REGISTER TO WATCH

Bússola Tech will host an international panel discussion bringing together senior parliamentary officials from Brazil, Canada, Portugal, and the United Kingdom to examine one of the defining challenges facing modern legislatures: why some digital transformation initiatives produce lasting institutional change while others fail to achieve their objectives. Titled “Why Digital Transformation Projects Succeed in Parliaments: Building the Foundations for AI,” the session will explore the governance, organisational, financial, and technological foundations that enable parliaments to modernise effectively while preparing for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence.

Moderated by Mr. Luís Kimaid, Executive-Director of Bússola Tech, the discussion will focus on the strategic decisions that determine the success of transformation programmes long before technology is procured or implemented. Drawing on practical experience from parliamentary administrations with different institutional structures and levels of digital maturity, the panel will examine how legislatures can define realistic modernisation strategies, assess organisational readiness, secure political and administrative support, establish effective governance frameworks, and ensure that transformation programmes remain aligned with institutional priorities despite changes in parliamentary leadership or electoral cycles.

Participants will also discuss one of the most difficult challenges facing parliamentary administrations: balancing immediate operational needs with long-term institutional transformation. The conversation will explore how legislatures can sequence investments, identify initiatives capable of delivering visible improvements in the short term, and simultaneously sustain large-scale projects that may require several years to implement. The panel will examine how parliamentary leaders can demonstrate the value of digital transformation to Members, senior management and staff while maintaining institutional commitment throughout lengthy implementation processes.

As Artificial Intelligence rapidly becomes part of the parliamentary technology landscape, the discussion will further examine how today’s architectural decisions will shape tomorrow’s capabilities. Speakers will consider how legislative information management systems should be designed to ensure interoperability, flexibility and long-term sustainability, allowing parliaments to integrate future AI tools without repeatedly rebuilding their digital infrastructure. Particular attention will be given to structured legislative data, open standards such as Akoma Ntoso, interoperability between parliamentary systems, and the importance of preserving data quality, institutional ownership and semantic integrity as essential prerequisites for meaningful AI applications.

The panel will also address the strategic choices surrounding proprietary and open technologies, the risks associated with fragmented digital ecosystems, and the institutional importance of avoiding vendor lock-in while maintaining full control over parliamentary information assets. Rather than presenting technology as an end in itself, the discussion will examine how digital transformation can strengthen legislative effectiveness, improve institutional resilience, and create sustainable foundations capable of supporting future innovation.

The discussion will feature the following distinguished participants:

• Mr. João Gouveia – IT Coordinator of the Interlegis Programme at the Federal Senate of Brazil

• Mr. Bruno Thomasi – Chief Executive Officer of Govsys

• Ms. Sandra Costa – Secretary-General of the Parlamento Regional dos Açores | Portugal

• Ms. Mary-Ellen Nutt – IT Director at the Northern Ireland Assembly | United Kingdom

• Mr. Roberto Eberhardt – IT Director at the Ontario Legislative Assembly | Canada

This panel will provide participants with practical insights and comparative experiences for building the institutional foundations that enable successful modernisation. Whether a parliament is beginning its digital transformation journey or preparing its legislative information systems for Artificial Intelligence, the discussion will offer valuable perspectives on how to develop resilient, future-ready institutions capable of adapting to technological change while preserving parliamentary autonomy, continuity, and democratic integrity.

REGISTER TO WATCH

REGISTER HERE

Bússola Tech will host a panel discussion about “Cybersecurity in the AI Era: Protecting Parliamentary Operations and Institutional Continuity”. The panel will provide a space for dialogue on how legislatures can strengthen their cyber resilience while preserving the openness, independence, and continuity of their constitutional functions.

The participants will offer their insights and practical expertise. The discussion, moderated by Mr. Luís Kimaid, Executive-Director of Bússola Tech, will explore the cybersecurity foundations that parliaments should establish before expanding the use of Artificial Intelligence, how legislatures can prepare to maintain institutional continuity during major cyber incidents, and the governance measures required to strengthen cyber resilience across parliamentary administrations.

The panel will also examine how parliaments can balance cybersecurity with political autonomy, institutional transparency, and long-established parliamentary practices. Participants will discuss strategies for embedding cybersecurity into parliamentary governance, fostering a security-conscious institutional culture, and ensuring that democratic institutions remain resilient in an increasingly complex digital environment.

The panel will feature the following participants:

• Ms. Addie Adeniji, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. House of Representatives

• Mr. Daniel Niero, Executive Director at El Canary Privacy & Ethics

• Mr. Esteban Sánchez, Chief of Development Projects at the Chamber of Deputies of Chile

• Ms. Kerry-Ann Barrett, Chief of the Cybersecurity Section at the Organization of American States

• Ms. Sara Fernandes, Director of Information Security at the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal

This panel discussion will examine the strategic decisions that enable parliaments to strengthen cybersecurity and safeguard institutional continuity in the AI era.

REGISTER HERE

Photos of the event at the end of the publication.

Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil — 14–15 May 2026 — Bússola Tech and the Legislative Assembly of the State of Espírito Santo concluded the second edition of LegisTech: Modernisation of Devolved and Subnational Parliaments, held in Vitória on May 14th-15th, 2026.

The two-day international meeting brought together parliamentary leaders, secretaries-general, legislative counsel, technology specialists to examine the practical conditions required for modernising devolved, state, provincial, regional and subnational legislatures.

Hosted by the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, LegisTech Vitória brought together institutional experiences from Brazil, South Africa, Canada, Portugal, Scotland, Australia, Germany, Argentina and the United States. The programme addressed digital legislative processes, artificial intelligence strategies, parliamentary data, interoperability, legislative drafting, synthetic media and disinformation, legacy systems, governance, long-term planning and comparative modernisation experiences.

Rather than treating artificial intelligence as an isolated technological development, the event considered the wider institutional conditions required for responsible transformation: structured data, human oversight, procedural integrity, information security, staff capacity, accessibility, public trust, continuity and sustainable investment.

Official Opening

LegisTech Vitória was opened by Marcelo Santos, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo; Marcos Aquino, Director of Transparency, Innovation and Special Projects at the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo; and Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech. The opening also included remarks by Giuliano Nader, Secretary for Institutional Relations at the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo.

Presentation: IA.LES — Artificial Intelligence Programme of the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo

The first presentation of the event introduced IA.LES, the Artificial Intelligence Programme of the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo.

The presentation was delivered by Marcos Aquino; Carlos Eduardo Casa Grande, Secretary-General of the Board of the Legislative Assembly; Patricia Freire, Legislative Analyst; and Grimaldo Cruz, Director of Information Technology.

IA.LES was presented as an institutional programme designed to integrate artificial intelligence into the work of the Legislative Assembly through governance, staff participation, transparency, public accessibility and human oversight.

The programme includes initiatives to make bills, legislation and parliamentary information more understandable to citizens; improve public access to parliamentary content; support the automation of repetitive internal activities; modernise administrative services; and create more efficient internal workflows.

The presentation also highlighted the Assembly’s approach to responsible AI implementation. Rather than treating AI as a simple product acquisition or an isolated software deployment, IA.LES was presented as a structured institutional agenda involving governance mechanisms, technical teams, public servants, institutional committees, traceability, security and accountability.

Presentation: Modernisation Case of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament

The second presentation examined the modernisation experience of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament of South Africa.

It was delivered by Clarence Esau, Senior Information Technology Strategist, and Coby Skriker, Manager of Information Technology and Digital Services.

The Western Cape case explored how a comparatively small parliamentary administration can develop ambitious digital services through strategic planning, partnerships, internal capacity-building and clear governance arrangements.

The presentation addressed the relationship between technology, people and institutional processes. It considered information architecture, records management, metadata, taxonomies, sensitivity labels, data stewards, service-level agreements, hybrid sourcing models and the need to ensure that digital transformation reaches the daily work of parliamentary departments.

The Western Cape Provincial Parliament also shared practical examples involving digital services, unified communications, training, staff development, information governance and the progressive introduction of technologies capable of supporting more integrated parliamentary operations.

Panel Discussion: First Steps Towards a Digital Legislative Process

The first panel discussion, First Steps Towards a Digital Legislative Process, was moderated by Luís Kimaid.

The panellists were Marcos Aquino; François Gagnon, Research Coordinator of the Public Administration Committee of the National Assembly of Québec; Andy Beattie, Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Scotland; Danilo Aguiar, Secretary-General of the Board of the Federal Senate of Brazil; and Ornela Flavia Vanzillotta, Director of International Relations at the Legislature of Buenos Aires.

The panel examined the institutional starting point for legislative digital transformation. Participants discussed the fact that digitising parliamentary activity is not limited to introducing new software or transferring paper procedures into electronic systems.

The discussion considered how rules of procedure, institutional practices, legislative workflows, parliamentary customs, political agreements and administrative routines must be mapped before they are translated into digital systems.

Andy Beattie emphasised that parliamentary procedure is not merely an administrative workflow, but a democratic and constitutional process shaped by institutional history, convention, political culture and public accountability. The panel considered the need to preserve transparency, procedural integrity, legislative traceability, the rights of Members and minorities, and the legitimacy of parliamentary decisions when designing digital systems.

François Gagnon addressed the contribution of parliamentary libraries, research services and information professionals to digital transformation. He highlighted that legislative institutions produce extensive bodies of institutional knowledge through committees, research services, legislative drafting offices, debates, amendments, reports and procedural records. The challenge is not only to store this information but to organise it in ways that make it accessible, reusable and useful for evidence-based legislation.

Danilo Aguiar discussed the Federal Senate’s experience in building structured digital processes and using technology to strengthen parliamentary services. Ornela Flavia Vanzillotta reflected on the importance of institutional mapping, achievable projects and staff involvement in the design of reforms. Marcos Aquino stressed that digital transformation must be measured by whether it improves the service delivered to citizens and respects constitutional, procedural and institutional requirements.

Presentation: Modernisation Case of the Parliament of the Azores

Sandra Costa, Secretary-General of the Parliament of the Azores, presented the modernisation experience of the autonomous Portuguese legislature.

Her presentation examined how the geography of the Azores, an archipelago composed of nine islands, shaped the Parliament’s early reliance on digital communication, electronic workflows, remote collaboration and online access to parliamentary activity.

Sandra Costa described how the Parliament gradually moved from paper-based procedures to digital communication, electronic document management, databases, online services, semantic search, web transmission and digital workflows. The presentation also considered the role of political support, change management and institutional adaptation in maintaining long-term modernisation initiatives.

The Parliament of the Azores shared experiences with automatic transcription, captioning, search tools, artificial intelligence-assisted summarisation, workflow automation, facial recognition, centralised management of dispersed facilities and AI-supported coding.

A central part of the presentation addressed the Parliament’s work on knowledge management, including the development of structured institutional information, APIs, semantic relationships, ontologies and retrieval-augmented generation systems. The objective is to allow parliamentary users to access interconnected institutional knowledge rather than isolated documents.

Presentation: LegisPro Case of Xcential Legislative Technologies — Data-Driven Legislative Drafting

Grant Vergottini, CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies, presented the LegisPro case on data-driven legislative drafting.

The presentation focused on the importance of treating legislative information as structured, interoperable and reusable data rather than as static documents designed solely for human reading.

Grant Vergottini examined how legislative drafting systems can support the preparation, amendment, publication and management of legislation while strengthening consistency, traceability, version control and the capacity of institutions to exchange information across systems.

