Lis Evenstad
Verified
As seen in:
Computer Weekly,
TechTarget Japan,
Computerworld UK,
CIO UK,
Digital Health,
LeMagIT,
News247Planet
Londoner. Management Editor @computerweekly, wife of @drcharlie19, canine and human mother with too many vices for my own good. Wine 🍷🏳️🌈
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Lis Evenstad
Future digital ID arrangements remain unclear, PAC hears
The government has yet to finalise its future plans around digital ID following the demise of the national digital ID scheme. At a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing, Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) permanent secretary Susannah Storey told the committee that while the programme – which aimed to create a national ID to make public services easier to access – was scrapped, the department is still working on future policy approach to digital ID.
FDP programme must command trust to succeed, says data guardian
The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) programme must tackle public and professional concerns with its supplier and build trust, according to national data guardian Nicola Byrne. The programme has been controversial since its inception – mainly due to the government’s choice of supplier: US data firm Palantir – and concerns have continued to grow since the FDP roll-out began.
Smartphone technology
News Major hurdles found in transition to autonomous broadband networks Research highlights poor device compatibility and inconsistent data as key challenges that must be addressed before broadband networks can become autonomous Continue Reading News Mastercard commits to offline payment capability in uncertain world Payment card provider will enable offline payments to be accepted in Europe in the event of power and network outages Continue Reading Interview: Reckitt has no fear of missing...
UK signs innovation and tech deal with Taiwan
The UK government’s annual trade talks with Taiwan have resulted in a collaboration deal on science, innovation and technology. Under the agreement, the two countries will deepen their partnership on digital trade, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) standards, space, telecommunications and net zero.
Smartphone technology
News Virgin Media O2 launches £3m tech reuse fund UK comms operator announces technology fund after research reveals that while 1.5 million people across the UK remain digitally excluded, around 460 million devices are sitting unused Continue Reading News UK gov selects Open Cosmos as sovereign comms framework provider Oxfordshire space company approved to provide deployable comms to the UK government’s Tactical Communications framework, mapped to series of upcoming contracts over the next...
Digital ID challenges remain despite government U-turn, says NAO
Digital ID scrapped – now what? The NAO report was initially written ahead of prime minister Andy Burnham’s decision in July 2026 to scrap the controversial digital ID plans, but the challenges remain the same. “Despite government’s recent announcement that it will not be going ahead with its digital identity plans, questions about how people can conveniently and securely prove who they are or something about themselves in a digital world remain relevant,” said Gareth Davies, head of the NAO.
CW@60: Why the excitement of a floppy disk is key to public sector IT success
Policy and politics In public sector, the other two Ps, policy and politics, unfortunately come with a big chunk of risk-averse culture and red tape. Policy changes, often as a result of political changes, mean projects change direction, timescales change and there is often unrealistic ambition without knowing exactly what or how to deliver. Then there is the political cycle. Technology projects can take years.
AI Scotland pumps £1.8m into SMEs
AI Scotland is spending £1.8m to fund help for Scottish businesses wanting to embark on opportunities brought on by artificial intelligence (AI). This includes mentoring and workshops, grants to identify AI opportunities and help with implementation, and testing and development. The funding comes after the government launched its National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs in 2025, which has so far helped 1,000 businesses.
UK police to launch £1.4m AI call system
The government is introducing artificial intelligence (AI) software to be used on the police’s non-emergency line. The AI system aims to improve the 101 service by categorising the reason for the calls and reduce unnecessary call handling for operators. According to the government, which is pumping £1.4m into this system, around four million of the 20 million calls received by the non-emergency line are for non-policing organisations.
MPs want clarification on DSIT breakup
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee chair Chi Onwurah has written to ministers asking for clarification on what will happen to tech responsibilities, following the dismantling of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). This comes as prime minister Andy Burnham decided to get rid of the department on 22 July, sending shockwaves through the UK’s tech industry and leading to questions on what this means for the future of technology in the country.
Will digital government recover from DSIT breakup?
Confusion at the helm But how exactly will this work? DSIT itself was only set up three years ago in 2023 by then prime minister Rishi Sunak to be the centre of technology for government. Hailed as the holy grail for driving innovation and deliver improved public services, DSIT was set to help position the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement.
