Interview with Founder Robin Knowles of Digital Leaders programme

How did the Digital Leaders programme come into being?

We started Digital Leaders in 2010 because we could see that a lot of our leaders, particularly in the public and non-profit sectors, were being told to use digital to transform what they did. Although they – like myself – knew they could no longer delegate "digital" out of the boardroom and away from the heart of their organisation’s decision making, they also needed a safe and analogue way to access good ideas and their peers to avoid the pitfalls.

Digital Leaders provides a free-to-participate-in, cross-sector network that gives access to physical events where leaders and senior civil servants across the public sector, industry and NGOs (who are actually far from digital people) can engage with digital and, as a result, use it to change their strategy and policy mind-set.

Can you tell us a bit about the key activities of Digital Leaders?

The Digital Leaders network spans over 9,000 people, including central and local government representatives, private/third sector organisations, parliamentarians, SMEs and academics. This network also involves international contributors currently from across three continents, and cuts across traditional political, geographical, hierarchical and gender divides.

Our on-going mission is to expand this network to make it ever more representative of the rich spectrum of views and perspectives surrounding digital transformation. We deliver a programme of three conferences, events like the Annual Lecture in parliament, monthly salons, monthly webinars and monthly networking events in London and now the UK regions.

These equip leaders with the digital leadership knowledge, information, inspiration, and networks needed to transform the use of technology in the UK’s public services and civic society.

How is the work of Digital Leaders particularly relevant to those working in the healthcare sector?

About 800 of the Digital Leaders are in the charity sector. The sector is often criticised for not using technology enough, both internally to drive efficiencies and reduce costs in the way the organisations deliver services to beneficiaries.

Where does a leader in such an organisation go to get help and find a network where their fellow members face similar problems? This is about leveraging technology for social benefit, not about knowing how Twitter works.

What inspired the Digital Leaders 100 and what are your hopes for this year’s event?

The Digital Leaders 100 was inspired by the digital leaders themselves, who showed a real enthusiasm for the awards last year, voting in droves. The final list last year was excellent and contained those who are the undoubted leaders across the sectors, but also celebrated relatively unknown new leaders.

The digital leaders called for two changes: new categories to allow more segmentation of the community, in response to which we have added 5 categories; and more time to nominate, which we are giving this year. We are using the Digital Leaders dinner that traditionally takes place after the National Digital Conference to announce the list and give the awards.

My hope for the 2014 list is that it inspires all the digital leaders to get more involved and to encourage and reward those that are demonstrating exceptional outcomes and delivery for excellence. I hope all of us are about to discover some great new individuals and services.