Transform Gov - the digital government podcast

An insider's guide to a brilliant entry for the Ireland eGovernment AwardsMost teams think awards are about technology, scale, or budget.They’re not.On this episode of Transform Gov, we sit down with Declan Tuite, Head Judge of the Ireland eGovernment Awards, and Maeve Kneafsey, to break down what really separates winning entries from the rest.Why strong projects fall short.What judges are actually looking for.And how to turn your work into a clear, compelling entry.Because here’s the truth:The difference between winning and losing is often not the project —it’s how it’s explained.If you’re planning to enter the Ireland eGovernment Awards 2026, start here.Ready to enter? You can find step-by-step guides to entry on our website https://digitalgovawards.com/enter/resources/Chapters00:00 – Why this episode matters: helping you win00:30 – Entries now open: key dates and deadlines01:10 – Meet the head judge: Declan Tuite02:00 – The #1 mistake applicants make02:40 – It’s not the tech — it’s the story03:20 – What judges actually look for04:00 – Before and after: showing real impact04:40 – Proof, not promises: using stats and evidence05:30 – Who is the user? Why it matters06:10 – Avoid this: jargon and over-explaining06:50 – Innovation vs real-world results07:30 – Picking the right category (and why it matters)08:20 – Start early: why timing improves your entry09:00 – Using supporting documents and visuals09:40 – Writing clearly: answering the actual questions10:20 – What makes an entry stand out11:10 – Small projects can win (and do)12:00 – Step-by-step: how to enter online13:10 – Register, save, refine: how the system works14:00 – Entering multiple categories14:50 – What happens after you submit16:00 – Final advice from the head judge17:00 – Deadline reminder and key dates18:00 – Why you should enter (even if unsure)

Digital identity is often talked about — but rarely understood in practical terms.In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Marie Wallace, Managing Director and Global Lead for Digital Identities at Accenture, about what is broken in how we prove who we are today — and what is changing.From repeatedly filling out forms to sharing far more personal data than necessary, Marie explains why current identity systems are no longer fit for purpose — and how digital wallets and selective data sharing could transform how citizens access services.This conversation focuses on:Why identity systems are fragmented and inefficientHow digital wallets give citizens more control over their dataWhat “selective sharing” actually looks like in practiceHow trust is changing in a digital worldThe risks if identity systems are implemented badlyIn Part 2 we explore the economic impact and what this means for Ireland.Chapters00:00 Introduction to digital identity and control of data01:12 What digital identity actually means (and why it’s broken)02:14 Why sharing too much data is a problem03:02 Marie’s background in AI and data privacy04:07 Why centralised data creates risk06:18 AI, deepfakes and the growing identity challenge07:50 Designing better identity into public services09:11 Why identity isn’t reusable today10:02 Public concern around biometrics and data11:09 Breaking down silos between public and private services12:27 The real problem: forms, friction and delays13:26 What governments need to build (trust + wallets)14:57 Trust frameworks and verification explained16:27 EU regulation and what happens next17:47 Who owns identity in this model19:13 Efficiency and cost impact (part 2)

In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey sits down with Malcolm Byrne TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, to unpack what has actually changed — and why the pace of change is now the real issue.From courts using AI for real-time translation… to Revenue analysing thousands of tax codes… to the uncomfortable truth that other countries are already moving faster — this is not a future conversation. It’s happening now.And the question is simple: are we ready? 

COVID changed how people engage with online services — permanently.The organisations that adapted are now seeing better engagement, better access, better outcomes.The rest are still catching up.In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Aoife Prendergast of Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), whose team won the Universal Design category at the Ireland eGovernment Awards 2025.What they discovered is something every CIO, digital leader, and public service provider needs to hear:People have changed.Since COVID, expectations have shifted:always-on bite-sized easy to useMost services haven’t caught up.Aoife’s team did.They spotted the gap, redesigned using Universal Design, boosted engagement — and unlocked new funding and global collaboration.This isn’t compliance.It’s whether your service gets used at all.Key Topics Universal Design in public servicesDigital transformation in higher educationPublic sector accessibility strategyCitizen engagement post-COVIDService design and UX in governmentInclusive digital services IrelandeGovernment Awards IrelandTUS (Technological University of the Shannon)Accessibility vs usability

