On 26th June 2025, we gathered with a brilliant group of digital and business leaders in Birmingham to mark the regional launch of the Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report 2025. The event brought together voices from across the Midlands to explore what digital leadership looks like in a time of constraint, transformation, and opportunity.
Now in its 26th year, the Digital Leadership Report is the world’s largest and longest-running survey of senior technology decision-makers. It continues to offer a unique lens into the evolving priorities, technologies, and risks shaping the digital landscape — and the leaders navigating it.
This year’s report draws on insights from 2,015 digital leaders across 62 countries. It captures a global moment of recalibration, where AI is moving from experimentation to execution, cybersecurity threats are rising again, and hybrid work continues to evolve. But more than anything, it reflects a shift in mindset: from growth at all costs to clarity, focus, and resilience.
Voices from the frontline of public sector transformation
The evening was hosted by Nash Squared’s Tech Evangelist, David Savage, and featured two keynote speakers who brought the report’s themes to life through the lens of public sector leadership.
Kelly Goodwin MBA, CITP MBCS, CIO at the University of Wolverhampton, opened the evening with a keynote focused on navigating digital transformation in higher education. Her presentation, titled “Mission Impossible: Finding power in priorities when investment slows,” explored how institutions can move beyond reactive decision-making and instead focus on strategic clarity. She spoke about the importance of prioritising what truly matters, especially when resources are limited, a theme that echoed the report’s finding that while investment is slowing, priorities are sharpening
Her emphasis on resilience over speed aligned with the report’s broader narrative around leadership recalibration. As AI adoption accelerates, digital leaders are being called to lead with intention, not urgency. The report revealed that organisations furthest ahead with AI are 24% more likely to be increasing tech headcount, particularly in areas like AI and data.
Kelly reinforced this by highlighting the need to build empowered teams that can drive transformation, not just implement it.
Doing more with less
Martin Sadler, Director of Digital & Technology Services at Birmingham City Council, followed with a keynote that offered a candid look at digital leadership in the context of financial constraint. His talk focused on the challenge of delivering scalable digital services in a time of budget pressure , a reality faced by many public sector organisations.
The report’s findings on board-level priorities felt especially relevant to the discussion. Despite signs of slowing investment, over half of digital leaders (53%) say their number one priority is using technology to improve operational efficiency.
Martin explored how this shift applies in the public sector, where the goal is not profit but public value. His reflections on cross-sector collaboration and strategic reinvestment brought the report’s themes into sharp focus, showing how local authorities can remain agile and impactful even in difficult circumstances.
AI, cybersecurity and the skills challenge
Both speakers touched on the growing role of AI in shaping digital strategy. The report shows that nearly 1 in 5 organisations are now running large-scale AI projects, almost double last year’s figure
But the message from Birmingham was clear: AI must be purposeful. It’s not about chasing trends, but about solving real problems and unlocking capacity.
Cybersecurity also featured prominently in the discussion. With 29% of digital leaders reporting a major cyberattack in the past two years, the report highlights a renewed urgency around digital risk
Martin spoke about embedding resilience into every layer of the organisation, not just in systems, but in culture and leadership.
The skills gap was another shared concern. The report revealed an 82% increase in organisations citing AI as their top skills challenge
Kelly addressed this directly, emphasising the need to invest in people, not just platforms. Her call to “build the A-Team” reflected a broader shift in leadership thinking, one that values capability, adaptability, and collaboration.
Beyond the numbers
The Birmingham launch wasn’t just a presentation of findings; it was a conversation. A moment to reflect on the data, but also to hear how it’s being lived, challenged, and reimagined by leaders on the ground. From universities to city councils, the evening showcased the courage, creativity, and clarity that define today’s digital leadership.
Thank you to our keynote speakers, Kelly Goodwin and Martin Sadler, and to all our guests for making the Birmingham launch such a thoughtful and noteworthy event.
