The Seventh Wave: Building AI-Ready Data Strategies For State And Local Government

Enjoy coffee and breakfast while networking with Forrester experts and your public sector peers before the opening remarks.

Speaker: Dana Barnes, VP of Public Sector, Forrester

Dana Barnes will kick off the forum with words of welcome and questions to keep in mind to help you get the most out of the keynotes and interactive sessions.

Speaker: Mark Moccia — VP, Research Director, Forrester

Mark Moccia will challenge public sector leaders to prioritize foundational AI readiness—even in times of economic and operational uncertainty. He’ll outline the critical building blocks of a resilient volatility strategy. This session will help leaders balance innovation with operational excellence—and prepare their agencies to pivot quickly as AI capabilities accelerate.

Speaker: Merritt Maxim — VP, Research Director, Forrester

Merritt Maxim will tackle one of the most persistent challenges in government: connecting the dots across siloed systems to serve the whole person. He’ll explore how AI and identity and access management (IAM) are reshaping the possibilities—and risks—of building a unified “person record” that spans public safety, health, housing, and more. This session will provide a forward-looking view of how connected digital identities can unlock more responsive and effective government to citizen services.

Enjoy lunch while networking with Forrester experts and your public sector peers.

Speaker: Bill Cole — Chief Technology Officer, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security

Speaker: Michael Facemire — Chief Technology Officer, Forrester

This tactical session will go behind the scenes of Forrester’s development of Izola, a generative AI tool designed to deliver trustworthy, actionable insights. Mike will share lessons learned in building a system that must be accurate, explainable, and secure — offering practical takeaways for public sector teams building or buying AI solutions.

Speaker: Sudha Maheshwari  — VP, Research Director, Forrester

In this interactive closing session, Sudha Maheshwari will explore the most impactful and achievable AI use cases for state and local agencies. She’ll highlight real-world opportunities for AI innovation and invite audience members to share their challenges and ideas. Attendees will leave with a clearer vision for how to prioritize AI initiatives and build a foundation for responsible, scalable innovation.