Samantha Harris

Sam is a Principal Consultant at Public Digital with a background in frontline social work and delivering and leading services in high-risk environments.

She supports clients in delivering for their users through the adoption of digital ways of working, specialising in joining the dots between senior leadership and delivery teams. At the heart of her work is a commitment to building cultures that empower teams to meet user needs, creating the governance structures necessary for innovative, iterative change. She is a specialist in facilitating sensitive stakeholder relationships across the public sector, including the Police, Integrated Care Boards, and Local Authorities.

At PD, Sam is part of the team delivering the Bloomberg Philanthropies training and capacity building initiative to help metro mayors and their Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) accelerate progress and turn newly devolved and broader powers into tangible results for residents. Sam is also working on the second version of the Local Government’s Association’s Cyber Grab Bag and is a subject matter expert for the team delivering PD’s Transforming the Front Door offer to children’s services.

Prior to joining PD, Sam spent 15 years as a children’s social worker, practicing within local authorities and national organisations. Most recently, she served as the Head of Strategic Safeguarding and Independent Review at Nottinghamshire County Council. She has pioneered iterative, user-centred approaches to public sector change, from developing an Ofsted-praised operating model to leading AI adoption in operational teams.

Sam has been invited to speak at several national events, including a Cabinet Office launch, on the power of leading iterative change within the public sector. She is also a Chartered Manager with the CMI.

samantha.harris@public.digital