The presentation also addressed the implications of AI for legislative content. It highlighted the importance of designing information systems that serve not only end users but also search engines, automated systems and future AI tools. Legislative institutions must consider how official content is published, structured and made discoverable so that authoritative parliamentary information is not displaced by unofficial or misleading external sources.

The LegisPro case demonstrated that structured legal information, including XML-based standards and legislative models, is a critical foundation for future AI-supported legislative work.

Panel Discussion: Long-Term Planning for the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Subnational Parliaments

The final panel of the first day addressed Long-Term Planning for the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Subnational Parliaments.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, the panel brought together Sandra Costa; Moises Benamor, Chief of the Parliament Section at the Organization of American States; Bernice Watson, Director of Chamber and Committee Services at the Parliament of Queensland; Carlos Eduardo Casa Grande; and Juan de Dios Cincunegui, Director of the School of Parliaments at Austral University in Argentina.

The panel examined how parliaments can ensure that modernisation initiatives survive changes in political leadership, institutional priorities, administrative structures and budget cycles.

Participants discussed the risks of isolated pilot projects, short-term funding, fragmented procurement, insufficient infrastructure and the discontinuity that can arise when technology initiatives are not anchored in broader institutional strategies.

Moises Benamor examined the relationship between AI, institutional trust, political legitimacy and long-term investment. He highlighted the importance of stable funding, clear institutional responsibilities, sustained planning and the ability to avoid cycles of underinvestment that lead to weak infrastructure, obsolete systems and reduced public confidence.

Sandra Costa reflected on the balance between preserving valuable parliamentary traditions and avoiding the preservation of practices that no longer serve a functional institutional purpose. She emphasised the need to adopt technology carefully, with attention to reliability, transparency, cybersecurity, ethics and public trust.

Bernice Watson discussed the operational perspective of a subnational parliament, including the need to build sustainable services for Members, committees, reporting, broadcasting, education, libraries, compliance and external relations. Carlos Eduardo Casa Grande presented the experience of Espírito Santo in building long-term institutional support for digital transformation. Juan de Dios Cincunegui examined the political, administrative, procedural and normative conditions required for an AI strategy to become a lasting institutional policy rather than a temporary initiative.

Panel Discussion: Parliamentary Data Structuring - Data Standards and Recommendations for Integration with Artificial Intelligence

The second day began with a panel discussion on Parliamentary Data Structuring: Data Standards and Recommendations for Integration with Artificial Intelligence.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, the panel included Aleksandar Savanovic, Head of Digitisation in the Digital Parliament Unit of the Legislature of Baden-Württemberg; Roberto Eberhardt, IT Director of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; Juliano Bringer, CIO of Ágape Consultoria; Grant Vergottini; and Coby Skriker.

The discussion addressed the distinction between parliamentary information that is merely digitised or available online and information that is properly structured, semantically meaningful, machine-readable, governed and suitable for AI use.

Roberto Eberhardt discussed the importance of structured data for repeatability, accuracy and contextualisation in AI systems. He examined how structured information can support retrieval-augmented generation and allow institutions to connect otherwise fragmented resources.

Grant Vergottini reflected on the evolution of public legislative information systems and the risks created when official institutions fail to publish data in formats suitable for modern search engines and AI systems. He argued that legislatures must consider not only how information looks to human users, but also how it can be interpreted and retrieved by automated technologies.

Coby Skriker addressed information architecture, taxonomies, controlled vocabularies, metadata, records management, sensitivity classifications and organisational data stewardship. He stressed the importance of assigning both technical and functional responsibility for data within each parliamentary department.

Juliano Bringer examined the challenge of interoperability across legislative systems. He discussed the need to structure legal texts, relationships among laws, amendments, revocations and procedural information so that AI tools can interpret legislative content accurately. He also emphasised that parliamentary information should be designed for machine consumption as well as human reading.

Aleksandar Savanovic reflected on the need to build shared institutional awareness of data issues across technical and non-technical departments. He described the challenge of ensuring that legal, administrative, operational and service-delivery decisions do not unintentionally create gaps in the parliamentary data environment.

Presentation: Apoia Project — Artificial Intelligence Suite of the Federal Senate of Brazil

Danilo Aguiar presented the Apoia Project, the Artificial Intelligence Suite of the Federal Senate of Brazil.

The presentation examined the Senate’s approach to AI through three complementary pathways: training and responsible use by public servants; centrally coordinated strategic projects; and decentralised solutions developed by individual departments to improve specific processes.

The Apoia Project includes tools and initiatives related to speech-to-text services, transcription review, vocabulary management, simplification of legislative language, document classification, committee referral support, biometric and identity verification solutions, internal information retrieval and analytical support for complex parliamentary materials.

Danilo Aguiar highlighted the Senate’s use of speech-to-text technology to support parliamentary transcription. The system combines automated transcription with human review, glossary development and feedback mechanisms that improve recognition of names, technical terms and recurring parliamentary vocabulary.

The presentation also addressed AI-supported plain-language explanations of legislative content. These tools aim to improve public access to parliamentary information while preserving neutrality and avoiding the introduction of unintended political bias.

The Federal Senate’s experience reinforced the importance of staff training, institutional guidance, data protection, quality control, transparent governance and the principle that AI should support, rather than replace, human judgement.

Presentation: Impact of Disinformation in Subnational Parliaments — The Use of Synthetic Media

Moises Benamor presented Impact of Disinformation in Subnational Parliaments: The Use of Synthetic Media.

The presentation examined the growing risks associated with manipulated audiovisual content, synthetic media, misinformation and the changing digital environment in which parliaments communicate with citizens.

Moises Benamor considered how AI may affect public trust in democratic institutions. He stressed that the challenge is not simply whether parliaments adopt artificial intelligence, but whether they do so in ways that preserve transparency, institutional accountability, the separation of powers and democratic norms.

It also highlighted the need for parliaments to understand the relationship between technological modernisation and public legitimacy. Technology can strengthen institutional capacity, but it does not automatically generate trust. Trust depends on the quality of democratic institutions, transparency, procedural credibility and the responsible use of technology.

Presentation: State of Modernisation of State Legislative Power in the United States

William Clark, Programme Director at the National Conference of State Legislatures, presented the State of Modernisation of State Legislative Power in the United States.

The presentation examined the varied modernisation trajectories of U.S. state legislatures, including differences in institutional structure, staff capacity, technology environments, legislative calendars, procurement arrangements and internal governance.

William Clark presented evidence on the increasing use of generative AI tools by legislative staff. He noted that research, editing, communication, summarisation, transcription, coding and document drafting are among the most common practical applications emerging across legislatures.

The presentation also considered the reality that many legislative staff use AI tools independently, often through personally acquired licences rather than institutionally managed systems. This development increases the importance of clear guidance, staff training, enterprise-level governance, privacy safeguards and institutional policies.

William Clark discussed the operational challenge of modernising complex environments in which state legislatures often rely on a mixture of internally developed systems, vendor-based applications, separate House and Senate technology environments and services managed in cooperation with other branches of government.

The presentation underlined that successful AI adoption depends on developing practical use cases, testing them carefully, demonstrating institutional value and scaling responsibly.

Presentation: Current State of Modernisation in the Argentina Provincial Legislatures

Juan de Dios Cincunegui presented the Current State of Modernisation in the Argentina Provincial Legislatures.

The presentation addressed the diversity of provincial legislative institutions in Argentina and the importance of building networks for training, institutional learning, professional development and comparative exchange.

Juan de Dios Cincunegui considered the relationship among digitalisation, open parliament, public participation, transparency and AI-assisted legislative work. He distinguished between basic digitisation initiatives, broader open-parliament strategies and the more complex challenges associated with artificial intelligence in legislative processes.

The presentation also considered key democratic questions raised by AI. These included the auditability of systems, citizens’ right to understand which technologies have influenced institutional processes and the technological sovereignty of subnational legislatures that rely on infrastructure developed by major global technology companies.

Presentation: Modernisation Case of the Legislature of Baden-Württemberg

Aleksandar Savanovic presented the modernisation case of the Legislature of Baden-Württemberg in Germany.

The presentation explored the work of the Digital Parliament Unit and the importance of building a shared institutional understanding of digitalisation, structured data and AI readiness.

Aleksandar Savanovic discussed how parliament can be understood as a complex institutional platform in which many departments produce, manage and rely on information. He noted that data issues cannot be left only to technical teams, since legal professionals, administrative services, catering, event management, committee support and operational departments all make decisions that may affect the quality, availability and structure of parliamentary information.

The Baden-Württemberg case highlighted the need to create a common organisational narrative around the value of data. The objective is to ensure that non-technical staff understand that data governance affects parliamentary capacity, operational continuity and the ability of future systems to support institutional work.

Panel Discussion: Integration of Artificial Intelligence Tools with Legacy Systems in Devolved and Subnational Parliaments

The final panel discussion addressed Integration of Artificial Intelligence Tools with Legacy Systems in Devolved and Subnational Parliaments.

Moderated by Juliano Bringer, the panel included Grimaldo Cruz; William Clark; Clarence Esau; and Carlos Eduardo Brandão, CEO of Intelliway.

The discussion considered the challenge facing most parliamentary institutions: AI adoption must often occur while legacy systems remain essential to daily parliamentary activity.

Grimaldo Cruz discussed the impact of fragmented data, inconsistent records, old databases and systems that were not designed to support modern interoperability. He emphasised that AI cannot operate reliably where data is not structured, aligned and governed.

Clarence Esau addressed the importance of leadership support, institutional buy-in, user adoption and the need to balance the exposure of existing systems through APIs with the practical capacity of parliaments to maintain those systems securely.

William Clark examined the particular complexity of U.S. legislative environments, where House and Senate systems can be separate, technology responsibilities may be distributed across institutions and legislative services often depend on a mixture of vendors, internal applications and long-standing contracts. He argued that iterative integration is often more realistic than wholesale replacement.

Carlos Eduardo Brandão considered the risks created by legacy infrastructure, including cybersecurity vulnerabilities, isolated data silos and systems that were not designed to provide structured information to AI tools. He outlined a hybrid approach in which parliaments evaluate institutional risk, the stability of existing systems, data readiness and the possibility of introducing intermediary layers or new services.

The panel also examined whether AI should be used to extend existing legacy systems or whether it should become a trigger for rebuilding core applications. Participants concluded that no single answer applies to every parliamentary environment. In some cases, modern APIs, data layers and gradual integration may be appropriate. In others, replacing an obsolete system may be necessary. The choice must be based on institutional risk, continuity requirements, data quality, security, cost and the criticality of each service.

Presentation: LawMaker Case of the Parliamentary Counsel of Scotland

Andy Beattie presented the LawMaker Case of the Parliamentary Counsel of Scotland.

The presentation addressed the role of digital legislative drafting systems in improving the preparation, amendment, management and publication of legislation.

The LawMaker case examined how structured legislative content can support legislative counsel, parliamentary staff, Members and the public. It also considered the need for systems that can preserve the legal and procedural context of legislative material while improving the accessibility and usability of information.

Andy Beattie reflected on the importance of continuous improvement in legislative drafting and the potential of digital systems to improve legislative quality, institutional memory, transparency and public understanding of the law.

The presentation also considered the future relationship between structured legislative systems and AI tools. It stressed that high-quality, reliable legal information requires careful governance, confidentiality protections, secure environments and a clear understanding of the problems that technology is intended to solve.

Presentation: Modernisation Case of the Parliament of Queensland

Bernice Watson presented the modernisation case of the Parliament of Queensland in Australia.

The presentation examined the operational responsibilities of parliamentary services supporting the Chamber, committees, reporting and broadcasting, education, libraries, research, information management, legal compliance and external relations.

Bernice Watson reflected on the realities of modernisation in a subnational parliament, where institutional teams must often deliver a broad range of services with limited staffing and resources. Her presentation emphasised the role of practical organisational design, collaboration across services, staff development, operational continuity and sustained attention to the needs of Members and citizens.

The Queensland case reinforced that parliamentary modernisation is not the responsibility of a technology department alone. It requires engagement from those responsible for procedure, committees, reporting, information management, public education, research, compliance and institutional operations.

Presentation: Modernisation Case of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Roberto Eberhardt presented the modernisation case of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Canada.

The presentation addressed a practical approach to the use of AI and parliamentary information systems. It considered how digital tools can help Members and staff navigate complex repositories of institutional documents without necessarily attempting to replace human expertise or redesign every existing service.

Roberto Eberhardt shared examples of AI-supported information retrieval and document navigation, including approaches that improve the accessibility of internal resources while maintaining established user environments.

The Ontario case demonstrated that not every institutional application of AI needs to begin as a major strategic transformation. Carefully designed, targeted solutions can address concrete operational problems and improve the usability of institutional knowledge.

The presentation also addressed the need to evaluate whether a proposed technology solves a genuine institutional problem, respects confidentiality and supports the actual needs of parliamentary users.

Presentation: Modernisation Case of the National Assembly of Québec

François Gagnon presented the modernisation case of the National Assembly of Québec.

The presentation focused on the National Assembly’s approach to AI governance, staff consultation, parliamentary libraries, research services, information management and responsible institutional experimentation.

François Gagnon described the Assembly’s creation of a multidisciplinary working group on artificial intelligence, involving staff from across the institution. The process included consultations with approximately 190 employees and led to governance documents addressing the responsible use of AI, accountability, security of information assets, equity, non-discrimination, transparency, staff development and human autonomy.

The National Assembly of Québec also established an intersectoral committee on artificial intelligence, bringing together representatives from information technology, communications, parliamentary affairs, library services and other administrative units. The committee supports institutional monitoring, staff training, risk documentation and coordinated reflection on AI-related developments.

The presentation emphasised the central role of parliamentary libraries and research services. These units are not only repositories of information but also institutional specialists in classification, evaluation, verification and knowledge organisation. The Québec case showed how these services can help parliaments respond to new demands, including fact-checking AI-generated material and advising users on the productive and responsible use of emerging tools.

Presentation: Modernisation Case of the Legislature of Buenos Aires

Ornela Flavia Vanzillotta presented the modernisation case of the Legislature of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Ornela Flavia Vanzillotta reflected on the transition toward electronic files, remote sessions, digital signatures, internal management systems, transparency initiatives and public access to parliamentary information. She also acknowledged the operational reality that digitisation is often incomplete, with processes sometimes retaining paper-based requirements even after electronic systems are introduced.

The presentation distinguished among three connected but separate dimensions of parliamentary modernisation: digitisation, open parliament and artificial intelligence. Digitisation includes electronic records, digital signatures, remote proceedings and internal systems. Open parliament involves transparency, open data and citizen participation. AI-assisted legislative work includes areas such as bill analysis, normative systematisation, drafting support and regulatory impact assessment.

A Shared Agenda for Subnational Parliamentary Modernisation

The event showed that there is no single path to a digital parliament. Institutions operate under different constitutional frameworks, procedural traditions, budgets, technology environments, staff structures and political realities.

However, the discussions also demonstrated a shared agenda. Parliamentary institutions must strengthen digital legislative processes, structure and govern their data, preserve transparency and procedural integrity, invest in staff capacity, manage legacy systems responsibly, develop sustainable strategies and ensure that artificial intelligence remains subject to human judgement, institutional oversight and democratic accountability.

By bringing together practical cases, technical expertise and institutional perspectives from multiple jurisdictions, LegisTech Vitória strengthened an international community of practice committed to making devolved and subnational legislatures more resilient, accessible, transparent and prepared for the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence.

Join our Newsletter

Photos of the event

Co-Organized by

Photos of the event at the end of the publication.

Dublin, Ireland — Bússola Tech and the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Parliament of Ireland, have concluded the 2026 edition of LegisTech: Modernisation in Parliaments – AI as a Tool for Modernisation, held from 3 to 5 June in Dublin.

The three-day international conference brought together senior parliamentary officials, secretaries-general, clerks, legislative counsel, technology leaders, public-sector innovators, academics and institutional partners from legislative institutions across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania. The programme examined how parliaments can adopt artificial intelligence responsibly while strengthening the institutional foundations required for sustainable digital transformation.

Across plenary panels, technical discussions, thematic breakout sessions and demonstrations of parliamentary digital systems, LegisTech 2026 addressed the full ecosystem required for modernisation: digital maturity assessment; modular and interoperable platforms; agentic artificial intelligence; data governance and standards; AI-ready legislative data; cybersecurity; incident response; continuity planning; accessibility; communications; disinformation; institutional guardrails; legislative procedure; ex-post legislative scrutiny; legacy systems; financial planning; infrastructure; and political and administrative support for long-term transformation.

The conference opened with remarks from Ciarán Doyle, Assistant Secretary of the Houses of the Oireachtas; Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech; and José Pedro Montero, President of the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments (ASGP) and Secretary-General of the Cámara de Senadores of Uruguay. Their participation established the institutional character of the event: artificial intelligence and digital modernisation were considered not as isolated technology projects, but as long-term parliamentary priorities involving governance, procedure, human capacity, infrastructure and democratic legitimacy.

Building the Digital Foundations for Modern Parliaments

The first day focused on the structural, organisational and technological foundations of parliamentary modernisation.

A panel on the modularisation, integration and tailoring of digital platforms and services in parliaments was moderated by Luís Kimaid and brought together Neemias Muachendo, IT Director at the Assembleia Nacional of Angola; Kirsten Gullickson, Director of Systems Analysis and Quality Assurance at the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives; Mairéad Keating, Head of Parliamentary Business Systems Development at the Houses of the Oireachtas; and Juliano Bringer, CIO at Ágape Consulting. The discussion considered how legislative institutions can move away from fragmented systems and towards interoperable, adaptable and sustainable digital services capable of supporting parliamentary business over time.

The programme then addressed the growing relevance of agentic artificial intelligence in parliamentary environments. Moderated by Ciarán Doyle, the session included Ahto Saks, Administrative Director at the Parliament of Estonia; Stephen Dwyer, Senior Innovation Director at the U.S. House of Representatives; Bruno Thomasi, CEO of Govsys; and Kieran McCorry, National Technology Officer at Microsoft. The panel considered the implications of increasingly autonomous AI-enabled systems for institutional workflows, service delivery, governance and accountability.

The first morning concluded with a session on the evaluation of digital maturity in parliamentary business and services, moderated by Ludovic Delepine, Head of IT Governance and Enterprise Architecture at the European Parliament. The discussion featured Fotis Fitsilis, Head of Scientific Documentation and Supervision at the Hellenic Parliament; Ciarán Doyle; and Fuat Bayramoglu, Legislative Expert at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Participants examined the importance of assessing institutional readiness before pursuing advanced technology initiatives, including the maturity of data, processes, governance arrangements, skills and digital infrastructure.

The afternoon thematic trails allowed participants to deepen the discussion in smaller working environments.

The Governance and Administration trail was chaired by Ciarán Doyle and featured contributions from Kirsten Gullickson; Mary Tougher, Programme Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas; Fuat Bayramoglu; and Daniel Schuman, Executive Director of the American Governance Institute. The discussion examined the administrative structures, leadership arrangements and institutional decision-making processes necessary to support digital transformation.

A parallel session on the use of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity to combat AI-powered attacks was chaired by Fotis Fitsilis. It brought together Graeme Smith, Cybersecurity Programme Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas; Jack Turner, Cybersecurity Governance, Risk and Compliance Officer at the Houses of the Oireachtas; and Franklin De Vrieze, Head of Practice Accountability at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The session addressed the need for parliamentary institutions to prepare for increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, including attacks enabled or accelerated by artificial intelligence.

The third trail, on innovation and AI-assisted development of digital solutions in parliaments, was chaired by Colm Kealy, Programme Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas. Speakers included Cillian Hamel, Data and AI Consultant at the Houses of the Oireachtas; Juliano Bringer; and Ludovic Delepine. The discussion explored the operational conditions through which parliaments can experiment, develop, test and scale new digital solutions while preserving institutional continuity and security.

Data, Digital Services, Cybersecurity and Institutional Guardrails

The second day placed particular emphasis on the governance of parliamentary data, the delivery of digital services to Members, resilience against cyber incidents and the institutional safeguards required for responsible AI adoption.

A panel on data governance and standards in parliaments: preparing parliamentary data for AI integration was moderated by Ciarán Doyle. It brought together Monica Palmirani, Professor at the University of Bologna; Grant Vergottini, CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies; Ambrósio Soares, ICT Center Coordinator at the Assembleia da República of Mozambique; and Fotis Fitsilis. The session examined how structured, accessible, standardised and trustworthy parliamentary data can become the essential foundation for meaningful AI integration, whether in legislative drafting, research, committee work, document management or public-facing services.

The following session addressed engagement, delivery and prioritisation of Members’ digital services. Moderated by Ambrósio Soares, the panel featured Ana Rita Laranjeira of the Assembleia da República of Portugal; Marcos Aquino, CEO of Ágape Consulting; Stephen Dwyer; and Juan de Dios Cincunegui, Advisor at the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina. Participants considered how digital transformation should remain connected to the day-to-day needs of Members, parliamentary staff and legislative processes, rather than being driven solely by technological opportunity.

Cybersecurity remained a central theme throughout the conference. A session on parliament-specific incident response for business continuity and disaster recovery was moderated by Neemias Muachendo and included Graeme Smith, Sara Fernandes, Head of the Information Security Division at the Assembleia da República of Portugal, and Franklin De Vrieze. The discussion focused on the particular operational sensitivities of parliamentary institutions, whose continuity is essential to democratic governance and whose technology environments must be resilient in the face of disruption.

LegisTech also examined the challenge of preserving trust in parliamentary information in a rapidly changing media environment. A panel on parliamentary content and weaponised media in the era of disinformation was moderated by Luís Kimaid and featured James Pinnell, Deputy Director for Programmes at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; Derek Luyten, Executive Director of the House Democracy Partnership at the U.S. House of Representatives; and Michelle Conville, Assistant Principal Officer in the Communications Unit at the Houses of the Oireachtas. The session considered how parliaments can respond to synthetic media, manipulated content, malicious information campaigns and new forms of public distrust.

The afternoon also included a plenary discussion on preparing AI guardrails for parliament, moderated by Ciarán Doyle. Contributors included Wade Ballou, retired Chief Legislative Counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives; Fuat Bayramoglu; Tim De Bondt, Head of the Communications Department at the Sénat of Belgium; Luís Fernando Pires Machado; and Fillemon Johannes, IT Director at the Parliament of Namibia. The discussion focused on the institutional rules, accountability mechanisms, human oversight arrangements, ethical considerations and legal safeguards required before artificial intelligence is embedded in parliamentary work.

The second day’s thematic trails translated these discussions into more specialised exchanges.

The Building Parliamentary AI Assistants trail was chaired by Ciarán Doyle and featured Bilal Munir, Data and AI Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas; Sola Adewumi, IT Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas; Bruno Thomasi; Ludovic Delepine; and Stephen Dwyer. Participants considered practical questions surrounding the design, deployment and governance of AI assistants for parliamentary users.

The session on Data Governance and Standards for AI Integration in Parliaments was chaired by Jude Wilson, Chief Technology Officer at the Houses of the Oireachtas. It included Marcos Aquino, Monica Palmirani, Grant Vergottini and Fotis Fitsilis. The discussion reinforced the importance of interoperable structures, clear metadata, legislative data standards and institutional stewardship of information.

A third trail on Technology and Infrastructure for a Digital Parliament was chaired by Luís Kimaid. It brought together Marty Bickford, Vice-President at Xcential Legislative Technologies; Kirsten Gullickson; Juliano Bringer; Neemias Muachendo; and Carlos Rocca, Director-General of the Cámara de Representantes of Uruguay. The session examined the infrastructure, systems architecture, procurement, internal capacity and long-term planning necessary to support a fully digital parliamentary environment.

Participants also visited the chamber floor and received a demonstration of the Houses of the Oireachtas’ digital systems, providing an opportunity to examine how institutional digital transformation can be implemented in practice within an active parliamentary setting.

Procedure, Scrutiny, Legacy Systems and Long-Term Continuity

The final day focused on the legal, procedural, financial and political dimensions of digital transformation.

A panel on legislative procedural and data adaptations for artificial intelligence in parliaments was moderated by Luís Kimaid. The session brought together Claus Koggel, Director-General at the Bundesrat of Germany; Xolile George, Secretary-General at the Parliament of South Africa; Hugo de Rosas, Secretary of Legislative Services at the Cámara de Diputados of Mexico; and Grant Vergottini. The panel considered how parliaments may need to revisit rules, procedures, information flows and institutional responsibilities as artificial intelligence becomes integrated into legislative work.

The use of artificial intelligence in ex-post legislative scrutiny was examined in a session moderated by Wade Ballou. Contributors included Sinéad Fitzpatrick, Private Members’ Bills Legal Adviser at the Houses of the Oireachtas; Andy Beattie, Chief Parliamentary Counsel of Scotland; Marty Bickford; Ludovic Delepine; and Daniel Schuman. The discussion considered the potential of AI-enabled analysis to support the review of legislation after enactment, while maintaining legal scrutiny, institutional judgement and parliamentary control.

A subsequent panel addressed legacy systems in parliaments in the era of artificial intelligence. Moderated by Mairéad Keating, the session featured Kirsten Gullickson; Vaapi Kaenda, System Administrator at the Parliament of Namibia; Bruno Thomasi; and Paddy McAllister, Deputy IT Director at the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly. The exchange examined the practical reality facing many legislatures: digital transformation must often be achieved while maintaining, adapting and gradually modernising long-standing systems that remain central to parliamentary operations.

The conference also gave substantial attention to the financial dimension of modernisation. A panel on financial planning for parliamentary modernisation: ensuring long-term continuity was moderated by Luís Kimaid and included David Wilson, Clerk at the Parliament of New Zealand; Carlos Rocca; Elaine Cameron, Head of Infrastructure and Operations at the Houses of the Oireachtas; and Luís Fernando Pires Machado. Participants considered the importance of stable financing, institutional planning, lifecycle management, infrastructure investment and the ability to sustain digital transformation beyond isolated projects or individual budget cycles.

The final plenary session addressed administrative and political concerns around parliamentary digital transformation. Moderated by Luís Kimaid, the panel included José Pedro Montero; Joe Peppard, Academic Director at University College Dublin; and Martin Hughes, Clerk of the Seanad at the Houses of the Oireachtas. The discussion considered how political leadership, administrative alignment, institutional communication and stakeholder confidence can determine whether long-term modernisation projects are able to survive changes in personnel, priorities and political conditions.

The concluding thematic trails continued this focus on institutional sustainability.

The session on Ensuring Funding for Parliamentary Modernisation was chaired by Luís Kimaid and included David Wilson, Elaine Cameron, Wade Ballou and Marty Bickford. Participants explored the budgetary, governance and strategic choices necessary to establish durable modernisation programmes.

The trail on Reviewing the Rules of Procedure to Enable AI Integration was chaired by Xolile George and featured Hugo de Rosas, Mairéad Keating, Claus Koggel and Bruno Thomasi. The session examined the relationship between procedural rules, legislative authority, technological innovation and the responsible incorporation of artificial intelligence into parliamentary processes.

The final trail, on Political Engagement on Modernising Parliament: Harnessing Support for Long-Term Projects, was chaired by Daniel Schuman. Speakers included José Pedro Montero, Stephen Dwyer and Ronan Curran, Digital Team Lead at the Houses of the Oireachtas. The discussion focused on building durable political and institutional support for modernisation initiatives that require sustained commitment over several years.

A Global Agora for Parliamentary Cooperation

The event brought together representatives from a broad range of parliamentary, academic and technology institutions. Participating institutions included the Houses of the Oireachtas of Ireland; Bússola Tech; the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments; the Cámara de Senadores of Uruguay; the Cámara de Representantes of Uruguay; the Assembleia Nacional of Angola; the U.S. House of Representatives; the Parliament of Estonia; the European Parliament; the Hellenic Parliament; the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; the Bundesrat of Germany; the Parliament of South Africa; the Cámara de Diputados of Mexico; the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina; the Parliament of New Zealand; the Parliament of Namibia; the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly; the Parliament of Scotland; the Assembleia da República of Mozambique; the Assembleia da República of Portugal; the Sénat of Belgium; the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; the Westminster Foundation for Democracy; the American Governance Institute; the University of Bologna; University College Dublin; Microsoft; Govsys; Xcential Legislative Technologies; and Ágape Consulting.

The programme demonstrated that artificial intelligence cannot be approached as a standalone procurement decision or a purely technical exercise. Effective implementation depends on institutional readiness, high-quality data, robust cybersecurity, clear governance, legal and procedural adaptation, sustainable funding, skilled personnel, transparent accountability and continued political support.

By convening parliamentary institutions and practitioners with different institutional models, technical capacities and modernisation trajectories, the created a forum for practical exchange on how artificial intelligence can strengthen legislative capacity without compromising parliamentary autonomy, procedural integrity, institutional resilience or democratic trust.

The event concluded with a shared recognition that the future of parliamentary modernisation will depend not only on the tools institutions adopt, but also on the governance structures, professional capabilities, data standards and long-term strategic commitments that enable those tools to serve democratic institutions responsibly.

LegisTech: Modernisation in Parliaments – AI as a Tool for Modernisation was co-hosted by Bússola Tech and the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Parliament of Ireland, from 3 to 5 June 2026 in Dublin.

Join our Newsletter

Photos of the event

Co-Organized by

Partners of the Event

Join our Newsletter

On June 16th, 2026, Bússola Tech convened a LegisTech Talks debate titled “Increase the Accuracy of Speech-to-Text Technologies in Parliaments”, bringing together parliamentary practitioners and technology specialists to explore how legislative institutions can improve the quality, reliability, and adoption of automated transcription systems.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel brought together Lynne Frappier, Head of Publications at the House of Commons of Canada; Ewerton Silva, AI Manager at the Federal Senate of Brazil; and Brahma Mishra, CEO of MeetMonk. The discussion examined both the technical and organisational dimensions of speech-to-text technologies, with particular attention to parliamentary reporting, official records production, multilingual environments, and the integration of artificial intelligence into legislative workflows.

The debate highlighted the growing maturity of speech recognition technologies within parliamentary institutions. Participants described how automated transcription systems have evolved from experimental tools into operational components of parliamentary reporting processes. Experiences from Canada and Brazil demonstrated that speech-to-text solutions are already generating measurable productivity gains, accelerating the production of parliamentary records while reducing manual transcription workloads. However, panellists emphasized that accuracy remains the decisive factor determining whether these technologies can be trusted as part of official legislative documentation.

A central theme of the discussion was the complexity of parliamentary environments compared to conventional transcription scenarios. Participants identified overlapping speakers, multilingual debates, procedural terminology, proper names, changing contexts, and variations in speech quality as persistent challenges. In bilingual legislatures such as the House of Commons of Canada, additional difficulties arise from language switching, translation inconsistencies, and differing expectations regarding how closely parliamentary records should reflect the spoken word. The panel underscored that parliamentary transcription requires far more than converting audio into text; it demands an understanding of institutional procedures, linguistic nuances, and legislative conventions.

The conversation also explored the technological foundations required to improve accuracy. Speakers discussed advances in automatic speech recognition models, audio engineering techniques, speaker identification, diarisation, noise reduction, and contextual processing. While large language models and generative AI systems have significantly enhanced transcription capabilities, participants noted that successful deployments increasingly depend on sophisticated engineering layers built around these models. Rather than relying solely on external APIs, organisations are investing in custom workflows, validation mechanisms, contextual references, and quality-control processes designed to reduce hallucinations and improve consistency.

Artificial intelligence was examined as a transformative force extending beyond transcription itself. Participants outlined how speech-to-text technologies can be combined with generative AI to support summarisation, translation, indexing, metadata generation, speaker identification, document classification, and the production of parliamentary records. Future systems may automatically extract decisions, generate committee minutes, identify procedural actions, and create structured data that can be reused across multiple parliamentary services. At the same time, the panel stressed that these capabilities require strong governance and human oversight to ensure that official records remain accurate and faithful to parliamentary proceedings.

Another recurring theme was the importance of the human dimension in digital transformation. While technological advancements received considerable attention, speakers argued that organisational readiness, staff training, and cultural adaptation are equally important. The successful adoption of speech-to-text technologies depends not only on software and infrastructure, but also on helping parliamentary staff understand how their roles evolve in an AI-assisted environment. Rather than eliminating human expertise, participants described a transition in which employees move from manual transcription tasks toward quality assurance, critical review, and editorial decision-making.

The panel concluded with reflections on how parliaments beginning their speech-to-text journey should approach implementation. Participants recommended starting with clear institutional objectives, carefully evaluating available technologies, continuously monitoring results, and maintaining realistic expectations regarding accuracy. Human supervision, iterative improvements, and sustained investment in staff capabilities were identified as essential success factors. Rather than viewing speech recognition as a standalone technology project, the discussion framed it as part of a broader transformation of parliamentary information management and legislative knowledge systems.

In conclusion, the debate reaffirmed that increasing the accuracy of speech-to-text technologies requires a combination of technological innovation, institutional expertise, and organisational adaptation. While artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding what is possible in parliamentary reporting, the production of trustworthy legislative records continues to depend on careful governance, human judgement, and a clear understanding of parliamentary procedures. By combining advanced transcription tools with strong institutional practices, parliaments can significantly improve efficiency while preserving the integrity and reliability of their official records.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

LegisTech: Modernisation in Parliaments: AI as a Tool for Modernisation

Dublin, Ireland

June 3rd - June 5th, 2026

Bússola Tech and the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Parliament of Ireland, have the honour of presenting LegisTech: Modernisation in Parliaments – AI as a Tool for Modernisation. This prestigious international conference will be held from June 3rd to 5th, 2026 at the Houses of the Oireachtas, in Dublin. The conference aims to deepen international dialogue on parliamentary modernisation and the strategic integration of artificial intelligence in legislative institutions, bringing together secretaries-general, clerks, parliamentary counsels, legislative administrators, technology leaders and institutional decision-makers from across jurisdictions.

