The Record - Issue 21: Summer 2021

37 I NT E R V I EW transformation – powered by new and emerging tools such as cloud, data and artificial intelligence and, more importantly, underpinned by the prin- ciples of access, accessibility and inclusion. Challenging times tend to drive innovation. Can you give us some recent examples of Microsoft innovation – and work with part- ners – enabling positive outcomes in the deliv- ery of citizen services across all areas of the public sector? From keeping the court system functioning in Italy to helping homeless people access food in Brazil, our teams worked tirelessly with our partners to help public sector agencies maintain the provision of fundamental public services for first responders and people everywhere. In Canada, Microsoft partnered with ESRI and the Missing Children Society to develop an app that helped law enforcement find missing children and bring them home faster. In the US, we partnered with 3AM Innovations to help firefighters leverage situational tracking to stay out of harm’s way. In the Middle East, we partnered with Classera on the Learning Never Stops initiative to keep learners learning. Around the world, we are partnering with com- panies like Accenture to help government agen- cies scale the Microsoft Vaccine Management. I could go on, but even these few examples show just how powerful our partnerships have been in helping governments everywhere during these extraordinary times. Finally, what are Microsoft’s public sector plans and priority areas in the year ahead and what do you consider your most exciting professional challenge in that time? I always like to remind people that, at heart, Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more is the public sector mission. Our public sector plans and priorities for the year ahead are all about fulfilling this mission for governments and people around the world. As I look toward the next 12 months, I’m incredibly excited about the way in which Microsoft and our partners are uniquely posi- tioned to build upon the inspirational work we have done throughout the pandemic. For me, there is no greater professional challenge, nor greater professional opportunity. From helping to drive economic recovery to maintaining hybrid working and learning, sup- porting critical infrastructure modernisation, and strengthening national security, the oppor- tunities for Microsoft and our partners to help public sector organisations accelerate cloud adoption, deepen cybersecurity, and harness the power of new and emerging technologies are limitless. I just can’t wait to get started. “Our efforts have helped to deliver the services that people need, where they need them, when they need them”