PAC worried shared services strategy set to fail
A Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report has found the Cabinet Office is still failing to “clearly articulate” the value for money case of its shared service strategy, while department onboarding continues to be delayed. The report into the strategy, which was officially launched eight years ago, found that there continues to be inconsistent information, funding issues and a lack of ownership of the programme.
AI skills fund launches in Barnsley
The government has launched its AI Upskilling Challenge Fund, aiming to come up with a plan on how to best equip people with skills to benefit from artificial intelligence (AI). The £800,000 fund will be based in Barnsley, as part of the government’s Barnsley Tech Town initiative. The aim is to support local businesses and residents in how to use AI, particularly those who might otherwise miss out on new innovations, such as elderly residents, young people and small manufacturers.
MPs call on NHS to scrap Palantir and its Federated Data Platform
Controversy from the start The involvement of Palantir in NHS data projects has attracted controversy from UK civil liberties organisations, such as Privacy International, OpenDemocracy and law firm Foxglove. This is largely because its chairman and co-founder is Peter Thiel, reputed to be a right-wing libertarian and a Donald Trump supporter.
UKtech50 2026: The most influential people in UK technology
Computer Weekly has announced the 16th annual UKtech50, our definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK technology – the CIOs, industry executives, public servants and business leaders driving the role of technology in the UK economy. For the first time in the UKtech50’s 16 years, this year’s winner has been crowned the most influential person in UK technology not just once, but twice before.
UKtech50 2026 winner: Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO, DeepMind
It’s a true homegrown success story: British AI entrepreneur Demis Hassabis has gone from strength to strength, most notably due to the success of the artificial intelligence (AI) startup he founded, DeepMind. His story is as unusual as the fact that this is the third time he has risen to the top in Computer Weekly’s UKtech50 awards, emerging as the winner of the 16th UKtech50, having already bagged the title in 2025 and 2019. So, why has Hassabis become the epitome of a British success story?
Scotland officially launches own NHS app
The Scottish health service has launched its own version of the NHS app, allowing people to access their personal health information. The MyCare.scot app was previously only available as a web-based service when launched in December 2025 in NHS Lanarkshire, with a national roll-out beginning in April 2026. However, the Scottish NHS has now made the service available as an app which can be downloaded onto smartphones through the App Store or Google Play.
UK government launches AI Assurance Stakeholder Consortium
The UK government has launched an AI Assurance Stakeholder Consortium, together with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, to spearhead safe artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across the country. The consortium, which brings together leading figures from the UK’s existing AI assurance ecosystem, aims to measure and evaluate the trustworthiness of AI systems.
UK government pumps £200m into AI skills and adoption
The UK government has launched a £200m fund with the aim of upskilling businesses and helping them to adopt and scale artificial intelligence (AI). The funding, which was announced at the AI Adoption Summit yesterday (8 June), will be used for a series of initiatives, including boosting AI adoption and launching AI Adoption Growth Labs for businesses and regulators. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said AI innovation is one of her three “big choices to grow our economy”.
Starmer announces sovereign compute strategy amid £1.1bn chip investment
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has revealed a sovereign compute strategy to support homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) startups as the government pumps £1.1bn into the chip industry In a speech to open London Tech Week today, Starmer said the government wants to support “British ingenuity” and act as a partner for UK tech firms. “I am really pleased to announce a new strategy to develop sovereign compute capability,” he said.
Smartphone technology
News Direct-to-cell growth hits headwinds while 6G set for rapid uptake Research predicts monthly active satcom users to reach over 130 million by 2031, but usage forecast to be lower than anticipated, while 6G services set to grow from 4.6 million in 2029 to 2.9 billion in 2035 Continue Reading News Virgin Media O2 to switch on O2 Satellite for iPhone Leading UK operator offers satellite comms links direct to leading Apple devices, initially supporting messaging and data across a range of...
UKtech50 2026: Vote for the most influential person in UK technology
This is your opportunity to vote for the 2026 edition of Computer Weekly’s annual UKtech50, our definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK technology – the chief information officers, industry executives, public servants and business leaders driving forward the UK’s digital economy.
UKtech50 2026: The longlist of the UK’s influential tech leaders
Now in its 16th year, Computer Weekly’s search for the 50 most influential people in UK IT is more relevant than ever, and selecting the top 50 shortlist is a mammoth task with so many deserving candidates. Each year, the list of nominations grows as the tech industry tells us who it thinks deserves a place in the top 50.