This is not a tech story.This is a human story.Before this system existed, vulnerable children could wait weeks for access to childcare — stuck in a maze of emails, forms, and approvals.Now? Minutes.On this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Ruth Shortall (POBAL) and Ciarán Madden (Department of Children) about the system that:Cut waiting times from 3 weeks to minutesConnected multiple agencies into one seamless flowRemoved friction for frontline workers under pressureAnd quietly transformed outcomes for families at critical momentsThis is what real digital transformation looks like.Not flashy.Not theoretical.But life-changing.

What if a city already knew your child was starting school — and simply sent you a text asking if you agreed with the proposed school?That already happens in Helsinki.In this episode of Transform Gov, infrastructure expert Alice Charles from Arup explains how some cities are using data, digital twins and AI to plan transport, housing and infrastructure far more intelligently.You will hear:How Helsinki predicts school demand using dataWhy digital twins allow cities to test developments instantlyWhy surveys often get transport data wrongHow Copenhagen paid for its metro by building housing around stationsWhy Dublin sometimes loses international meetings to cities with better transportHow electricity data can reveal vacant homesThis conversation shows how data is quietly changing how cities function.Chapters00:00 Introduction 02:05 Helsinki’s predictive public services 04:00 Digital twins explained 05:30 Why visual planning wins public support 06:30 AI and planning systems 08:40 Human intelligence vs AI 11:10 Why surveys fail 12:10 Copenhagen’s real cycling data 15:30 MetroLink and global infrastructure firms 17:30 Metro funding through housing 20:40 Why Dublin loses business to Amsterdam 23:30 All-island infrastructure planning 26:00 Finding vacant homes using electricity data

AI may dominate the headlines — but the real race is happening somewhere else.Energy. Water. Data infrastructure.On this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Alice Charles, Director at Arup and former World Economic Forum infrastructure lead, about the global competition shaping the future of cities, economies and governments.Alice explains why the AI boom is triggering what some leaders are calling the largest infrastructure build-out in history.And why the foundations of AI are not software — but power grids, water systems and data centres.In this conversation:• Why the AI race between the US and China is really about infrastructure• Why AI requires massive increases in energy and water• Why Ireland’s climate gives it an unexpected advantage for data centres• Why smart city projects failed when they focused on technology instead of citizens• Why governments must move from planning to deliveryAlice also reflects on lessons from the World Economic Forum, global infrastructure investment, and the strategic decisions countries must make to compete in a rapidly changing technological landscape.If AI is the future — the question is simple:Do we have the infrastructure to support it? Digital Government Infrastructure, AI infrastructure, Data centres, Energy transition, Urban development, Smart cities, Public sector innovation

What does AI actually look like inside a local authority?In this episode of Transform Gov, Dublin City Council’s AI Lab team — Khizer Ahmed Biyabani and Richie Shakespeare — explain how they are moving beyond AI hype to deliver practical tools that improve consistency, save time and build trust.From preventing contradictory council answers to searching decades of records in seconds, they share what works, what doesn’t, and why 80% of AI success comes down to data.Why ListenHow AI prevents conflicting public-sector responsesTurning 1990s PDFs into instant search resultsTraining 500+ staff and shifting sentiment from fear to confidenceWhy data readiness matters more than the AI itselfTimeline00:00 — What the AI Lab is and why it exists 03:30 — Why a sandbox approach matters 11:30 — Training 500+ staff and changing AI sentiment 21:27 — “Ctrl+F on steroids”: AI for council questions 22:04 — Searching records back to the 1990s 24:29 — The truth: data preparation is 80% of the work 27:00 — Building control use cases and operational impact 32:40 — Scaling AI safely in local governmentAI in government, digital transformation, local government innovation, generative AI, public sector technology, Ireland eGovernment Awards, smart cities, data governance