Can you describe what you’ll be talking about during your presentation at BAPCO 2024. Why is it an important topic? 

Cyber Security continues to be a real challenge and having gone through a significant incident the ongoing challenges that such a risk creates cannot be underestimated.  As such the risk appetite for investing in preventative measures has never been so important.

What do you see as being the big issues and challenges for the sector over the next five years?  

The pace of change when it is linked to anything with ICT naturally creates challenges and for public sector to keep pace requires innovative and intuitive procurement to provide modern and adaptable solutions.

What will likely be the most transformative development over the next five years in terms of the technology? What will that mean for user operations, as well as the broader market? 

AI seems to have arrived and become so accessible to all so quick.  As such there are so many unknowns. This presents some exciting opportunities but also challenges as we try to work out how best to bring it into our daily lives and wider scenario planning as an emergency service.

What opportunities do you see for the sector in the current environment? What big changes would you like to see in the world of UK public safety communications? 

Technology without doubt seems to be growing particularly as to how it engages with the younger generation. 

As such this opportunity seems to be avoided for us all. For us to become more proactive at engaging our communications with those at the start of their journey when using technology seems an opportunity to sub consciously educate, inform and attract to naturally making a difference and knowing how to behave when it comes to a broad array of public safety needs.  Whether that be a slip, trip or fall, fire safety to hate crime.

What key messages or take-home points would you like people to get from your session? What will be most useful to them from a practical point of view?

2 key points are listened to the experts that you have in your organisation.  They are the ones that have the skills and knowledge and at times we look.

Look after your staff if it happens they work endlessly, own the issues and are determined to isolate, contain,  rebuild and recover your teams and sections.  None of us have resilience for them unlike many other sections and teams that we lead.

Which conference sessions are you most looking forward to seeing?

Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Accountability.

Find out more about Matt's session and view the full programme here