I recently stepped back briefly from day to day engagement with both the technology industry and local government as I completed a major domestic relocation from Scotland back to Yorkshire. Indeed, my last visible interaction was at the MJ Future Forum. It has given me an opportunity to reflect on what really matters when you are supporting senior leadership who want to drive public service transformation whilst making good use of enabling technologies. I would draw some simple lessons from my engagements over the years.

It's always a privilege to work with colleagues across local government who are passionate about the services they provide locally, and who continue to innovate and improve in ever challenging conditions. Generally, the technology organisations and professional consultancies are driven by a different agenda, and their priorities are frequently set globally. Their expertise is genuine. Much can be learned that can be applied to your own organisation and partnerships from other industry sectors, countries and early adopter organisations. There is an opportunity however to rebalance relationships, drive a harder bargain and ensure robust engagement from those you hold accountable for the promised outcomes.