22 October 2026 | Session One: Modernising Justice
8:20 AM – 9:15 AM
9:15 AM – 9:25 AM
Conference Chair
Alison McLaughlin, Digital Transformation Strategist
Alison is a recognised digital leader in Scotland with a wealth of experience of many ground-breaking digital programmes across the public sector. She has worked with many organisations across the Justice sector including Disclosure Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, Scottish Courts and Crown Office. Her experience also includes a 2.5 year secondment as Head of the Digital Transformation Division of the SG Digital Directorate, during which she was involved in the Digital Justice DESC programme.
Alison is a former Chair of ScotlandIS and now works as a digital transformation strategist working with public and private sector to drive digitally enabled change.
9:25 AM – 9:45 AM
International Keynote: Policing the Future
A leading international policing voice shares insights on how technology-driven investigatory capabilities, advanced analytics and AI are reshaping modern law enforcement and what Scotland can learn from global best practice.
Armando Aguilar, Assistant Chief of Police, Criminal Investigations Division,
Miami Police Department
Armando R. Aguilar is an Assistant Chief of Police in the Miami Police Department. He currently oversees the Administration Division and previously served as the Criminal Investigations Division Chief. Assistant Chief Aguilar and his team implemented offender-focused strategies which have contributed to record-low violent crime rates and record-high case clearance rates. Assistant Chief Aguilar and his team developed the MPD’s artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology policies, and they implemented agency-wide A.I. training for all sworn MPD officers. Assistant Chief Aguilar is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice A.I. Task Force and the University of Chicago Policing Leadership Academy Advisory Committee.
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
Keynote: From Evidence to Verdict
Streamlining digital forensics across police, prosecution and defence - improving outcomes for those who come into contact with the justice system in Scotland.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Houston, Crime and Operational Support,
Police Scotland
T/Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Houston is the Police Scotland executive lead for Crime and Operational Support. T/DCC Houston's portfolio consists of the following business areas: • Major Crime, Public Protection and Local Crime • Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism and Intelligence • Operational Support T/DCC was appointed as ACC in August 2023 with responsibility for Professionalism and Assurance until January 2025, before moving to Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism. He remained in post until his appointment as Temporary Deputy Chief Constable in July 2026. He has previously performed command roles within Intelligence Support and Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit within Specialist Crime Division. T/DCC Houston joined Lothian and Borders Police in May 1996 and has undertaken a number of investigative roles across Local Policing and SCD.
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
10:15 AM – 10:55 AM
Expert Panel: Connecting the Justice Digital Landscape
A cross-agency panel examining the opportunities and challenges of building a connected, digitally-enabled justice system, from policing and prosecution through to victim support and custody.
Keith Dargie, Chief Digital Officer,
COPFS
Closing the Implementation Gap - Turning AI Ambition into Operational Reality: Keith Dargie is Chief Digital Information Officer at COPFS, Scotland’s independent prosecution service, where he leads digital and information services across a complex national justice organisation. He brings extensive senior executive experience across government and the public sector, with a strong track record of translating digital ambition into delivered outcomes and improved citizenfacing services. Keith’s current priorities include the strategic delivery of innovative digital casework systems, scaling AI, data analytics and process automation from pilots to impact, and enabling practical, trustworthy digital transformation at enterprise and system level.
Carolyn McLeod, CEO
Victim Support Scotland
Carolyn has more than 20 years’ experience in Scotland’s justice system, including roles as a solicitor. She brings leadership, governance, and operational experience from senior positions across the Scottish Legal Aid Board, Audit Scotland, the Scottish Government and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Having seen the profound impact of crime on individuals, families, and communities, she is committed to improving outcomes for people affected by crime. Carolyn also has third sector governance experience through trustee roles with the Scottish SPCA and the Rock Trust, giving her insight into the opportunities and challenges facing charities in complex policy environments.
