Shadow AI is no longer a fringe risk, it is a mainstream operational reality across the UK public sector. From frontline services to policy teams, unapproved AI tools are already being used to cope with pressure, complexity and scale. The challenge for leaders is no longer whether AI is being used, but how to regain control without suppressing innovation.
The Shadow AI 2026 Symposium brings together senior leaders from central government, healthcare, local government, higher education, blue light services, cyber security and AI policy to explore how the public sector can move from unmanaged AI risk to safe, strategic, enterprise-grade adoption.
Across a full day of keynotes, sector perspectives and panel discussion, the symposium will:
- Examine Shadow AI as a national, organisational and leadership issue
- Explore the intersection of AI, cyber security, data governance and public trust
- Provide a clear, structured way forward grounded in the Shadow AI 2026 framework
This is not a technical deep dive or a product showcase. It is a strategic, cross-sector conversation for leaders responsible for protecting public trust while enabling the future of AI.
Agenda
09:00
Registration, Refreshments & Networking
10:00
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Why Shadow AI matters now
- Why the issue cuts across technology, leadership and trust
- What the symposium aims to achieve
Presented By:
10:15
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- The acceleration of AI adoption
- The growing gap between innovation and governance
- Why public sector leadership matters more than ever
Presented By:
10:30
Keynote 1: Shadow AI as a Cyber and National Risk Issue
- How unapproved AI creates invisible attack surfaces
- The shift from thoretical to operational risk
- Why accidental misuse now rivals malicious intent
- What "resilience" really means in an AI-enabled public sector
11:00
Keynote 2: Governing at Scale in the Public Sector
- The UK's direction of travel on AI
- Balancing innovation with responsibility
- Why Shadow AI exposes gaps in operating models, not just controls
- The role of leadership, standards and capability-building
11:30
Morning Break, Refreshments & Networking
12:00
Central Government Keynote
- AI adoption at scale
- Managing risk across complex organisations
- Lessons learned from early AI deployment
- Implications for Shadow AI and workforce behaviour
12:30
Healthcare Keynote
- Frontline pressure and productivity demand
- Data sensitivity and patient trust
- How healthcare organisations are thinking about safe AI enablement
- The consequences of getting this wrong - and right
13:00
Lunch & Networking
14:00
Local Government Keynote
- Service pressure and workforce constraints
- The reality of AI use on the frontline
- Governance challenges across diverse functions
- What support local government needs to move from Shadow AI to Strategic AI
14:30
Sector Keynote: Governing Shadow AI in the Real World
- Where AI is already being used beyond formal oversight
- Balancing innovation with risk and accountability
- Governance in open vs mission-critical environments
- What happens when Shadow AI influences real-world decisions
- Practical lessons for public sector leaders
15:00
Panel Discussion: From Shadow AI to Strategic AI
- Cyber and AI policy leaders
- Practitioners from across government and public services
- Perspectives on leadership, governance and enablement
- What most organisations are getting wrong
- Where leaders should focus first
- How to balance pace, protection and public trust
- What "good" looks like for 2026
15:45
Wrap-Up & Final Networking
- Common themes across sectors
- Practical takeaways for leaders
- How the Shadow AI conversation continues beyond the symposium
16:30
Close
Shadow AI is no longer a fringe risk it is a mainstream operational reality.
