Our view on digital sovereignty
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Digital Sovereignty: choosing your future in a competitive world
Event: Panel discussion at Devex Impact House: the Capital Summit
This panel session, hosted by Devex and coinciding with the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC, features Lauren Kahn, Senior Director and Head of Global Impact; and James Stewart, Partner at Public Digital, authors of a new book: Digital Sovereignty: The Power to Decide, to be published in September.
The session will be moderated by Alan Robbins, Executive Vice President, Devex.
Overview
The speakers will be exploring some of the themes covered in the book, such as how nations can reclaim agency and control so that they have the autonomy and the ability to deliver for citizens; the structural reforms needed; the practical steps Heads of State and CEOS can take to build sovereign capacity; and what the international development community and institutional funders can do to support these efforts.
In an era shaped by the rapid ascent of AI and shifting geopolitics, the concept of "sovereignty" is being rewritten. Digital sovereignty is no longer a technical niche reserved for IT departments; it is a fundamental pillar of state agency and political self-determination. As traditional aid models give way to a "post-aid" reality, the ability of a state to control its digital infrastructure, data, and decision-making capacity has become the new frontier of governance.
As of 2026, over 90% of global AI data-centre capacity is concentrated within just two nations, even as the global AI market surges toward a $5 trillion valuation. For the majority of the world, particularly in the global south, the risk is no longer just a digital divide, but a "sovereignty divide." By framing digital sovereignty as a matter of political and economic survival, this session explores how nations can move from being passive "tech-takers" to active "tech-makers," ensuring that the digital age strengthens rather than erodes domestic agency.
Our speakers
- Lauren Kahn, Senior Director & Head of Global Impact, Public Digital
Lauren is a distinguished digital leader with over 20 years of experience driving societal impact through technology and innovation. As the Head of Global Impact at PD, she leads a team of multi-disciplinary experts who advise global governments and institutions - including multilateral development banks, UN agencies, and major philanthropic foundations - on achieving inclusive, responsible, and sustainable digital transformation at scale.
Lauren’s expertise sits at the critical intersection of digital technology, public impact, and global development. Her recent work has pioneered thought leadership on emerging global issues, including the ethics of AI, unlocking the value of digital public infrastructure, and the essential synergy between digital transformation and climate change agendas.
Before joining us, Lauren held senior digital leadership roles across the public and private sectors, including Deputy Director for Digital Strategy at the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Director of Responsible Technology at BT. A former academic and social researcher, she anchors her strategic approach in ethnographic insight and user-centric design. Lauren has frequently represented the UK on boards and steering committees for global partnerships convened by the World Bank, UN, and World Economic Forum.
- James Stewart, Partner, Public Digital
James is a Partner at PD and our Chief Technology Officer, advising global organisations on all aspects of digital change, from strategy to delivery. Drawing on 25 years of experience in leading technology teams and developing and operating digital services, he focuses on enabling digital transformation across the public and private sectors.
A recognised leader in Digital Public Infrastructure, James’ recent work has been with global institutions driving and funding digital change. He helps funders to develop strategies that equip governments to achieve development outcomes digitally and has worked with the World Bank, IMF, the Gates Foundation, UN agencies and regional development banks.
Before PD, James was a co-founder of the UK Government Digital Service (GDS), which played a key role in the creation of GOV.UK, the single website for the UK government. James led the government’s cloud, hosting, and networking policy, and contributed to the formation of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre.
James is passionate about embedding essential internet-era practices, such as agile delivery, user-centric design, and open source development, in organisations of all sizes and shapes. He frequently shares his insights and expertise as a public speaker and holds positions as a non-executive director.
