Weeknote #03
Getting up to speed with resources
Monday
Setting up the week with a few quick-fire internal meetings on a Monday with my key team is critical to the week unfolding properly. First thing with my AI Project Manager and mid-morning with my Head of Digital Services to map out the week.
Squeezed in a 121 with 1 of 3 Industry Cluster Leads: this week Advanced Manufacturing and Defence: brought me right up to speed with our heritage in world class chemical engineering.
Introduction to our Microsoft Strategic Partnership team, looking forward to digging into the details on how they can support us.
Got to understand more about our work on Policy for Employment and Skills.
Had a great chat with the CEO of UK AI, the UK’s Trade Association for AI and the business community, who is also coming to our AI Summit next week.
Since August last year, the organisation has worked across five policy areas: regulation, economy, skills, innovation, and society, with a focus on economic growth and social progress through AI.
They started by engaging mainly tech businesses but quickly expanded to other sectors like retail, utilities, and law firms.
The group prioritises regional development and inclusion, such as empowering women in tech and supporting young people’s AI education.
They emphasise responsible AI, especially sustainable practices related to energy and water use in data centres.
Their activities include parliamentary events, workshops with senior civil servants, public talks, and bespoke industry events to influence policy and raise awareness.
Jumped on a train to head to Liverpool. Note to self: trains may be delayed. This one up to 45 mins. Maybe book an earlier ticket.
Whilst I had a full on day so did the Authority! On Monday we launched our Growth Plan. The AI focus is on pages 50-53.
Tuesday
Had a great 121 with one of our Exec Directors, not met since my interview, navigating Leadership needs, engagement and sharing our direction.
The Corporate Services Leadership Team meeting brought me right up to speed with our directorate: Digital Infrastructure and plans for our PMO.
Panel briefings as part of understanding the brilliant content and panellists for our AI Summit next week.
Meeting with the team at The MTC, part of Catapult High Value Manufacturing. Great to hear about past and future collaboration. Share where we are in our journey and spot opportunities.
The MTC Team
I’m currently doing a tour of inexpensive accommodation in Liverpool. I *might* produce a leaderboard with a few more weekly scuttles. Any recommendations welcome.
Wednesday
Preparing for my forthcoming Fireside chat at the Brilliant Festival with our Mayor Rotheram and Sir Paul Grant discussing AI in education. I met with our Education Principal Policy Officer and Sir Paul to understand his points of view in preparation for the session.
BRILLIANT, the biggest education event in the North, takes place on 11th November at the Exhibition Centre, ACC Liverpool.
The Brilliant Festival team have been wonderful at promoting our session:
Their recent LinkedIn pulse explains more.
It’s also FREE to attend - register your place today, head to: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brilliant-2025-tickets-1100244764709
I got together with my AI for Good fellow panellists for our AI Summit next week to discuss our key points of view. If you are at the event next wee,k we can’t wait to share the great cases on AI for Good. We’ll be on the main stage at 14:00. Come and hear us if you are there.
Liverpool was named as the European Capital of Innovation Finalist! We’re all waiting with baited breath for the winning announcement, but delighted to be a finalist.
The rest of the week
Blown away by the partnership (triple helix, as its referred to at LCRCA) we have with the global team at IBM and the University of Liverpool to address local need in sustainability and biodiversity, more on that after our AI Summit.
Great to hear from the Central Government’s Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (i.ai) team this week, sharing the tool they have built Minute, and how we, in local government and combined authorities, can use this open source resource and adopt it ourselves.
Understanding our Evidence, Research and Intelligence division and their brilliant work.
Learning from the team that led the appointment of our Business and Enterprise Board, so that I can evolve our AI Taskforce proposition.
Meeting with our Health and Life Sciences Inward Investment Team to help evolve our strategic approach to AI and Healthcare - one of my core 3 pillars.
Quick call with the COO of Shared Resource Services Wales, a public sector innovation that joins up shared customer contact centres, working across the region on social care solutions and shared data platforms.
Team pow wow on how we should approach our AI Strategy, looking at AI in Transport, another of my 3 core pillars. Scoped an approach everyone is happy with, and I’m delighted that I can pull in other teams to work with on our proposition, evidence base, and understanding the needs of each pillar.
Contributed to Press Releases for launches next week.
Great conversation with the AI team at MHCLG, sharing my remit and learning more about their work and how we can work together.
Reading up on the good work of our Digital Inclusion team. Check out our ‘Helping You Online’ Campaign at www.helpingyouonline.co.uk. It’s a free guide to help residents build digital confidence, grow their skills and unlock what’s possible online to tackle digital exclusion.
MYRIAD briefing contributions for next week.
I’m super delighted that industry news are still covering my unique post.
This week I hit New York news and Michigan news with LinkedIn posts by AIM Media House and Uni Network Group sharing my appointment.
Events next week
It’s a big week for us in Liverpool next week, with our AI Summit on Thursday: with over 950 businesses, local authorities and secondary school children hearing form a range of brilliant speakers on AI as well as the expo and demos alongside.
The run up to it is extending our AI Summit into a festival:20th October - LCRCA Youth AI Summit, Liverpool
22nd October - AI Discovery Day, University of Liverpool
23rd October - LCRCA AI Summit, Liverpool (Sold Out)
Tiffany St James, Chief AI Officer, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority