Talking 5 with Local Public Services Member Box

This month's Talking 5 guest is Murtaza Masood, Vice President & Managing Director, Global Public Sector at Box

Talking 5 with Local Public Services Member Box Each month, techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services, Georgina Maratheftis, interviews a member active in the local government space about their vision for the future of local public services and where digital can make a real difference to people and society. This month we talk to Murtaza Masood, Vice President & Managing Director, Global Public Sector at Box about reimagining local public services through trusted data, content and AI

Welcome Murtaza. Firstly, tell me more about you, your career and how you got to this position today?

My career has always been about helping governments deliver better outcomes through technology. My time inside local government at Los Angeles County—one of the world’s largest public organizations—where I served as CIO and led digital modernization across critical public services. That experience shaped my belief that technology must bridge people, process, and policy to truly transform government. Today, as Global Managing Director for Public Sector at Box, I help governments and education institutions worldwide modernize securely, harness AI responsibly, and simplify how they manage and collaborate on information. I’m passionate about connecting vision with execution so public sector teams can move faster, serve better, and build trust in digital government.

What is the greatest opportunity for local government when it comes to digital?

In the AI first era, local governments can really reimagine their operating model. They can move beyond the simple digitisation of legacy processes and instead build responsive services grounded in trusted data, intelligent content, and AI-enabled processes. This creates the foundation for a more human-centric experience for both residents and employees. For residents, it means services that are easier to access, more connected, and designed around real-life needs rather than organisational silos. For employees, it means better access to information, less time spent on repetitive administration, and more capacity to focus on high-value work that improves outcomes for communities.

For too long, digital transformation in local government has been defined by front-end portals and point solutions. The next leap forward comes from connecting content, automating repetitive work, and giving staff instant access to the right information at the right time. I explore that in more detail in my blog, Unlocking the power of content to drive AI insight and trust.

The real opportunity is to build a digital foundation that improves both efficiency and trust. That means fewer silos, smarter workflows, better use of data, and AI that helps staff serve with confidence. In local government, digital transformation should strengthen service, accountability, and public trust.

What is your vision for the future of local public services and places?

I see a future where local public services are powered by seamless government-to-government collaboration and secure information flow across jurisdictions, agencies, and departments rather than constrained by legacy processes and technology. Public services will anticipate citizen needs and serve people close to where they live or work through whole-person models of care and support.

The foundation will be secure, AI-ready platforms that enable innovation while safeguarding public data. Every interaction should feel connected — whether it’s housing, health, or waste management — with citizens at the center and technology as an enabler. Ultimately, this vision is about creating digital places where public service is as seamless and responsive as the best private sector experiences, but built on public values of inclusion, transparency, privacy and accountability.

techUK - Transforming Public Services

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techUK members are transforming public services in the UK. Our community help to shape a smarter, digitally empowered public sector.

techUK drives public sector digital transformation by uniting the public sector and tech industry. Through early market engagement, efficient procurement, and innovative technology adoption, we help to modernise legacy IT, and enable efficient, secure, and personalised services.

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