Strategic AI Advisory Group meeting: 9 March 2026

Chair: Gina Neff, Queen Mary University of London
Alexander Iosad, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Shavanah Taj, Wales TUC
Walter Pasquarelli, Speaker, Writer and Advisor on AI and Synthetic Reality
Marloes Pomp, European AI Forum
Santosh Takoor, Microsoft UK
Ruth McGuinness, Kainos
Louise Harris, Tramshed Tech
Diane Gutiw, CGI
Roger Whitaker, Cardiff University
Paul Spencer, Bangor University
Myra Hunt, Centre for Digital Public Services
Glyn Jones, Welsh Government
Jas Pal Baydal, Welsh Government
Mike Thomas, Welsh Government
Janine Pepworth, Welsh Government
Liberty Hill, Welsh Government

Anthony Tracey, Hywel Dda University Health Board
Lindsey Phillips, Welsh Local Government Association
Rachel Purchase, Veygo

1.1 The Chair welcomed Roger Whitaker and Paul Spencer as new members of the group. 

2.1 Welsh Government officials provided an update on the work being undertaken to support AI skills across the public sector and wider economy.

2.2 The group noted the scale of activity underway, including high completion rates for the civil service-wide ‘One Big Thing’ AI training programme, as well as ongoing work to understand AI skills needs across the Welsh public sector through baseline assessment activity.

2.3 The Group highlighted the importance of embedding responsible and ethical use within skills programmes and discussed opportunities to align Welsh activity with wider UK and international initiatives. 

3.1 The Group discussed examples of emerging AI use in public services, including applications in local government, education and social care. The group highlighted the importance of focusing on a small number of high‑impact use cases to build learning and confidence before seeking wider scale‑up.

3.2 The value of learning from international experience was discussed, noting examples from Europe, North America, the Gulf states and Japan. The Group agreed that there was value in drawing together practical case studies and insights from other countries to inform Welsh AI policy and delivery.

4.1 Welsh Government officials introduced the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales’ report Exploring Digital Ageism, published in October 2025, and outlined its relevance to the Group’s remit.

4.2 The group noted the report’s findings on how older people can face disadvantage in digital systems and services, discussed the need to ensure AI systems do not reinforce age‑related bias, and reflected on the AI‑specific recommendations in the report.

4.3 The group emphasised the need to integrate age‑related considerations within existing equality, accessibility and procurement processes rather than creating separate frameworks. 

4.4 The potential for AI to reduce age‑related inequalities where designed and deployed well, including through improved access to services, assistive technologies and alternative channels such as voice‑based systems was also discussed.

5.1 Welsh Government officials updated the group on continued interest from organisations wishing to join the Strategic AI Advisory Group.

5.2 The Group noted the upcoming election period, and that informal engagement and knowledge‑sharing could continue, subject to appropriate governance.

6.1 The group agreed the following next steps:

• to continue developing a more targeted, role‑specific AI skills offer, building on existing foundational training
• to explore opportunities for sharing international case studies and examples of good practice to inform Welsh delivery
• to consider how age‑related equality impacts can be more explicitly embedded within existing AI governance, procurement and assurance processes
• to explore the use of short‑term working groups for topics requiring more detailed input.

Next meeting date: 

June 2026