Environment Agency’s Kate Marks: “If You’re Not Uncomfortable, You’re Not Transforming Anything”
James
Dr Kate Marks OBE, Director of Service Transformation at the Environment Agency, is calling on public sector leaders to move beyond digital optimisation and embrace whole-service redesign as the new benchmark for transformation.
Speaking ahead of her participation in the upcoming Government Transformation Summit, Marks outlined the Agency’s 2025 priorities, which include:
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Scaling successful pilots to deliver lasting change in user experience
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Embedding transformation governance that balances ambition with delivery discipline
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Building capability across frontline and leadership teams, with a focus on agile, cross-functional ways of working
“We’re rethinking policy, process and technology together—not in silos,” said Marks. “That means strategy must act as a living, enabling framework, not a static document that sits apart from delivery.”
Marks, who will host the "Transformation Strategy" Discussion Table on the first day (24 June) of the Summit, is especially interested in hearing how peers across government are tackling shared challenges: sustaining transformation momentum beyond the first 6-12 months, aligning IT and business-led change under one vision, and designing governance that supports rather than constrains agility.
She offers a reminder that transformation is, by nature, disruptive:
“The best advice I’ve read is: If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not transforming anything. It’s a powerful reminder that real transformation means challenging entrenched assumptions - whether they’re tech stacks, operating models, or ways of thinking.”
Her session at Government Transformation Summit, alongside Defra Principal Architect Aravindhan Rajasekar, will be a chance for senior leaders across digital, policy, operations and technology to share practical approaches to co-owning transformation from day one.
Interested in joining the conversation?
Meet Dr Kate Marks and other senior public servants on 24 June at Church House Westminster - registration is free for civil servants, local government execs and other public servants.