Government digital ID launch was a fiasco, report finds
The government must undertake damage control to fix public stance on digital ID after it botched the initial announcement of the programme, according to the Home Affairs Committee. In a report on the government’s controversial digital ID programme, the committee said prime minister Keir Starmer’s launch of the scheme had been poorly thought through and failed to make a convincing case.
NHS Modernisation Bill promises single patient record by 2028
The government will join up health and social care records in a single patient record (SPR) within the next couple of years. As announced in the King’s Speech last week (11 May), the NHS Modernisation Bill aims to improve care for patients through investment and modernisation. This includes abolishing NHS England, developing a Patient Experience Directorate, giving more responsibility to integrated care boards and the roll-out of the SPR.
King’s Speech paves the way for digital ID
The King’s Speech indicated a renewed effort in spearheading the implementation of a digital ID scheme by the UK government. The scheme aims to create a national ID to make public services quicker and more secure to access, with the potential to include private sector services, such as gym memberships or parcel collections.
Scottish government publishes AI guidance for schools
The Scottish government has launched a guide to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, aiming to help those working in schools to use AI in a safe way. The national guidance has been created in response to the growing use of AI in society, and provides information on the benefits of AI, while also highlighting issues to be aware of.
MHRA appoints CDTO
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has appointed a new chief digital and technology officer (CDTO). Jason Bonander, who will take on the role in late May 2026, joins the agency as the MHRA prepares to launch a five-year strategy aimed at modernising regulations to ensure the regulator is fit for the future.
Government funds self-learning AI company
A British frontier artificial intelligence (AI) company is receiving backing from the government’s £500m Sovereign AI Fund, aiming to help UK startups grow. The company, called Ineffable Intelligence, is the latest to receive funding and support by the Sovereign AI Unit, which was officially launched on 16 April 2026. So far, eight companies have been backed by the unit.
UKtech50 2026 – help us find the most influential people in UK IT
Computer Weekly has launched its 16th annual UKtech50, our search for a definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK technology. We want to recognise the chief information officers (CIOs), industry executives, public servants and business leaders who are driving forward the digital agenda in the UK economy. This year, Computer Weekly is once again partnering with IT recruitment specialist Harvey Nash, and together our aim is to identify the 50 most influential leaders in UK IT.
Scottish Labour’s 2026 manifesto vows to upskill and invest in tech Original
Scottish Labour’s 2026 election manifesto pledges to improve the NHS with technology and more digital adoption funding for business, as well as expand the country’s Techscaler programme. The manifesto, which comes ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election in May, has a heavy focus on the NHS and its improvement.
NHS digital drive hit by usability gaps despite progress, national survey finds
A recently published survey on electronic patient record (EPR) usability shows persistent issues with user satisfaction across the NHS. The 2024 EPR usability survey, which was commissioned by NHS England and delivered in partnership with Ethical Healthcare Consulting and KLAS Research, showed that while overall satisfaction has gone up slightly since its previous survey in 2021, there is an NHS-wide usability issue.
More tech funding is coming, promises NHS England’s chief clinical information officer
NHS technology funding will shift away from being given primarily to secondary care hospitals, Alec Price-Forbes, NHS England’s chief clinical information officer (CCIO), has said. Speaking at the Digital Health Rewired conference in Birmingham, Price-Forbes said that funding details are likely to be announced in a month’s time, and will give providers more ownership of how to spend the money.
Scotland launches five-year AI strategy
Scottish government has launched a five-year artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, encompassing a series of measures with the aim of positioning Scotland as a leader in the AI revolution. This includes improving national infrastructure, improving public AI literacy and helping local businesses wanting to expand their use of the technology.
NHS digital ambition needs reality check amid frontline work pressures
The NHS 10-year plan, aiming to transform the UK healthcare system from analogue to digital, risks being undermined by a lack of central coordination. Speaking to Computer Weekly, Cheshire and Merseyside GP and digital lead Tom Micklewright said the government’s digital-by-default plan, which includes moving from old legacy systems to digital, and shifting care into the community – both key pillars of the government’s strategy – is the right way forward.
Whitehall unable to reduce consultancy spend amid digital skills shortages
The government faces scrutiny over its spending and reliance on third-party consultants, as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) calls on Whitehall to get to grips with the costs. While ministers have pledged to reduce consultancy spending and save more than £1.2bn, the PAC is in doubt whether government will succeed. In a report on consultancy spend, the PAC highlighted that there is currently no clear overview of how much government spends on consultants each year.
