Connecting leaders: The Dolenni Digidol experience
Note: The following narrative is from a fictional attendee, drafted to give you a feel for what it’s like to join a Dolenni Digidol event. 
I hopped on the train heading to Cardiff Central just after 4.30 pm, bag in hand after a full day in the office. By 5pm, I was settling into a bustling room ready for our next Dolenni Digidol event on accessibility. Around me sat 30 fellow leaders: CEOs, directors, heads of service, and digital leads, each eager to share practical experiences over nibbles and drinks. Within minutes, microphones were plugged in, and the discussion was in full swing, with speakers sharing valuable insights and reflecting on lived experiences – reminding us why accessibility matters everywhere.
Connecting the digital leaders of today and tomorrow
From the welcome by CDPS' joint CEO, Harriet Green, you sense this isn’t just another event. Dolenni Digidol brings national priorities to our doorstep, prompting us to debate how accessibility, inclusion and user-centred design play out in our services and to challenge one another to scale proven approaches.
Real voices, real impact
From my seat I listened intently to Ellie, a Digital Communications Officer from Media Cymru who has ADHD. She opened up about her own struggles when public services missed the mark. She described the frustration of needing help just to book a GP appointment or renew a bus pass online, barriers that too often force people into dependence.
Then came that unforgettable line: "It’s okay to admit you’re doing things wrong and that you just need to improve – and there’s no harm in admitting that."
It was a penny-drop moment for every leader in the room: honesty and transparency are the first steps toward meaningful change.
Watch Ellie’s reflections
A network that grows with you
One of the things I value most about Dolenni Digidol is that it builds momentum. Leaders aren’t just attending once, they’re returning, contributing, and bringing others along with them. It was especially heartening to see fellow graduates from the CDPS Leading Modern Public Services programme sharing practical tools and insights that will ripple far beyond the room.
Leaders inspiring leaders
It’s not just peers who make these events powerful. Hearing directly from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales reminded us how vital it is to stay connected to the people shaping the wider policy landscape. She spoke about the importance of designing public services that work for everyone, not just the digitally confident, and how embedding accessibility from the outset can empower older people to manage their own lives online. Her call to “work in the open” wasn’t just inspiring, it was a challenge to every leader in the room to do better, together.
Watch the Older People’s Commissioner’s reflections.
What I took away:
- Swapping ideas with others: Swap strategies and solutions with senior colleagues tackling similar challenges.
- Stuff you can actually use: Leave with case studies, toolkits, and next steps you can apply immediately.
- Getting your voice heard: Take part in live Q&As or follow the event online, shaping the national conversation.
- Staying connected after the event: Continue building relationships with fellow leaders and the wider Leading Modern Public Services alumni community.
What’s next?
Dolenni Digidol continues its leadership networking series across Wales. The next stop is Europe's answer to Hollywood, Wrexham, where they’ll be demystifying AI for public service leaders. I won’t be able to attend in person, but thankfully Dolenni Digidol livestreams each event, helping make participation as accessible as possible.
- Wrexham – 4 June 2025
- Cardiff – 16 July 2025
- Carmarthen – 24 September 2025
- North Wales – 3 December 2025
Visit https://digitalpublicservices.gov.wales/courses-and-events/events to register.
Through the eyes of an attendee, Dolenni Digidol is more than an event, it’s a service to public sector leaders, connecting us with peers, policy and practice. Join us at the next Dolenni Digidol event, whether in person or online, and be part of the conversation.