The next edition will focus on the important theme of Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Parliamentary Modernisation. The programme has been designed to promote in-depth debates on various dimensions of parliamentary modernisation, including, among other topics, digital maturity evaluation, modular and interoperable digital platforms, data governance and standards, AI-ready parliamentary data, cybersecurity, procedural adaptations, institutional guardrails for artificial intelligence, long-term financial planning for modernisation initiatives, parliamentary accessibility in the era of disinformation, and the integration of AI tools with parliamentary business and services.

The conference will also feature thematic breakout sessions and practical discussions on governance models, infrastructure, digital service delivery, decentralised development of parliamentary solutions, and the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence in legislative environments.

Parliaments and legislative institutions from around the world are invited to participate in a journey of dialogue, cooperation and institutional reflection, envisioning a future in which digital transformation strengthen parliamentary capacity, procedural resilience and democratic governance.

Registration for in-person participation is not available to the general public. Parliaments and institutions interested in participating are invited to contact Bússola Tech and the Houses of the Oireachtas for further information.

Access the official website here: https://events.bussola-tech.co/legistech-modernisation-parliaments-ireland

Register to Watch the Recording

Programme

Day 1 – June 3rd, 2026 (Wednesday)

Venue: Houses of the Oireachtas

• 08h30 – 09h00: Registration

• 09h00 – 09h30: Official Opening

  • Ciarán Doyle - Assistant Secretary of the Houses of the Oireachtas

  • Luís Kimaid - Executive-Director of Bússola Tech

  • José Pedro Montero - President of the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments (ASGP)/ Secretary-General at the Cámara de Senadores of Uruguay

  • Luís Fernando Pires Machado - Executive-Director at the Legislative Knowledge Institute

• 09h30 – 10h30: Panel Discussion about Modularization, Integration and Tailoring of Digital Platforms and Services in Parliaments

  • Luís Kimaid - Executive-Director of Bússola Tech (moderator)

  • Neemias Muachendo - IT Director at the Assembleia Nacional of Angola

  • Kirsten Gullickson - Director of Systems Analysis and Quality Assurance at Office of the Clerk at the U.S. House of Representatives

  • Mairéad Keating - Head of Parliamentary Business Systems Development at the Houses of Oireachtas

  • Juliano Bringer - CIO at Ágape Consulting

• 10h30 - 10h45: Coffee-Break

• 10h45 - 11h45: Panel Discussion about Agentic Artificial Intelligence in Parliaments

  • Ciarán Doyle - Assistant Secretary of the Houses of the Oireachtas (moderator)

  • Ahto Saks - Administrative Director at the Parliament of Estonia

  • Stephen Dwyer - Senior Innovation Director at the U.S. House of Representatives

  • Bruno Thomasi - CEO at Govsys

  • Kieran McCorry - National Technology Officer at Microsoft

• 11h45 - 12h45: Panel Discussion about the Evaluation of Digital Maturity of Parliamentary Business and Services

  • Ludovic Delepine - ICT Director at the EU Parliament (moderator)

  • Fotis Fitsilis - Head of Scientific Documentation and Supervision at the Hellenic Parliament

  • Ciarán Doyle - Assistant Secretary of the Houses of the Oireachtas

  • Fuat Bayramoglu - Legislative Expert at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey

• 12h45 - 14h00: Lunch-Break and Official Photo at the Oireachtas

• 14h00 - 16h30: Thematic Trails in Breakout Rooms

  • Presentations of 10min and remaining time of moderated discussion by the Chairperson

  • Breakout Room 1: Governance and Administration

    • Ciarán Doyle - Assistant Secretary of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Chairperson)

    • Kirsten Gullickson - Director of Systems Analysis and Quality Assurance at Office of the Clerk at the U.S. House of Representatives (Speaker)

    • Mary Tougher - Programme Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas (Speaker)

    • Fuat Bayramoglu - Legislative Expert at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Speaker)

    • Daniel Schuman - Executive-Director at the American Governance Institute (Speaker)

  • Breakout Room 2: The use of AI in cybersecurity to combat AI powered/fueled attacks

    • Fotis Fitsilis - Head of Scientific Documentation and Supervision at the Hellenic Parliament (Chairperson)

    • Graeme Smith - Cybersecurity Programme Manager - Houses of the Oireachtas (Speaker)

    • Jack Turner - Cybersecurity Governance Risk and Compliance Officer Houses of the Oireachtas (Speaker)

    • Franklin De Vrieze - Head of Practice Accountability at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (Speaker)

  • Breakout Room 3: Innovation and AI Assisted Development of Digital Solutions in Parliaments

    • Colm Kealy - Programme Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas (Chairperson)

    • Cillian Hamel - Data and AI Consultant at the Houses of the Oireachtas (Speaker)

    • Juliano Bringer - CIO at the Ágape (Speaker)

    • Ludovic Delepine - ICT Director at the EU Parliament (Speaker)

• 16h30 - 17h00: Plenary Session Update on Breakout Sessions

• 17h00 - 18h00: Networking Reception

Day 2 – June 4th, 2026 (Thursday)

Venue: Houses of the Oireachtas

• 08h30 – 09h30: Panel Discussion about Data Governance and Standards in Parliaments: Preparing Parliamentary Data for AI Integration

  • Ciarán Doyle - Assistant Secretary of the Houses of the Oireachtas (moderator)

  • Monica Palmirani - Professor at the University of Bologna

  • Grant Vergottini - CEO at Xcential Legislative Technologies

  • Ambrósio Soares - ICT Center Coordinator at the Assembleia da República of Mozambique

  • Fotis Fitsilis - Head of Scientific Documentation and Supervision at the Hellenic Parliament

• 09h30 - 10h30: Panel about Engagement, Delivery and Prioritization of Member’s Digital Services

  • Ambrósio Soares - ICT Center Coordinator at the Assembleia da República of Mozambique (moderator)

  • Loveness Mayaka - Clerk at the National Assembly of Zambia

  • Ana Rita Laranjeira - Assembleia da República of Portugal

  • Marcos Aquino - CEO at Ágape Consulting

  • Stephen Dwyer - Senior Innovation Director at the U.S. House of Representatives

  • Juan De Dios Cincunegui - Advisor at the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina

• 10h30 - 10h45: Coffee-Break

• 10:45 - 11:30: Cybersecurity and Parliament Specific Incident Response for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

  • Neemias Muachendo - IT Director at the Assembleia Nacional of Angola (Moderator)

  • Graeme Smith - Cybersecurity Programme Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas in Ireland

  • Sara Fernandes - Head of the Information Security Division at the Assembleia da República of Portugal

  • Franklin De Vrieze - Head of Practice Accountability at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy

• 11h30 - 12h30: Panel Discussion about Parliamentary Content and Weaponised Media in the Era of Disinformation

  • Luís Kimaid - Executive-Director of Bússola Tech (moderator)

  • James Pinnell - Deputy Director for Programmes at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

  • Derek Luyten - Executive Director at the House Democracy Partnership at the U.S. House of Representatives

  • Michelle Conville - Assistant Principal Officer, Communications Unit at the Houses of the Oireachtas of Ireland

  • Jeffrey Joswa - Deputy Director of ICT at the National Assembly of Zambia

• 12h30 - 13h30: Panel Discussion about Preparing the AI Guardrails for your Parliament

  • Ciarán Doyle - Assistant Secretary at the Houses of the Oireachtas (moderator)

  • Wade Ballou - Chief Legislative Counsel (retired) at the U.S. House of Representatives (Speaker)

  • Fuat Bayramoglu - Legislative Expert at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey

  • Tim De Bondt - Head of the Communications Department at the Sénat of Belgium

  • Luís Fernando Pires Machado - Executive-Director at the Legislative Knowledge Institute

  • Fillemon Johannes - IT Director at the Parliament of Namibia

• 13h30 - 14h30: Lunch-Break

• 14h30 - 17h00: Thematic Trails in Breakout Rooms

  • Presentations of 10min and remaining time of moderated discussion by the Chairperson

  • Breakout Room 1: Building Parliamentary AI Assistants

    • Ciarán Doyle - Houses of the Oireachtas of Ireland (Chairperson)

    • Bilal Munir - Data and AI Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas (Speaker)

    • Sola Adewumi - IT Manager at the Houses of the Oireachtas (Speaker)

    • Bruno Thomasi - CEO at Govsys (Speaker)

    • Ludovic Delepine - ICT Director at the EU Parliament (Speaker)

    • Stephen Dwyer - Senior Innovation Director at the U.S. House of Representatives (Speaker)

  • Breakout Room 2: Data Governance and Standards for AI Integration in Parliaments

    • Jude Wilson - Chief Technology Officer at the Houses of the Oireachtas (Chairperson)

    • Marcos Aquino - CEO at Ágape Consulting (Speaker)

    • Monica Palmirani - Professor at the University of Bologna (Speaker)

    • Grant Vergottini - CEO at Xcential Legislative Technologies (Speaker)

    • Fotis Fitsilis - Head of Scientific Documentation and Supervision at the Hellenic Parliament (Speaker)

  • Breakout Room 3: Technology and Infrastructure for a Digital Parliament

    • Luis Kimaid - Executive-Director of Bússola Tech (Chairperson)

    • Kirsten Gullickson - Director of Systems Analysis and Quality Assurance at Office of the Clerk at the U.S. House of Representatives (Speaker)

    • Neemias Muachendo - IT Director at the Assembleia Nacional of Angola

    • Carlos Rocca - Director-General at the Cámara de Representantes of Uruguay (Speaker)

    • Marty Bickford - Vice-President at Xcential Legislative Technologies (Speaker)

    • Juliano Bringer - CIO at Ágape Consulting

• 17h00 - 18h00: Visit of the Floor and Demonstration of Oireachtas’ Digital Systems

• 18h00 - 18h30: Plenary Session Update on Breakout Sessions

Day 3 – June 5th, 2026 (Friday)

Venue: Houses of the Oireachtas

• 08h30 – 09h30: Panel Discussion about Procedural Adaptations and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Parliaments

  • Luís Kimaid - Executive-Director of Bússola Tech (moderator)

  • Claus Koggel - Director-General at the Bundesrat of Germany

  • Xolile George - Secretary-General at the Parliament of South Africa

  • Hugo de Rosas - Secretary of Legislative Services at the Cámara de Diputados of Mexico

• 09h30 - 10h30: Panel Discussion about Legacy Systems in Parliaments in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

  • Mairéad Keating - Head of Parliamentary Business Systems Development at the Houses of Oireachtas (moderator)

  • Kirsten Gullickson - Director of Systems Analysis and Quality Assurance at Office of the Clerk at the U.S. House of Representatives

  • Vaapi Kaenda - System Administrator at the Parliament Of Namibia

  • Bruno Thomasi - CEO at Govsys

  • Mary Ellen Nutt - IT Director at the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly

• 10h30 - 11h00: Coffee-Break

• 11h00 - 12h00: Panel Discussion about The Financial Planning for Parliamentary Modernisation: Ensuring Long Term Continuity

