Sarah Norman has been Chief Executive of Barnsley Council since 2019, championing digital innovation and transforming the town’s economy. Under her leadership, Barnsley has become a pioneer in applying AI to public services, working closely with Microsoft as an early adopter of Copilot to enhance operations across the council. Her collaborative approach has delivered projects such as Health on the High Street and free bus travel for under 18s. Sarah also played a pivotal role in Barnsley being named the UK’s first Tech Town. Local schools, businesses, the NHS and other partners are now receiving bespoke government support to unlock the opportunities of AI. This work supports the town’s ambition to put AI to work in transforming public services and businesses, while blazing a trail for the rest of the UK to follow. In 2023, Barnsley was named Council of the Year at both the LGC and MJ Awards, recognising its regeneration and community impact.