Garry Forsyth KPM, Chair - Policing Performance Committee
Scottish Police Authority
Garry Forsyth KPM joined the Board of the Scottish Police Authority in January 2026.
He retired from policing as Chief Constable of Bedfordshire in 2023 following a career in six different forces around the UK. Garry was one of the UK’s Counter Terror Commanders, and a highly experienced Gold Commander for Public Order, Firearms and Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear (CBRN).
Garry was also one of the Gold Commanders for the Olympic Games. He has an excellent understanding of managing risk and extensive experience in leading large scale change and transformation programmes. He was awarded the King’s Police Medal in 2023 for distinguished services to policing.
Garry is also an independent member of the Parole Board Review Committee for England and Wales.
Nigel Ironside, Head of Digital Services,
Scottish Prison Service
Nigel is Head of Digital Services at Scottish Prison Service and has held past roles as Head of Health and Justice; Governor, HMP Glenochil & Deputy Director Prisons.
Nigel’s objectives include the implementing digital transformation across the SPS to upskill frontline staff and include those in custody to embrace digital inclusion. Developing a new case management platform to support the custodial journey & Digital Ethics in Justice.
Interests outside of work include Cycling, Karate (2nd Dan Black Belt Shotokan), Rugby & Japanese Cooking.
10:55 AM – 11:25 AM
Networking & Refreshments
22 October 2026 | Session Two: Parallel Masterclasses
11:25 AM – 11:55 AM
Meaningful time, meaningful outcomes: building better rehabilitation through data
How do you improve outcomes when you cannot reliably measure them? This session explores how the Northern Ireland Prison Service and Sopra Steria are using trusted data, mobile technology and the PRISM offender management platform to gain new insight into prisoners’ meaningful time. It will examine how better data can support frontline decision-making, improve productivity and strengthen rehabilitation outcomes, while creating the foundations for future innovation and AI-enabled services.
Margaret Moore, Enterprise Accounts and Scotland Director,
Sopra Steria
She has spent 30 years at the intersection of technology, strategy, and public services, witnessing and driving change across both large enterprises and agile, fast-moving organisations. Since joining Sopra Steria in 2010, she’s taken on a variety of leadership roles focused on strategy, growth, and delivery - always with the goal of making a real difference in how services work for citizens, consumers, and employees.
At the core of her approach is what she calls "joining the dots" - understanding policies and strategies, applying the right change techniques, and leveraging the right technology to drive impact. Whether through transformational shifts or incremental improvements, she focuses on simplifying user journeys by integrating data, processes, and digital solutions in meaningful ways.
As Scotland Director at Sopra Steria, she leads the organisation’s work across the public and private sectors in Scotland, bringing together our full suite of capabilities - from strategic consulting to cutting-edge digital solutions.
Beyond her professional role, she’s passionate about driving positive societal impact - from inspiring young people to explore careers in IT, to empowering women through leadership programs like Empowering Women to Lead Digital Transformation.
11:25 AM – 11:55 AM
A New Model for Justice System Modernisation: AI-led discovery, evidence-based redesign and agent-assisted engineering
Legacy justice systems are difficult to replace because their rules, data flows and operational knowledge are often hidden. This session presents an AI-first approach combining system archaeology, evidence-based validation, service redesign, testable specifications and agent-assisted engineering. A practical case study will examine lessons learned, assurance controls, delivery outcomes and measurable time savings across discovery and development activity.
Paul McGinness, Founder & Chair,
Storm ID
Paul is Co-founder of Storm ID, where he leverages over 20 years of experience in leading digital and data transformation. He now focuses on AI strategy development, advising senior leadership and boards across public and private organisations on how to integrate AI into their core products, services, and business processes. Paul’s guidance is grounded in his deep experience with real-world applied AI, particularly in healthcare and the wider public sector, where he has delivered solutions that improve both patient outcomes and service efficiency
11:55 AM – 12:05 PM
Transition to next masterclass
12:05 PM – 12:35 PM
One Justice Journey, Many Systems: Orchestrating People, Process and AI Across Scotland’s Justice System
A practical look at how justice organisations can connect people, processes and existing systems without wholesale replacement. This session will explore how intelligent workflow and governed AI can reduce delays, strengthen cross-agency working and create a more joined-up experience for frontline staff, victims and witnesses.
Adam Pink, Business Transformation Director,
Pegasystems
Adam Pink is a Business Transformation Director at Pegasystems, helping public and private sector organisations across Europe unlock business value through digital transformation and intelligent workflow solutions. A former Hampshire Police Officer, he served in both frontline and headquarters roles before moving into public safety and security leadership positions within the technology sector. Alongside his professional career, Adam volunteers as a Coastguard Rescue Officer on Scotland's west coast.
12:05 PM – 12:35 PM
Cyber Resilience in Criminal Justice: The Case for Platformisation
As Scotland’s criminal justice partners accelerate digital transformation, expanding digital footprints and tool sprawl can create new risks to operational resilience. Disconnected security solutions can lead to visibility gaps, management complexity and increased cyber risk across multi-agency environments. This session will explore how a platform-based approach to cybersecurity can strengthen resilience, protect sensitive evidence flows and support digital innovation while maintaining public trust.
Jason Corbishley, Public Sector Account CISO
Palo Alto Networks
Jason has worked with UK policing since 2006, initially leading digital services for Cumbria Constabulary before moving on to become the Chief Technical officer for the NPCC National Enabling Program. In 2021, Jason was appointed Chief Information Security Officer for Police Digital Service to build a new set of integrated Information Security and Cyber Security services nationally for UK policing. Jason led the creation of the Cyber Services team which included Audit, Risk & Compliance, National System Assurance, Cyber Security Policy and Standards, Cyber Security Architecture and Cyber Operations under the name of the National Management Center for UK policing. In 2025 Jason moved to Palo Alto Networks to continue supporting criminal justice organisations achieve cybersecurity-enabled technical transformation.
12:35 PM – 1:30 PM
22 October 2026 | Session Three: Parallel Leadership Streams
1:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Justice Transformation
How strategic digital transformation can help Scotland’s justice agencies deliver better outcomes in line with public service reform objectives.
Clair Thomson
Collaboration Transformation Manager, Police Scotland
Clair has been working in Policing for over 20 years. 12 years of this has been spent within Learning & Development, Transformation and Change roles. Clair's current role brings all her passions together, viewing herself as a public servant & system leader for Scotland to join-the-dots, connecting the system to more of itself to maximise impact to improve outcomes for our children and families, places and communities of Scotland.
Clair is currently co-director of The Scottish Prevention Hub at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), University of Edinburgh, which is a national co-directed partnership with Public Health Scotland & EFI. Clair led the development and the delivery of the first Strategic Collaboration Framework with Police Scotland and Public Health Scotland.
Clair is passionate about supporting her colleagues to collaborate effectively through building effective relationships i.e. the 'How', and has led a Collaborative Leadership Programme Pilot in Police Scotland with colleagues in Local Government, building knowledge of systems and relational practice. This was successfully evaluated through the Scottish Institute of Policing Research (SIPR) and is now being considered for growth and expansion across Scotland, widening the partners involved.
Duncan Hart, Business Lead: Common Data Platform,
Police Scotland
Marion McCormack, Lead for Justice Transformation,
Scottish Government
Marion McCormack leads Justice Transformation, Civil Courts and Inquiries within the Scottish Government. An experienced senior leader with over 20 years' experience across justice, education, business and public health policy, she has a strong track record in delivering complex transformation programmes and digital innovation.
Working with Justice partners on strategic initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Scotland's justice system. Her work includes the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) programme revolutionising the way evidence is shared from crime scene to court room and the Justice Digital Front Door project, exploring a single, secure access point for victims and witnesses . to access information and engage with the justice system.
Dene Burke, Head of Criminal Change Lab,
Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service
As Head of Criminal Change lab Dene leads a team of specialists in the delivery of a progressive change agenda which concentrates on technology and innovation to support the change vision for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals and supporting the overall criminal justice reform strategy. He supports the transformation of the justice system through effective collaboration and the introduction of new technologies to improve the effectiveness of operations and the service provided to others. His team ensures that they consider and put all users at the heart of delivery to improve their experience and the service that is received by all. This has resulted in the delivery of evidence by commission suites, remote provision of evidence functionality and the new Dundee Justice hub.
Amir Jamil, Principal Security Architect,
BT Business
Amir Jamil works as a Principal Security Architect for BT in Managed Cyber Security & Operations. He leads a team of specialists to deliver solutions for customers across enterprise, public sector, police, and UK defence. He is regarded as a trusted advisor by clients and brings deep experience with security infrastructure design & implementation and defence in depth principles.
1:30 PM – 2:50 PM
The Digital Blue Line
A forum for police leaders to explore technology-driven forensic and investigatory capabilities, including analytics and AI.
Jacqueline Cassidy, (Chair), Director of Service Delivery,
Victim Support Scotland
Jacqueline Cassidy joined Victim Support Scotland as Director of Service Delivery in January 2024, bringing expertise in trauma-informed practice and a strong commitment to community-based support. She is currently leading on a Service Delivery Model Review to ensure victim support services to best meet the needs of people impacted by crime. She has held senior leadership roles across the third sector, including at The Fostering Network, Place2Be, and Children in Scotland, where she led programmes improving outcomes for children and young people. Jacqueline holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and is a Churchill Fellow. She serves as a trustee at Includem and Ready Generations.
Harry Schone, Deputy Director, AI Lab
PoliceAI
Harry Schone is the interim Deputy Director for the AI Lab at PoliceAI, the national programme to accelerate the responsible adoption of AI in policing. In this role he oversees testing and evaluation, development of solutions, and enabling the community of practice. He is on secondment from Police Scotland, where he led the Data Science Centre of Excellence.
Armando Aguilar, Assistant Chief of Police, Criminal Investigations Division,
Miami Police Department
Armando R. Aguilar is an Assistant Chief of Police in the Miami Police Department. He currently oversees the Administration Division and previously served as the Criminal Investigations Division Chief. Assistant Chief Aguilar and his team implemented offender-focused strategies which have contributed to record-low violent crime rates and record-high case clearance rates. Assistant Chief Aguilar and his team developed the MPD’s artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology policies, and they implemented agency-wide A.I. training for all sworn MPD officers. Assistant Chief Aguilar is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice A.I. Task Force and the University of Chicago Policing Leadership Academy Advisory Committee.
Michele Sevegnani, Reader, School of Computing Science
University of Glasgow
Dr Michele Sevegnani is a Reader in Computing Science at the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Co-Lead of PROBabLE Futures, a four-year Responsible AI UK Keystone project investigating probabilistic AI in law enforcement and criminal justice. His research uses formal methods to analyse uncertainty and support the assurance of AI systems in high-stakes settings.
Within PROBabLE Futures, he leads research that maps the use of AI across law enforcement and criminal justice in England and Wales, developing a methodology, taxonomy and open register of AI tools. His work also examines how large language models in policing could affect the progression of criminal cases and how uncertainty in facial-recognition systems can be quantified. His focus is on ensuring that modelling assumptions, probabilistic claims, uncertainty and limitations in the evidence remain explicit when AI systems are assessed, explained and governed.
1:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Biometrics, Ethics & Public Trust
Live facial recognition and the deployment of biometric technologies: balancing innovation, ethics and winning public confidence.
Cheryl Glen, Director,
Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
As Director & Corporate Services Manager, Cheryl has responsibility for all corporate services and business support functions. This includes delivering corporate activities in support of the 4-year Strategic Plan; developing and establishing corporate policies, practices and procedures for the office; ensuring effective management of the organisation and efficient use of its resources in pursuit of its Strategic and Operational aims, and for financial management including accounting, budget and contracts. A highly skilled professional, Cheryl has numerous years of partnership working as an analyst and within management across a variety of settings including government, police, local authorities and national bodies.
Karen McBride, Subject Matter Expert,
Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
Karen is seconded to the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner from the Scottish Police Authority to offer subject matter advice on biometrics, in particular relating to fingerprints. She will contribute to the delivery of thematic assurance reviews and collaborate with stakeholders and partners to increase knowledge exchange and promote initiatives. Karen’s background in forensics spans 31 years and she is a qualified Senior Fingerprint Examiner with experience in the analysis, comparison and evaluation of fingerprints.
Prof William Webster, Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
William Webster is the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner. He provides independent oversight of the police retention and use of biometrics and the use of overt surveillance cameras by police and local authorities in England and Wales. Prior to taking this position he was Professor of Public Policy and Management at the University of Stirling and the inaugural Director of CRISP (the Centre for Research into Information, Surveillance and Privacy).
Fiona Douglas, Director of Forensics Services
Scottish Police Authority
Fiona has a wealth of experience of over 25 years working within the forensic science discipline, with the past ten spent in Scotland.
Before relocating to Scotland, Fiona worked at various locations in England and Wales within the Government-owned Forensic Science Service with responsibility across multi-disciplinary forensic evidence and organisational change.
Prior to becoming Director, Fiona joined the Scottish Police Services Authority in 2011 as the Head of Biology and led the national development of this area of Forensic Services within the SPA, including the development and implementation of the new DNA24 technology that is now at the heart of DNA services provided to the justice system in Scotland.
Since becoming the Head of Strategic Change in August 2019, Fiona was instrumental in the development and ongoing delivery of the Forensic Strategic Change Programme.
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM
Networking & Refreshments
22 October 2026 | Session Four: Parallel Leadership Streams
3:10 PM – 4:30 PM
AI Leadership in Justice & Policing
AI is on the cusp of adoption for a new generation of justice services, with the potential to transform delivery and generate significant productivity benefits across frontline justice services.
Jacqueline Cassidy, (Chair), Director of Service Delivery,
Victim Support Scotland
Jacqueline Cassidy joined Victim Support Scotland as Director of Service Delivery in January 2024, bringing expertise in trauma-informed practice and a strong commitment to community-based support. She is currently leading on a Service Delivery Model Review to ensure victim support services to best meet the needs of people impacted by crime. She has held senior leadership roles across the third sector, including at The Fostering Network, Place2Be, and Children in Scotland, where she led programmes improving outcomes for children and young people. Jacqueline holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and is a Churchill Fellow. She serves as a trustee at Includem and Ready Generations.
Marc Gayne, Product Lead
Police Scotland
Marc is a technology product lead specialising in AI adoption and SaaS products. As Product Lead for Microsoft Copilot at Police Scotland, Marc works across policing, Microsoft, security and data governance teams to support the safe and responsible adoption of AI, including emerging agentic AI capabilities. Marc’s background including delivering AI-enabled messaging solutions and leading the transformation of legacy technology into modern SaaS platforms within the telecommunications sector. Marc will focus on how Police Scotland is navigating an ethical introduction of generative AI products as well as early Agentic trials across the force.
Corinne Russell, Data Ethics Lead,
Police Scotland
As Data Ethics Lead Corinne leads Police Scotland’s rights-based approach to data and AI ethics and is responsible for the implementation of the organisation’s Data Ethics Framework. Based within the Chief Data Office, Corinne supports responsible innovation by guiding how Police Scotland uses AI tools in a fair, transparent, and proportionate way. Police Scotland has been recognised as leading the way in the ethical introduction of technologies, aiming to become an organisation driven by the effective and efficient use of data, in an ethical way.