  • Luís Kimaid - Executive-Director of Bússola Tech (moderator)

  • David Wilson - Clerk at the Parliament of New Zealand

  • Carlos Rocca - Director-General at the Cámara de Representantes of Uruguay

  • Elaine Cameron - Head of Infrastructure and Operations Houses of the Oireachtas

  • Luís Fernando Pires Machado - Executive-Director at the Legislative Knowledge Institute

• 12h00 - 13h00: Panel Discussion about the Possible Usage of Artificial Intelligence on Ex-post Legislative Scrutiny

  • Wade Ballou - Chief Legislative Counsel (retired) at the U.S. House of Representatives (moderator)

  • Sinéad Fitzpatrick - Private Members’ Bills Legal Adviser at the Houses of the Oireachtas

  • Andy Beattie - Chief Parliamentary Counsel of Scotland

  • Marty Bickford - Vice-President at Xcential Legislative Technologies

  • Ludovic Delepine - ICT Director at the EU Parliament

  • Daniel Schuman - Executive-Director at the American Governance Institute

• 13h00 - 14h00: Lunch-Break

• 14h00 - 15:00: Panel Discussion about Addressing Administrative and Political Concerns Around Parliamentary Digital Transformation

  • Luís Kimaid - Executive-Director of Bússola Tech (moderator)

  • Julius Kampamba - Team Lead at the Technical Team of the Society of the Clerks at the Table (Socatt) Africa

  • José Pedro Montero - President of the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments (ASGP)/ Secretary-General at the Cámara de Senadores of Uruguay

  • Joe Peppard - Academic Director at the University College Dublin

  • Martin Hughes - Clerk of the Seanad of the Houses of the Oireachtas

• 15h00 - 17h30: Thematic Trails in Breakout Rooms

  • Presentations of 10min and remaining time of moderated discussion by the Chairperson

  • Breakout Room 1: Ensuring Funding for Parliamentary Modernisation

    • Luís Kimaid - Executive-Director of Bússola Tech (Chairperson)

    • David Wilson - Clerk at the Parliament of New Zealand (Speaker)

    • Elaine Cameron - Head of Infrastructure and Operations Houses of the Oireachtas (Speaker)

    • Wade Ballou - Chief Legislative Counsel (retired) at the U.S. House of Representatives (speaker)

    • Marty Bickford - Vice-President at Xcential Legislative Technologies (Speaker)

  • Breakout Room 2: Reviewing the Rules of Procedure to Enable AI Integration

    • Xolile George - Secretary-General at the Parliament of South Africa (Chairperson)

    • Hugo de Rosas - Secretary of Legislative Services at the Cámara de Diputados of Mexico (Speaker)

    • Mairéad Keating - Head of Parliamentary Business Systems Development at the Houses of Oireachtas (Speaker)

    • Claus Koggel - Director-General at the Bundesrat (Speaker)

    • Bruno Thomasi - CEO at Govsys (Speaker)

  • Breakout Room 3: Political Engagement on Modernising Parliament: Harnessing Support for long-term Projects

    • Daniel Schuman - Executive Director at the American Governance Institute (Chairperson)

    • José Pedro Montero - President of the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments (ASGP)/ Secretary-General at the Cámara de Senadores of Uruguay (Speaker)

    • Stephen Dwyer - Senior Innovation Director at the U.S. House of Representatives (Speaker)

    • Ronan Curran - Digital Team Lead at the Houses of the Oireachtas of Ireland (Speaker)

• 17h30 - 18h00: Plenary Session Update on Breakout Sessions

• 18h00 - 18h15: Closing Remarks

Register to Watch the Recording

Organised by

Hosted by

Partners

On March 16th, 2026, Bússola Tech, in partnership with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the American Governance Institute (AGI), convened a high-level roundtable titled “LegisTech: Recent Developments in the Modernisation in the U.S. Congress” at the headquarters of the OAS in Washington, D.C.

The event brought together senior staff from the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Library of Congress and civil society organisations for a focused exchange on institutional modernisation, digital transformation in the context of the U.S. Legislative Branch.

The opening segment featured a formal recognition of Catherine Szpindor, honouring her distinguished service as Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2021 to 2026. The recognition was delivered through remarks by Moises Benamor, representing the OAS, Luís Kimaid on behalf of Bússola Tech, Daniel Schuman from AGI, and Wade Ballou, recently retired from the U.S. House of Representatives, reflecting both institutional and professional perspectives on her tenure.

The recognition highlighted Ms. Szpindor’s leadership for its ability to navigate the inherent complexity of Congress, balancing tradition, procedure, and political sensitivity while advancing meaningful improvements in administrative and technological capacity. Her tenure coincided with a period of significant disruption and transformation, during which the House strengthened its digital infrastructure, expanded its operational resilience, and laid the groundwork for more structured approaches to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

The roundtable discussion that followed, structured as an open-floor exchange among participants, provided a candid and substantive exploration of the current state of modernisation across the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the Library of Congress. Rather than focusing on isolated technological solutions, the discussion centred on the institutional conditions required for sustainable transformation.

A central theme throughout the conversation was the recognition that the implementation of artificial intelligence in parliaments is fundamentally contingent on the quality, structure, and governance of legislative data. Participants repeatedly highlighted that AI systems are only as effective as the underlying data ecosystems that support them, reinforcing the need for long-term investment in data standardisation, interoperability, and accessibility. At the same time, the discussion revealed the inherent tensions in parliaments between transparency and sensitivity, particularly in relation to sensitive data, and how these constraints shape the design and deployment of digital systems.

Another key dimension of the exchange was the complexity of coordination within an institution such as the U.S. Congress. Participants highlighted the challenges of aligning multiple offices, committees, and support agencies, each with distinct mandates, cultures, and operational constraints, while advancing shared modernisation objectives. In this context, collaborative mechanisms such as the Congressional Data Task Force and cross-institutional working groups were identified as critical enablers of progress, providing spaces for sustained dialogue, trust-building, and incremental reform.

The discussion also pointed to the importance of institutional culture in shaping modernisation outcomes. Beyond technical capacity, participants emphasised the need for individuals within the institution who understand both the operational realities of legislative work and the potential of technology, and who are able to act as bridges between technical and non-technical communities.

From an international perspective, the roundtable reinforced the role of knowledge-sharing and inter-parliamentary cooperation as essential components of modernisation. The experience of the U.S. Congress continues to serve as a reference point for many legislative institutions worldwide. At the same time, comparative insights from other jurisdictions underscored that innovation in parliaments is not linear, and that learning from both successful and unsuccessful initiatives is critical to advancing the field.

The event concluded by reaffirming the shared commitment of Bússola Tech, the OAS, and AGI to fostering a dialogue on parliamentary modernisation. The discussions highlighted that sustainable progress depends not only on the adoption of new tools, but on the strengthening of institutional foundations, the alignment of stakeholders, and the cultivation of a culture capable of supporting continuous adaptation.

Co-Organizers

Strategic Partners

The views expressed in this article are derived from the analysis of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the represented institutions, nor should they be considered and should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation of any kind. The information presented in this article is derived from multiple sources. We encourage readers to access official sources from the institution in question.

Donate

Share

LegisTech: Modernisation of Devolved and Subnational Parliaments

Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil

May 14th and 15th, 2026

Bússola Tech and the Legislative Assembly of the State of Espírito Santo have the honour of presenting the 2nd edition of LegisTech: Modernisation of Devolved and Subnational Parliaments. This prestigious event will be held on May 14th and 15th, 2026 at the Legislative Assembly of the State of Espírito Santo, in Vitória, Brazil. The meeting aims to deepen international dialogue on legislative modernisation in devolved and subnational parliaments, bringing together secretaries-general, clerks, legislative consultants, technology leaders and institutional decision-makers.

The next edition will focus on the important theme of Modernisation of Devolved and Subnational Parliaments, reflecting the growing need for technological transformation in state, provincial, regional and devolved legislatures. The programme has been carefully designed to promote in-depth debates on various aspects of legislative modernisation, including, among other topics, the first steps towards a digital legislative process, artificial intelligence strategies, parliamentary data structuring, integration with legacy systems, process automation and comparative case studies of parliaments from Brazil, Canada, Australia, Germany, Argentina, Portugal, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The event represents the continuing commitment of Bússola Tech and the Legislative Assembly of the State of Espírito Santo to advancing legislative modernisation through the strategic application of digital technologies, institutional innovation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Devolved and subnational parliaments from around the world are invited to participate in a journey of discovery, innovation and dialogue, envisioning a future in which technology and governance converge to create more efficient, transparent and responsive legislative institutions.

Registration for in-person participation is not available to the general public. Parliaments interested in participating are cordially invited to contact Bússola Tech and the Legislative Assembly of the State of Espírito Santo for further information.

Watch it Online

Programme

Day 1 – 14 May 2026

Location: Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil

• 08h30 – 09h00: Official Opening

  • Marcelo Santos - President of the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

  • Marcos Aquino - Director of Transparency, Innovation and Special Projects of the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo

  • Luís Kimaid - Executive Director of Bússola Tech

  • Giuliano Nader - Secretary for Institutional Relations of the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo

• 09:00 - 09:30: Presentation of IA.LES - Artificial Intelligence Programme of the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

  • Grimaldo Cruz - Director of Information Technology - Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

  • Marcos Aquino - Director of Transparency, Innovation and Special Projects - Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

• 09:30 - 10:00: Process Automation and Application of AI in the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

  • Patricia Izabel Rodrigues Costa da Silva Freire - Legislative Analyst - Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

  • Carlos Eduardo Casa Grande - Secretary-General of the Board - Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

  • Marcos Aquino - Director of Transparency, Innovation and Special Projects - Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

• 10:00 - 10:30: Break

• 10:30 - 11:00: Presentation on the Modernisation Case of the Legislature of Buenos Aires in Argentina

  • Ornela Flavia Vanzillotta - Director of International Relations of the Legislature of Buenos Aires in Argentina

• 11:00 – 12h15: First Steps Towards a Digital Legislative Process

  • Luis Kimaid - Executive Director of Bússola Tech

  • Marcos Aquino - Director of Transparency, Innovation and Special Projects - Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo

  • François Gagnon - Research Coordinator of the Public Administration Committee of the National Assembly of Quebec in Canada

  • Andy Beattie - Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Scotland

  • Danilo Aguiar - Secretary-General of the Board of the Federal Senate of Brazil

  • Ornela Flavia Vanzillotta - Director of International Relations of the Legislature of Buenos Aires in Argentina

• 12:15 - 13:45 - Lunch and official photograph

• 13:45 - 15:00 - Discussion Panel on Long-Term Planning for the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Subnational Parliaments

  • Luis Kimaid - Executive Director of Bússola Tech

  • Sandra Costa - Secretary-General of the Parliament of the Azores in Portugal

  • Moises Benamor - Chief of the Parliament Section at the Organization of American States

  • Bernice Watson - Director of Chamber and Committee Services of the Parliament of Queensland in Australia

  • Carlos Eduardo Casa Grande - Secretary-General of the Board of the Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

  • Juan de Dios Cincunegui - Director of the School of Parliaments of Austral University in Argentina

• 15:00 - 15:30 - Presentation on the Modernisation Case of the Parliament of the Azores in Portugal

  • Sandra Costa - Secretary-General of the Parliament of the Azores in Portugal

• 15:30 - 16:00: Coffee break

• 16:00 - 16:30: Presentation on the LegisPro Case of Xcential Legislative Technologies - Data-Driven Legislative Drafting

  • Grant Vergottini - CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies

• 16:30 - 17:00: Presentation on the LawMaker Case of the Parliament of Scotland in the United Kingdom

  • Andy Beattie - Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Scotland

• 17:00 - 17:30: Presentation on the Modernisation Case of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Canada

  • Roberto Eberhardt - IT Director of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Canada

Day 2 – 15 May 2026

Location: Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil

• 08h30 – 9h45: Discussion Panel on Parliamentary Data Structuring: Parliamentary Data Standards and Recommendations for Integration with Artificial Intelligence

  • Luis Kimaid - Executive Director of Bússola Tech

  • Aleksandar Savanovic - Head of Digitisation in the Digital Parliament Unit of the Legislature of Baden-Württemberg in Germany

  • Roberto Eberhardt - IT Director of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Canada

  • Juliano Bringer - CIO of Ágape Consultoria

  • Grant Vergottini - CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies

  • Coby Skriker - Manager of Information Technology and Digital Services at the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in South Africa

• 09:45 - 10:15: Presentation of the Apoia Project, Artificial Intelligence Suite of the Federal Senate of Brazil

  • Danilo Aguiar - Secretary-General of the Board of the Federal Senate of Brazil

• 10:15 - 10:45: Break

• 10:45 - 11:15: Presentation on the Impact of Disinformation in Subnational Parliaments: The Use of Synthetic Media

  • Moises Benamor - Chief of the Parliament Section at the Organization of American States

• 11:15 - 11:45: Presentation on the State of Modernisation of State Legislative Power in the USA

  • William Clark - Programme Director of the National Conference of State Legislatures

• 11:45 - 12:15: Presentation about the Current State of Modernisation in the Argentina Provincial Legislatures

  • Juan de Dios Cincunegui - Director of the School of Parliaments of Austral University in Argentina

• 12:15 - 13:45 - Lunch

• 13:45 - 15:00 - Discussion Panel on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence Tools with Legacy Systems in Devolved and Subnational Parliaments

  • Juliano Bringer - CIO of Ágape Consultoria

  • Grimaldo Cruz - Director of Information Technology - Legislative Assembly of Espírito Santo, Brazil

  • William Clark - Programme Director of the National Conference of State Legislatures

  • Clarence Esau - Senior Information Technology Strategist of the Parliament of Western Cape in South Africa

  • Carlos Eduardo Brandão - CEO of Intelliway

• 15:00 - 15:30 - Presentation on the Modernisation Case of the Legislature of Baden-Württemberg in Germany

  • Aleksandar Savanovic - Head of Digitisation in the Digital Parliament Unit of the Legislature of Baden-Württemberg in Germany

• 15:30 - 16:00: Coffee break

• 16:00 - 16:30: Presentation on the Modernisation Case of the Parliament of Queensland in Australia

  • Bernice Watson - Director of Chamber and Committee Services of the Parliament of Queensland in Australia

• 16:30 - 17:00: Presentation on the Modernisation Case of the Parliament of Western Cape in South Africa

  • Clarence Esau - Senior Information Technology Strategist of the Parliament of Western Cape in South Africa

  • Coby Skriker - Manager of Information Technology and Digital Services at the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in South Africa

• 17:00 - 17:30: Presentation on the Modernisation Case of the National Assembly of Quebec in Canada

  • François Gagnon - Research Coordinator of the Public Administration Committee of the National Assembly of Quebec in Canada

Watch it Online

Participants

Watch it Online

Organised by

Hosted by

Join our Newsletter

On February 11th, 2026, Bússola Tech convened a LegisTech Talks debate titled “What Should Be the First Investments in Parliamentary Modernisation?”, bringing together senior parliamentary leaders and technology specialists to examine how institutions can define foundational priorities before adopting new digital tools and artificial intelligence.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel brought together Ciaran Doyle, Assistant Secretary and CIO of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Ireland); Fotis Fitsilis, Head of Documentation and Research Service at the Hellenic Parliament (Greece); Rida Qazi, Special Advisor on Initiatives and Digital Transformation to the Senate of Pakistan; and Marty Bickford, Vice President at Xcential Legislative Technologies.

The discussion focused on what must precede technology in parliamentary reform. Rather than beginning with specific tools or AI applications, participants emphasized the importance of executive alignment, institutional clarity, enterprise-wide process mapping, and a shared strategic vision. Modernisation was framed as a long-term organisational transformation that requires mental preparation, cultural adaptation, and strong governance structures before any technical deployment.

A central theme of the debate was leverage: where should parliaments invest first to unlock downstream gains? Panellists highlighted people, data architecture, standards, identity and authentication systems, interoperable infrastructure, and program management capabilities as high-impact enablers. Early investments in structured data, enterprise architecture, and internal capacity were described as multipliers that strengthen subsequent waves of reform.

The panel also addressed the political reality of parliamentary institutions. Roadmaps must be designed to survive leadership turnover, shifting priorities, and electoral cycles. Participants discussed modular reforms, benchmarking against international peers, structured prioritisation frameworks, and clear governance models as mechanisms to ensure continuity without freezing innovation.

Artificial intelligence was examined within this broader institutional context. The discussion underscored that AI is not a substitute for foundational reform. Its effective and responsible use depends on prior decisions regarding data standardisation, document structure, interoperability, governance, and ethical safeguards. Preparing for AI means building systems that are coherent, reliable, and aligned with parliamentary mandates long before deploying advanced models.

In conclusion, the panel reaffirmed that parliamentary modernisation is not a sequence of technological upgrades, but a structural transformation rooted in strategy, governance, and institutional maturity. When first investments are carefully chosen and anchored in long-term vision, parliaments can create durable foundations that enable innovation, strengthen accountability, and responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into legislative work.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Building on the continuity of previous strategic dialogues, this edition focused on the concrete institutional, procedural, and technological conditions required for parliaments to integrate AI responsibly and effectively. From structuring legislative data for intelligent systems and enhancing digital public interfaces, to modernising workflow management and fortifying cybersecurity, the programme examined the evolving intersection between innovation, governance, and democratic legitimacy.

Throughout the two-day programme, participants shared their experiences, compared emerging practices, and analysed strategic pathways for strengthening the use of AI in support of more open, efficient, and citizen-centred parliaments. The conference highlighted a wide range of practical implementations, lessons learned, and institutional innovations adopted across different regions.

By convening a diverse set of perspectives and cases, the event demonstrated the transformative potential of AI in reinforcing parliamentary transparency, improving access to information, and enabling more dynamic forms of engagement with citizens. The discussions supported parliaments in becoming more resilient, data-driven, and future-ready, while ensuring that innovation is anchored in accountability and public trust.

Join our Newsletter

Access the Recordings

Photos of the event

Co-Organized by

Partners of the Event

Join our Newsletter

On December 11th, 2025, Bússola Tech convened a panel discussion titled “How Is Artificial Intelligence Enhancing the Efficiency of Parliamentary Transparency?”, bringing together senior parliamentary officials and technology specialists to examine how generative AI is reshaping legislative workflows, citizen access to information, and institutional transparency.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel brought together Andy Beattie, Chief Parliamentary Counsel of Scotland; Ludovic Delepine, Head of ICT at the European Parliament; Mas Liza Maslan, Researcher at the Parliament of Malaysia; Virginia Carmona, Deputy Director of Parliamentary Assignments at the Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados of Chile; and Vishwajit Singh, Partner at HawkAItrack (India).

The discussion focused on how artificial intelligence can move parliaments beyond static, portal-based transparency toward dynamic, conversational, and data-driven access to legislative information. Rather than treating AI as a novelty, participants examined its practical deployment across core parliamentary workflows, including transcription of debates, multilingual translation, semantic search across legislative archives, automated summarisation of bills and committee reports, comparative analysis of amendments, and AI-assisted citizen interfaces.

A central theme of the debate was efficiency with integrity. Panellists highlighted that AI can dramatically reduce the time required to process, classify, and retrieve parliamentary information. Real-time speech-to-text systems, AI-generated summaries, and contextual search tools allow both members and citizens to navigate complex legislative records more intuitively. However, these efficiency gains were consistently framed as conditional upon structured data, robust governance frameworks, and clearly defined human oversight mechanisms.

The panel also addressed the institutional challenges of transitioning from traditional digital portals to AI-powered conversational systems. Technical obstacles include data standardisation, integration with legacy systems, cybersecurity safeguards, and compliance with emerging AI regulatory frameworks. Equally significant are human and cultural challenges: building AI literacy among parliamentary staff, managing resistance to change, defining clear validation processes, and preserving professional judgment within automated environments.

Trust emerged as the defining concern. Participants emphasised that parliamentary transparency depends not merely on access, but on reliability, explainability, and auditability. AI systems must be grounded in verified legislative sources, provide traceable references to primary documents, and operate within clear ethical and governance structures. Human validation remains indispensable to ensure that outputs align with constitutional mandates and institutional standards.

Artificial intelligence was therefore examined not as a replacement for parliamentary expertise, but as an amplifier of institutional capacity. When embedded within structured legislative data environments and supervised by trained professionals, AI can enhance clarity, accelerate publication, improve multilingual accessibility, and broaden citizen engagement without compromising authority.

In conclusion, the panel reaffirmed that the efficiency of parliamentary transparency in the AI era depends on disciplined data governance, ethical oversight, and sustained institutional commitment. When deployed responsibly, artificial intelligence can transform how legislative knowledge is accessed and understood—strengthening openness while preserving the credibility and trust upon which democratic institutions depend.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On November 26th, 2025, Bússola Tech convened a panel discussion titled “Principles for a Digital Legislative Process: Translating Procedure into Digital,” bringing together senior legislative leaders and technology experts to examine how centuries-old parliamentary traditions can be translated into structured, programmable digital systems without compromising democratic integrity

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel brought together Claus Koggel, Director-General at the Bundesrat of Germany; Paulo Dantas, Chief Legislative Counsel at the Senado Federal of Brazil; Marty Bickford, Vice-President at Xcential Legislative Technologies; and Warren Burke, Chief Legislative Counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives.

The discussion focused on a foundational challenge: how to convert procedural traditions—both written rules and unwritten conventions—into digital architectures that preserve constitutional principles, minority rights, deliberation, and institutional legitimacy. Participants emphasized that legislative procedure is not merely a workflow, but the operational expression of democratic values. Any digital translation must therefore begin with constitutional fidelity and procedural respect.

A central theme of the debate was the preservation of core principles. Transparency, accountability, debate, compromise, and human responsibility were repeatedly identified as non-negotiable elements. Panellists stressed that digital systems must reinforce, rather than dilute, these values. Automation can support efficiency, but it cannot replace deliberation. Human decision-making—particularly in politically sensitive steps such as bill referral, committee deliberation, or mediation procedures—must remain embedded within system design.

The panel also addressed the complexity of mapping deeply rooted conventions into digital form. Parliamentary systems often rely on informal practices and procedural flexibility that are not fully codified. Translating these into software requires careful consultation with subject-matter experts, legislative counsel, clerks, and political leadership. Steering committees, inclusive governance structures, and early stakeholder engagement were presented as critical mechanisms for ensuring institutional buy-in and safeguarding legitimacy.

