Strategic AI Advisory Group meeting: 22 July 2025

Chair: Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Diane Gutiw, CGI
Jeegar Kakkad, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Ruth McGuinness, Kainos
Walter Pasquarelli, Advisor on AI and Synthetic Reality
Marloes Pomp, European AI Forum
Rachel Purchase, Admiral
Santosh Takoor, Microsoft UK
Harriet Green, Centre for Digital Public Services
Matt Lewis, Cross Public Sector AI Leadership Group in Wales
Lindsey Phillips, Welsh Local Government Association
Helen Arthur, Welsh Government
Jas Pal Baydal, Welsh Government 
Janine Pepworth, Welsh Government
Mike Thomas, Welsh Government

Gina Neff, Queen Mary University of London
Shavanah Taj, Wales TUC

1.1 The Cabinet Secretary welcomed the members and outlined the Group’s purpose, highlighting the ambition for Wales to be at the forefront of ethical and safe AI developments. 

1.2 Each member of the group provided a short introduction, outlining their background and AI expertise.

2.1 Welsh Government officials provided an overview of the AI landscape in Wales, focussing on the broad make-up of the public sector, current AI ecosystems and governance arrangements. 

2.2 Welsh Government officials identified key challenges in the public sector and highlighted AI’s potential to reduce service demand, increase efficiency, and improve tailored support, particularly in social care, health, and public-facing services. 

2.3 The need for effective sharing of AI tools across the sector was raised to minimise duplication of effort.

3.1 The Cabinet Secretary invited the group to identify key opportunities for AI within the Welsh public sector and highlight relevant global developments for consideration.

3.2 The group discussed opportunities for Wales to lead in ethical AI through its social partnership model, prioritise adoption in areas like education, health, and citizen engagement, and explore scalable pilots using a sandbox approach. 

3.3 The group also highlighted the importance of collaboration, procurement as a transformation lever, and futureproofing through problem-driven innovation.

4.1 The group agreed a draft Terms of Reference.

5.1 The Cabinet Secretary concluded the meeting by outlining the group’s next steps, which include identifying priority areas that can deliver meaningful impact in a Welsh context.