The conversation will focus on how Police Scotland prioritises ethics and public confidence in its use of technology, and how Data Ethics in policing can enable and empower decision-making across the force. Starting with a well-established risk triage process, Police Scotland’s Data Ethics team follows a robust approach to assessing AI; involving key stakeholders in decision-making and encouraging open conversations around risks and benefits.
Corinne previously worked in Police Scotland’s Information Assurance team and has brought knowledge of data protection legislation and information security to her current role, as well as several years of experience of working with data as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst.
Keith Dargie, Chief Digital Officer,
COPFS
Closing the Implementation Gap - Turning AI Ambition into Operational Reality: Keith Dargie is Chief Digital Information Officer at COPFS, Scotland’s independent prosecution service, where he leads digital and information services across a complex national justice organisation. He brings extensive senior executive experience across government and the public sector, with a strong track record of translating digital ambition into delivered outcomes and improved citizenfacing services. Keith’s current priorities include the strategic delivery of innovative digital casework systems, scaling AI, data analytics and process automation from pilots to impact, and enabling practical, trustworthy digital transformation at enterprise and system level.
Jamie Taylor, Director, Public Safety & Justice,
Salesforce
Jamie is Director of Public Safety and Justice for Scotland and Northern Ireland at Salesforce, working with policing and justice organisations on how data, AI and digital technology can reshape public services.
Over more than 15 years at Dell, Vodafone and Salesforce, he has built a career helping public sector organisations modernise and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Today, his focus is on the responsible application of AI across policing and justice, including the introduction of Bobbi, an AI-powered digital assistant designed to help citizens navigate services, access information and complete key interactions more easily, while reducing the administrative burden on frontline teams.
Jamie's ambition is to help Scotland become a world leader in connected, AI-enabled justice - a system that is more efficient for professionals, more transparent for citizens and ultimately more human.
3:10 PM – 4:30 PM
Community Justice & Rehabilitation
How technology can support better outcomes across the justice journey, from reducing delays and improving case management to helping people rebuild their lives after contact with the justice system.
Alison McLaughlin (Chair), Digital Transformation Strategist
Alison is a recognised Digital leader in Scotland with a wealth of experience of many ground-breaking digital programmes across the public sector. She has worked with many organisations across the Justice sector including Disclosure Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, Scottish Courts and Crown Office. Her experience also includes a 2.5 year secondment as Head of the Digital Transformation Division of the SG Digital Directorate, during which she was involved in the Digital Justice DESC programme.
Alison is a former Chair of ScotlandIS and now works as a digital transformation strategist working with public and private sector to drive digitally enabled change.
Nigel Ironside, Head of Digital Services,
Scottish Prison Service
Nigel is Head of Digital Services at Scottish Prison Service and has held past roles as Head of Health and Justice; Governor, HMP Glenochil & Deputy Director Prisons.
Nigel’s objectives include the implementing digital transformation across the SPS to upskill frontline staff and include those in custody to embrace digital inclusion. Developing a new case management platform to support the custodial journey & Digital Ethics in Justice.
Interests outside of work include Cycling, Karate (2nd Dan Black Belt Shotokan), Rugby & Japanese Cooking.
Mike Nellis, Emeritus Professor of Criminal and Community Justice in the Law School,
University of Strathclyde
Calum Campbell, Digital Social Work Policy and Practice Advisor,
Social Work Scotland
Calum Campbell is the Digital Social Work Policy and Practice Advisor at Social Work Scotland and a qualified social worker. He has worked across statutory and third sector settings and has been with Social Work Scotland since January 2020. Digital innovation has been a consistent focus throughout his career, and he is passionate about future-proofing social work to meet the needs of a digital society. Calum believes digital approaches have the potential to transform practice, improving accessibility, efficiency, and outcomes for the people and communities social work supports.
4:30 PM