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Visionary Voices

Advancing Public Sector Impact in an AI-Enabled World

From Data-Driven to Real-Time Intelligent Operations

Peter Drysdale
Director of ServiceNow Solutions, RGP Australia & New Zealand 

As public sector agencies across Australia and New Zealand face growing pressure to modernize with fewer resources, one question looms large: How can organizations deliver better, faster services without burning out their people or budgets? 

For Peter Drysdale, the answer lies in the transformation from data-driven to AI-enabled operations. In a recent Visionary Voices conversation, Peter discussed how clients can embrace intelligent automation, rewire workflows, and remove friction from service delivery—especially in large, complex government environments. 

Everyone wants to work smarter, not harder. Our role is to make that shift real—fast.

The Real Leap: From Insight to Action

Peter sees his clients shifting away from delayed analytics toward real-time intelligent operations. 

“In a data-driven model, you analyze, report, and react,” Peter says. “In an AI-enabled model, you decide and act instantly—because your systems are smart, your workflows are connected, and your data is live.” 

This shift, he notes, is changing how organizations think about technology. “AI is no longer mysterious. People are using it personally—to shop, travel, and get answers. Now they want that same power at work.” 

Yet for many organizations, the hardest part isn’t ambition—it’s activation. 

“The top pain point is knowing where to start,” Peter shares. “There’s excitement, but also confusion. AI brings up privacy, ethics, and IT security. Enterprises need to coordinate those conversations before they can execute.” 

Clients need to frame the opportunity, address risk and governance up front, and chart a practical roadmap for deploying AI responsibly. 

While AI and automation are in high demand, Peter points to cybersecurity as an equally critical focus—especially in government. 

“AI is exciting, but none of it matters if your systems and data aren’t secure.” 

 “It’s not just about preventing threats—it’s about understanding your risk profile in real time.” 

Advice: Start Small, Solve Real Problems 

When asked what advice he’d offer to leaders beginning their AI journey, Peter keeps it practical. 

“Start small. Find a real problem. Solve it. Then build from there.” 

He adds that in the public sector, ROI isn’t always about dollars. “It’s about outcomes. Is the service faster? Is the experience better? Are teams less burdened? That’s the value that resonates.” 

Making Complexity Invisible 

“Most clients I work with are dealing with fragmented systems—dozens of channels, touchpoints, and teams,” Peter says. “Customers expect seamless digital experiences, but the internal workings don’t support that. Sometimes just showing clients what’s possible changes everything,” he says. “You see their mindset shift from ‘we can’t’ to ‘we must.’ That’s when momentum begins.” 

If you’re ready to centralize and streamline how you manage client engagement, contact us. 

#PublicSectorInnovation#AIinGovernment#ServiceNowTransformation
#DigitalModernization#FutureOfWork#IntelligentAutomation

Visionary Voices is a segment of RGP’s LinkedIn newsletter, Mindshift. Each month we highlight a unique futurist who challenges us to think differently and to drive innovation. Mindshift also contains valuable research and curated content.

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