Technology Advisory Panel: Formation

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A decision made on 10 April 2019

Ministerial decision reference MD-C-2019-0044
Decision summary title: Formation of Technology Advisory Panel
Decision summary author	Digital Policy Adviser	Is the decision summary public or exempt?		Public
Report title: Technology Advisory Panel – Terms of Reference
Report author or name of person giving report	Group Director – Financial Services and Digital Economy	Is the report public or exempt?		Public
Decision and reason for the decision The Chief Minister decided to establish a Technology Advisory Panel (“TechAP”), which will support the formation and evolution of policy and legislation related to the government’s digital aspirations. The Panel will comprise representatives from the States of Jersey, States Assembly and Digital Jersey. Further co-opted members may be selected from time to time to add expertise in key focus areas including, but not limited to: Artificial Intelligence; Internet of Things; Smart Cities; Telecoms; Public utilities and infrastructure; Private sector. The Chief Minister also decided to appoint the following standing members to the Technology Advisory Panel: Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport & Culture (Chair); Minister for External Relations or Assistant Minister for External Relations; Deputy Rowland Huelin (alternate Chair); States Member (tbc) Lay Members (tbc)
Resource implications There are no resource implications
Action required Private Secretary to the Chief Minister to advise the Digital Policy Unit when this decision has been signed.
Signature			Position Senator J. Le Fondré Chief Minister

Date signed			Effective date of the decision

Formation of Technology Advisory Panel

Technology Advisory Panel

Terms of Reference

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Status

The Technology Advisory Panel (“TechAP”) is a non-statutory advisory body that comprises representation from Government, States Assembly, Digital Jersey and the digital sector.

Vision

The TechAP provides a forum for representatives from each stakeholder to discuss contemporary sector issues that influence or affect Jersey’s aspirations for a successful digital economy, increasingly digital society and a digital-first government.

Membership

The Chief Minister will be entitled to attend and act as a member of the TechAP.

Panel membership will comprise the following as standing members:

Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport & Culture (Chair);
Minister for External Relations or Assistant Minister for External Relations;
Deputy Rowland Huelin (alternate Chair);
States Member (tbc)
Chris Evans.

The Senior responsible officer will be:

Group Director, Financial Services & Digital Economy.

Executive support will consist of:

Director of Digital & Telecoms Policy;
Chief Executive of Digital Jersey.

Further co-opted members may be selected from time to time to add expertise in key focus areas including, but not limited to:

Artificial Intelligence;
Internet of Things;
Smart Cities;
Telecoms;
Public utilities and infrastructure;
Private sector.

Appointment and rotation

Standing members will hold their position on the Panel for the duration of their appointment to that role. Their participation in the group is on a non-remunerated basis.

Co-opted members and industry representatives (excluding Chief Executive of Digital Jersey) may sit on the TechAP for a period of three consecutive years before compulsory rotation.

Commitment and attendance

TechAP members are required to send apologies should they be unable to attend a meeting, as well as ensure that responses to any action points they have committed to from the prior meeting be submitted in advance.

If a co-opted member or industry representative is unable to attend two meetings in a row, they may be asked to reconsider their capacity to continue contributing to the group.

Quorum

Meetings will only be held where a quorum of TechAP members are present.

For this purpose, a quorum means at least five members and must include the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport & Culture or the Minister for External Relations and one of the Group Director, Financial Services & Digital Economy and Director of Digital & Telecoms Policy.

Purpose

The primary purpose of TechAP is to operate as an advisory group providing a forum in which representatives can share information with the States of Jersey and support the formation and evolution of relevant policies and legislation that support the digital aspirations of government.

TechAP is an advisory forum not a decision making body.

Guiding principles

Central to TechAP’s method of working is a tripartite relationship between Government, the States Assembly and Digital Jersey to ensure delivery and further development of the strategy for the digital aspirations of Jersey. The Digital Policy Framework will provide an initial reference point for this work.

Work undertaken by TechAP shall be aligned to delivery of the prevailing Council of Ministers Common Strategic Policy, Future Jersey objectives and pre-agreed strategies on Telecoms and Cybersecurity.

TechAP will support and monitor initiatives that contribute to its objectives and will communicate and consult with stakeholders as appropriate.

Operating parameters

The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport & Culture will chair TechAP or, in his absence, Deputy Huelin.

The agenda will be informed by its members, constructed by its Secretariat, and agreed by the Chair.

Should critical issues emerge between meetings, an ad hoc meeting can be held or papers circulated to which responses are required.

TechAP is an advisory forum not a decision making body and does not override the relevant governance mechanisms of participating stakeholders.

Meetings

TechAP will meet bi-monthly.

The Secretariat will produce minutes of the meeting and the action points arising from each meeting.