UK falls behind on supercomputing amid slow investment, NAO warns
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) spent £1.17bn on on research infrastructure in 2024-25, but fragmented funding and “too optimistic” business cases have led to key projects suffering delays, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO). The report on the UKRI highlights that while there has been significant improvement in oversight with a more consistent approach to funding, several areas still require improvement.
Whitehall launches digital ID consultation
The government has launched an eight-week consultation on its digital ID scheme, aiming to seek views on how its digital identity system will be shaped. The consultation, which was published 10 March, will run until 5 May 2026 and asks the public how the digital ID should be designed, used and still be accessible for those who are digitally excluded.
A survey by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has found that some care providers still do not use any technologies to deliver care. A report on the results, published on 6 March, said that despite the government’s progress on introducing digital technologies in the care sector, 27% of those surveyed reported they use no technology in their jobs.
UK government departments not sold on shared services strategy, NAO report finds
The UK government’s shared services strategy is unlikely to ever reach its full potential, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). A report by the auditor into the strategy, which was officially launched eight years ago, found that there continues to be inconsistent information, funding issues and a lack of ownership of the programme.
Government wants to build digital ID system in-house
UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s chief secretary, Darren Jones, would like to build the government’s digital ID system in-house, rather than outsource it, he has told the Home Affairs Committee. In a hearing on the government’s plans for digital ID, Jones said that while the government does not want to undermine the digital identity industry, the system would need to be built by government itself.
NHS SBS launches £250m patient communication framework
NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has launched a £250m communications framework focused on patient and citizen communications. The framework includes suppliers with a range of services from chatbots, mail processing, SMS messaging and mobile patient feedback systems.
Deputy prime minister vows to reform justice system with AI
Deputy prime minister David Lammy has promised to reform the UK’s justice system through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies. Speaking at the Microsoft AI Tour, Lammy said the justice system is in “desperate” need of renewal. His plans include expanding the use of AI across the courts, such as increasing AI transcription of hearings and piloting AI for legal advisers and judges in magistrates’ courts.
House of Lords committee concerned over digital forensics backlog
A report by the House of Lords Science and Technology committee warns that the “collapsing forensic science system” in the country is a “national scandal waiting to happen”. The report highlights failures in digital forensics and a failure to respond to new technologies in a fragmented system. “Criminal cases are collapsing, often due to missing or damaged evidence,” the report said. “The market meant to provide many forensic services has collapsed.
UK National Crime Agency seeks CDIO, offering more than £100k for the role
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) is looking for a chief digital and information officer (CDIO) to lead its digital, data and technology (DDaT) staff. The agency is offering a salary of between £100,000 and £149,999 for the role, but the job advert added that there may be “some flexibility for exceptional candidates”.
Ireland to procure national electronic health record
The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland has been given the go-ahead by government to create a shortlist of electronic patient record (EPR) suppliers to create a national health record. The plan to create a national, digital health record is one of the flagship initiatives in the Irish government’s Programme for Government and the HSE’s Sláintecare – the plan for reforming Ireland’s health and social care system.
NHS publishes tech-laden cancer plan
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a 10-year National Cancer Plan, aiming to overhaul cancer care in the UK by utilising technological innovations. This includes increasing the use of robotic surgery, particularly for neck and gynaecological cancers, aiming to bolster the number of procedures done yearly from 70,000 in 2023-24 to half a million by 2035.
Smartphone technology
In this week’s Computer Weekly ezine, we dig into the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights’ arguments that governments should be doing more to police the actions of “big tech social media firms” rather than banning under-16s from using their platforms. We also hear about colocation giant CyrusOne’s approach to greening up its operations, and the wider benefits that its IT sustainability play is bringing to its business.
Sonia Patel to become interim UK government chief technology officer
Sonia Patel will become the UK government’s interim chief technology officer (CTO) from March 2026, following a government search for someone to fill the role. Patel, who is currently NHS England’s CTO, will take up the position on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The government CTO role was held by David Knott since autumn 2023, however, at the end of 2025, he stepped down from the position due to family reasons.
Welsh government launches £2.1m fund to help SMEs adopt AI
The Welsh government is spending £2.1m on helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country adopt and use artificial intelligence (AI) in their business. The aim is to create AI awareness among small businesses and enable them to upskill staff to be able to take advantage of emerging technologies.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Lis
Contact Lis, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack