Top Data and AI Trends for Government in 2026– APAC Session​

Jennifer Robinson

Global Strategic Advisor, Public Sector, SAS

While working to help governments maximize the use of their data through data integration, data management and analytics, Jennifer Robinson’s career in software development is complemented by the opportunity to serve as a local elected leader for the last 25 years. Robinson cowrote the book A Practical Guide to Analytics for Government and is featured in the book Smart Cities, Smart Future. In addition to writing articles and blogs about data-driven governing, she speaks with government leaders about emerging technologies and how to adopt them strategically.

Craig Lawton

Principal AI & Data Technologist, Solutions Architecture, Public Sector, AWS

As a leading global expert in Generative and Agentic AI, Craig Lawton uniquely simplifies complex challenges and makes solutions accessible. Craig brings over 20 years of experience guiding government agencies and enterprises through transformation.

Craig is at the forefront of the AI revolution, shaping Australia's approach to Sovereign AI and national foundation model capabilities. His thought leadership on building secure, culturally aligned AI systems has positioned him as a key advisor to public and private sector leaders navigating AI strategy and governance.

A hands-on practitioner of Agentic AI and AI-assisted development, Craig builds production applications using multi-agent systems and coding agents. He translates cutting-edge technical experience into practical guidance for leaders navigating the shift from generative AI to truly autonomous systems.

Craig's executive engagements include keynotes at the CEDA AI Leadership Summit and the NSW & Victoria Future of Government Summit, facilitated sessions at the Police Technology Forum with C-suite and Commissioner participants, and sovereign AI discussions at the AWS Canberra Symposium. A judge for the Australian AI Awards and co-host of Building a Better Geek podcast, his reach extends from local government forums to international stages including the World Cities Summit, AWS re:Invent, and Smart Cities Week Aotearoa.

His rare combination of public and private sector experience—including a US patent in secure edge device communications—makes him uniquely positioned to advise your leadership on AI strategy and implementation.

Charles Ross

APAC head and Principal, Economist Impact

Charles Ross leads Economist Impact’s Asia-Pacific policy and insights team—the research arm of The Economist Group—and oversees the regions technology and innovation practice. Prior to this role he was editorial director for The Economist Intelligence Unit overseeing all thought leadership research in Asia. Charles combines a deep understanding of how technology trends are reshaping business and society with excellent research and editorial skills, to create impactful and award-winning research programmes for clients.

Charles is currently based in Australia and has led many projects analysing the implications for governments, business and society of new technology and sustainability trends covering artificial intelligence, decentralised finance, smart cities, longevity, digitisation and future of work, for Google, Cognizant, Stripe, SAP, Telstra, Microsoft, Prudential, Westpac and the Singapore government, amongst others. He is a contributing industry expert to the UN Science Policy and Business Forum on the Environment and a frequent speaker at sustainability and technology events, recently giving keynote presentations in Shenzhen, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

Charles holds a master of business administration, focusing on strategy and organisational change, from the University of Oxford and a certificate in public policy analysis from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Ensley Tan

Public Sector Lead, Industry Consulting, EMEA-AP, SAS

Ensley Tan has over 21 years of experience primarily in the government space with a focus in national security and international affairs. Ensley has also conducted hundreds of corporate investigations throughout Asia Pacific as a private sector fraud/due diligence consultant. He has worked with ground-level officials as well as ministers, senior agency leaders and C-suite executives on their problems and needs. He is passionate about using analytics to support data-driven decisions and thereby finding real solutions for serious problems.