ScotlandIS Data

In his address at Holyrood’s Public Sector Data Summit in 2025, Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Public Finance, urged delegates to place data at the heart of their plans, citing its potential to “deliver better public services, improve lives and strengthen communities”.

Holyrood’s Public Sector Data & AI Summit 2026 will once again provide a vital platform for shared learning, cross-sector collaboration, and fresh thinking.

As Scotland prepares for the next Holyrood election, the strategic use of data and ethical application of AI will play an important role in shaping the policy agenda and delivering better services for communities. This event will focus on how Scotland’s public sector can advance its use of data – responsibly, innovatively, and in ways that build trust and deliver tangible benefits to citizens.

Join us for a day of high-impact keynotes, hands-on case studies, and strategic insights designed to support everyone – from data analysts to chief data officers – as they navigate the complex data challenges and opportunities ahead.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy an exhibition area and connect with peers during dedicated networking sessions.

This event is free to attend for those working in the public and third sectors. If you work in the private sector, please email sales@holyrood.com to discuss commercial opportunities.

Join MetadataWorks and Scottish Government for a technical walkthrough of a tool currently being evaluated as part of a six‑week discovery project.

This discovery is focussed on exploring how the Metadataworks platform operates and assessing its suitability for supporting data standards publication across the Scottish public sector.

During the session, we will demonstrate key features of the platform and outline how it could support future metadata and standards workflows. We’ll finish with an open discussion to gather your thoughts, and a follow‑up survey will be shared to collect more detailed feedback.

Speakers: Adam Milward, Co-founder and CEO of MetadataWorks; and Kathryn Reynolds, Data Standards Lead, Scottish Government

Who should attend: Anyone involved in shaping or using data standards within the Scottish public sector

 Questions & Accessibility needs: Please reach out to Shona.nicol@gov.scot

The 16th annual ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards showcase excellence within the industry rewarding the innovation, expertise and ambition of businesses large and small – and the people that drive them.

Let’s highlight some of the great achievements within the tech sector over the last 12 months!

There are a variety of different awards up for grabs that could shine a light on the fantastic work you’ve been doing – our shortlist has now been announced.

Digital Tech 2026 will take place on 19th March, at the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow.

We look forward to you joining us for a night of food, fun and celebration of the industry.

Click the ‘Learn More’ link below now for more details and to book tickets.

Join Women in Tech Aberdeen as we take a deeper dive into data – exploring both the challenges and the opportunities that come with working at scale. Women in Tech are delighted to welcome two data specialists to our March meet-up.

Our guest speakers Queen Akindele (Data Analyst Consultant) and Gelareh Holbrook (Business Intelligence Developer) will span the data pipeline; from tips on managing messy datasets, through to producing valuable business insights and visualisations. Our event sponsor Graeme Gordon (CEO, Converged Solutions Group) will deliver the key note, setting the scene for the topic by highlighting some of the data challenges presented by organisational change.

We will also be joined by Nini Ochuba from the DataLab.

What to expect:

✨ Insights from industry experts on their roles and skill sets

✨ A clearer understanding of the realities and rewards of working with data

✨ Practical tips for handling data at different stages of the pipeline

This will be a hybrid event – join us in person at the ONE Tech Hub or online. Note for guests joining us online, the presentations will start at 6.10pm.

There will also be time for the usual networking and drinks/nibbles.

Tickets:

Standard Entry – £8

Online Attendance – Free

Student tickets – we have limited free spaces available, please contact the organisers directly to inquire about student tickets.

AI has the potential to transform IT service management, but many organisations struggle to realise its full benefits. Challenges such as platform upgrades, underused features, and governance gaps can limit its impact.

Join Sopra Steria and ServiceNow for this expert-led webinar to discover how a Managed Services approach can help resolve foundational challenges, optimise ITSM and IT operations, and unlock AI-driven efficiencies that reduce costs, improve service delivery, and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Whether you’re already using the ServiceNow platform or evaluating enterprise platforms, this session provides practical guidance to strengthen governance, improve performance and scale with confidence.

Dive into the threats hiding in today’s digital supply chains and see why traditional security perimeters no longer cut it.

Arctic Wolf’s Connor Milligan and Brian Stewart kick off with a quick inside look at how Arctic Wolf is helping organisations stay ahead of modern attacks.

Concierge Security Engineer Megan Henchin then lifts the lid on real supply chain compromises, shares what organisations can control and how, and highlights the emerging threats she’s seeing across the cyber landscape.

A sharp, insight‑packed session designed to leave you more informed and better protected.

Who should attend?

Anyone working and/or volunteering for a third sector organisation in Scotland at the beginning of their cyber resilience journey, and maybe not sure where to start, who provides leadership and/or is responsible for aspects of operations/IT.

Don’t miss this opportunity to take the first steps towards a safer, more secure organisation. Together, we can build a resilient third sector, equipped to thrive in the face of digital challenges.

Public speaking expert, Greg Summers, will talk about the importance of improving communication skills in relation to public speaking, presenting and pitching.

Greg will share his top 10 tips that will help you look forward to your next Public Speaking / Presentation & Pitch opportunity with improved confidence.

The audience will take away a number of learned skills that will help ease fear and aid you in approaching your next speaking opportunity, making the process enjoyable and successful.

Summary of background and contact details:

Greg Summers has been a Professional Presenter and Communication skills trainer for over 20 years. He had hosted some of the UKs largest events and trains some of the biggest names in business. You can find out more at www.gregsunmers.co.uk

Join our series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

For May, we’ll be joined by ScotlandIS member Phoenix and their partner, N-able.

In this session, N‑able will walk you through a real attack scenario drawn directly from recent frontline experiences. We’ll then tie the scenario to today’s threat landscape—where phishing, credential theft, and AI‑generated social engineering continue to target individuals directly. Finally, we explore how AI is transforming the SOC, helping IT teams better protect users, detect malicious behaviour sooner and accelerate a response through best practices and tools.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this session:

1. Attacks Start with a User: Most breaches begin with a human moment and why recognising early warning signs is crucial

2. Today’s Threats Are Faster and Smarter: Phishing, identity attacks, and AI‑driven impersonation have grown by 50% in 2025 according to the NCSC

3. AI Strengthens Defences: AI‑powered detection, analysis, and response help security teams act faster, cut through noise and offer organisations a strong return on investment in their security operations