year as a Thouron Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr Stockman had a highly successful career in telecommunications with British Telecom, where he was responsible for the delivery of many software based innovations, developed the first ISO9000 accredited software quality system, programme managed a number of BTs largest systems programmes, and was the Group Chief Information Officer, as well as having been the Directeur Systemes d'informatique of Cegetel, joint venture with Vivendi, and finally the President of BT Global Services Systems and Networks. In 2006, he left BT to work as an independant technology advisor in the area of large scale transformations enabled by digital technology. This included serving on the Advisory Board for the Global Health initiative, working on transformational models for the media industry, serving on several boards and studies and most century initiating a regional programme in Northern Ireland, to maximise the benefits to the region from the proactive exploitation of digital technology. This has resulted in Northern Ireland now having one of the highest levels of access to Superfast broadband in the world, which in turn has already resulted in significant social and economic transformation. He is also Chairman of Digital City Exchange, and provides mentoring to startups as part of the Northern Ireland Science Park.