From a technological perspective, emphasis was placed on open standards, interoperability, and long-term data integrity. Legislative texts must be structured in machine-readable formats capable of outlasting vendors and technological cycles. Systems should prioritize user experience, accessibility, cybersecurity, and resilience, including contingency planning for system failure or crisis scenarios. Digital transformation was framed not as isolated innovation, but as comprehensive institutional redesign.

Another key dimension concerned strategic sequencing. Participants debated what should be digitized first and what should remain analog. Consensus emerged that digitization should initially focus on processes that enhance transparency and traceability without altering core political dynamics. More sensitive procedural elements, particularly those protecting minority rights or facilitating negotiation, require careful deliberation before digital restructuring.

Artificial intelligence was considered within this broader architectural framework. While AI can assist with document comparison, speech-to-text transcription, workflow automation, and data analysis, it must operate within clearly defined human oversight structures. Technology should augment legislative expertise, not replace it.

In conclusion, the panel reaffirmed that translating legislative procedure into digital form is not a technical upgrade, but a constitutional exercise. When principles are clearly identified, governance structures are inclusive, and system design is anchored in democratic values, parliaments can modernize their processes while preserving institutional trust. Digital transformation, the panel concluded, must serve democracy, and never the reverse.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On November 12th, 2025, Bússola Tech convened a panel discussion titled “Introducing Legislative Information Management Systems,” bringing together parliamentary officials and technology leaders to examine how legislatures design, implement, and modernise the digital infrastructures that sustain the legislative process.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid from Bússola Tech, the panel brought together Gergely Kónya and Gábor Molnár of the National Assembly of Hungary; Juliano Bringer of Ágape Consulting (Brazil); Kirsten Gullickson of the U.S. House of Representatives; and Neemias Muachendo of the Assembleia Nacional of Angola.

The discussion focused on how Legislative Information Management Systems (LIMS) are structured to support the full lifecycle of lawmaking — from drafting and amendment to plenary deliberation, voting, publication, and archival preservation. Rather than treating digitalisation as a mere substitution of paper, participants framed LIMS as institutional infrastructures that embed legislative rules, procedural safeguards, and data governance into structured digital environments.

A central theme of the debate was architecture. The Hungarian National Assembly presented Parlex, a web-based drafting and workflow system integrating document editing, codification checks, amendment generation, and legislative process management within a unified platform. Parlex operates as part of a broader Integrated Legislative System, connecting parliamentary, governmental, and local government drafting environments through shared modules and structured transmission pipelines to the official gazette and national legal database. Interoperability, in this model, is achieved through common drafting surfaces, central authentication, and standardized data exchange between subsystems.

From the Brazilian subnational context, Ágape Consulting presented NoPaper, a cloud-based legislative platform designed to digitise the entire lifecycle of parliamentary initiatives. Emphasis was placed on secure digital signatures, citizen-facing transparency, API-based interoperability with external portals, and adaptive integration with other public institutions. The system illustrated how legislative modernisation in federated environments requires flexibility: interoperability is not static, but tailored to institutional ecosystems and regulatory frameworks.

The U.S. House of Representatives described an ecosystem model rather than a single system. Multiple interconnected applications manage drafting, workflow, status tracking, publication, and archiving across a bicameral environment. Interoperability was presented as both a technical and governance question, grounded in shared data standards, authoritative identifiers, and formal coordination among legislative branch institutions. XML-based schemas — including the United States Legislative Markup (USLM), incorporating elements of Akoma Ntoso — serve as the backbone for structured legislative data exchange across legacy and modern systems.

The Assembleia Nacional of Angola presented a modular legislative information environment, including digital plenary management, speech timing systems, electronic voting, automated report generation, and online publication. While legal constraints still require physical signatures for final enactment, the architecture has been designed with APIs and structured data outputs to support future integration with governmental and publication entities. The emphasis was on gradual but deliberate modernization aligned with institutional realities.

Data standards emerged as a foundational variable across all interventions. Whether through custom XML schemas aligned with national drafting decrees, hybrid standards incorporating international models, or structured publication pipelines, the panel underscored that legislative information must be machine-readable, interoperable, and consistently governed to enable long-term sustainability.

Artificial intelligence was addressed within this structural context. Participants highlighted that AI integration — including speech recognition, comparative print automation, and natural-language search interfaces — depends on prior investments in structured data and coherent workflow systems. AI was framed not as a starting point, but as an additional layer built upon disciplined information architecture and legislative governance.

In conclusion, the panel reaffirmed that introducing a Legislative Information Management System is not a technological upgrade, but an institutional reform. When drafting tools, workflow engines, publication mechanisms, and data standards are aligned within a coherent architecture, parliaments create durable foundations for transparency, interoperability, and future AI integration. Legislative modernisation, the panel concluded, begins with information discipline — and only then can innovation be responsibly sustained.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On November 6th, 2025, Bússola Tech convened a panel discussion titled “Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Tools for the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Parliaments,” bringing together senior parliamentary leaders, inter-parliamentary representatives, and a private-sector standards pioneer to examine how structured cooperation can accelerate responsible AI adoption across legislative institutions.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel featured Eric Janse, Clerk of the House of Commons of Canada; Grant Vergottini, CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies; José Pedro Montero, President of the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments; Julius Kampamba, Team Lead of the Technical Team of the Society of Clerks at the Table (Africa); and Miguel Landeros, Secretary-General of the Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados of Chile.

The discussion centred on a strategic question: how can existing instruments of parliamentary diplomacy be mobilised to disseminate practical knowledge on artificial intelligence? Rather than focusing narrowly on specific AI tools, participants examined cooperation architectures — professional associations, bilateral exchanges, regional forums, standards bodies, and technical networks — as the real enablers of sustainable transformation.

A central theme was differentiation. Not all parliaments begin from the same level of digital maturity. Speakers emphasised that cooperation must be calibrated to institutional capacity: advanced legislatures may collaborate on cloud architectures, structured data standards, and governance frameworks, while smaller or less digitised parliaments may benefit first from targeted digitisation support, lightweight AI pilots, and foundational infrastructure guidance. Inter-parliamentary cooperation was therefore framed as adaptive, not uniform.

Several durable instruments were highlighted. Staff secondments and technical shadowing arrangements were described as particularly effective, allowing parliamentary officials to observe AI deployment in real operational environments. Standing professional networks — such as associations of clerks and secretary-generals — were presented as platforms for sustained dialogue beyond episodic conferences. Joint workshops, sub-regional seminars, and structured reporting mechanisms were also identified as mechanisms that transform awareness into institutional uptake.

The private-sector perspective underscored the importance of shared data standards and interoperability. As legislative information increasingly becomes machine-consumed rather than paper-read, collaboration on structured data formats and publishing practices becomes essential. Artificial intelligence systems depend on coherent, standardised legislative data; without coordinated efforts, fragmented publication models risk undermining accuracy and public trust.

The panel also addressed the evaluation of cooperation initiatives. Rather than relying solely on quantitative metrics such as number of events or participants, speakers pointed to qualitative indicators: continuity of engagement, institutional adoption of shared guidelines, replication of successful models, and the emergence of joint projects. The effectiveness of parliamentary diplomacy in the AI domain, they argued, should ultimately be measured by internal transformation within participating institutions.

Throughout the discussion, artificial intelligence was consistently framed as an instrument in service of democratic strengthening. Whether through enhanced citizen accessibility, improved legislative oversight, structured publication of parliamentary data, or more efficient internal workflows, cooperation was portrayed as a multiplier: enabling parliaments not merely to experiment with AI, but to integrate it responsibly within constitutional mandates.

In conclusion, the November panel reaffirmed that the implementation of artificial intelligence in parliaments is not primarily a technological challenge, but a cooperative one. When inter-parliamentary networks move from occasional exchanges to structured, continuous collaboration — grounded in standards, shared governance principles, and peer learning — they create the conditions for AI adoption that is coherent, ethical, and institutionally resilient.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On October 29th, 2025, Bússola Tech convened a LegisTech Talks debate titled “Step-by-Step on Creating a Committee on AI in Parliaments”, bringing together senior parliamentary officials and institutional partners to examine how legislatures can structure, govern, and operationalize dedicated bodies to oversee artificial intelligence.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel brought together Fuat Bayramoglu, Legislative Expert of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye; Ciaran Doyle, Assistant Secretary of the Houses of the Oireachtas; Márcio Tancredi, Executive Director of the Senado Federal of Brazil; and Bruno Thomasi, CEO of GovSys.

The discussion focused on why parliaments are increasingly creating dedicated committees, task forces, or working groups on artificial intelligence, and how these bodies can provide a structured space for strategic coordination across political leadership, parliamentary administration, and technical teams. AI committees were examined as mechanisms to elevate the discussion beyond isolated projects and embed artificial intelligence within institutional governance.

A central theme of the debate was the importance of treating AI not as a purely technical matter, but as a cross-cutting institutional issue involving legal frameworks, ethics, data governance, procurement, capacity-building, and political oversight. The panel emphasized that effective committees require clear mandates, defined scopes of action, and the ability to engage both internal parliamentary services and external expertise.

Participants also explored the composition and functioning of AI committees, highlighting the value of cross-party representation, administrative leadership, and technical expertise to ensure legitimacy and continuity. The discussion underscored that inclusive and representative structures help position AI as a shared institutional priority rather than a partisan or sector-specific initiative.

Significant attention was given to practical implementation strategies, including the use of pilot projects, phased approaches, and measurable criteria to guide decision-making and allow for timely course corrections. Committees were discussed as forums to balance innovation with risk management, ensuring that experimentation with AI remains aligned with parliamentary responsibility and democratic accountability.

The debate further examined how AI committees can contribute to broader digital maturity by fostering a culture of coordination, learning, and institutional alignment. Beyond overseeing individual projects, these bodies were framed as catalysts for long-term digital transformation, helping parliaments prepare for emerging technologies while reinforcing transparency, oversight, and public trust.

In conclusion, the panel reaffirmed that establishing a committee on artificial intelligence is not an end in itself, but a foundational governance step. When properly designed and integrated into existing institutional structures, such committees can help parliaments navigate the opportunities and risks of AI in a structured, accountable, and democratically grounded manner.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On October 15th, 2025, Bússola Tech hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “Data Governance in Parliaments – Preparing Parliamentary Data for AI Integration.” The session gathered parliamentary officials and specialists to explore how legislatures can structure and govern their data for safe and effective integration with artificial intelligence.

Moderated by Mr. Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel featured Mr. Grant Vergottini, CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies (United States); Mr. Günther Schefbeck, Head of Research at the Parliament of Austria; Mr. João Lima, Legislative IT Analyst at the Senado Federal of Brazil; and Mr. Prince Moinina Kenneh, AI Desk Officer at the Parliament of Sierra Leone.

The discussion opened with a round of introductions in which participants described their work and institutional perspectives on legislative data management. The first debate addressed the fundamental principles required to prepare parliamentary data for AI integration. The speakers highlighted how legislative data is often highly structured, yet varies in quality and accessibility when drawn from external sources. The importance of metadata, consistency, and semantic organization was underscored as essential for ensuring reliability and machine processability.

The second segment focused on how parliaments can connect data distributed across multiple domains and systems. Participants shared practical experiences from their institutions, including initiatives to unify legal and procedural data, integrate retrieval systems, and harmonize governance structures. The conversation emphasized the value of interoperability, standard formats, and relational databases to ensure that AI tools can access and interpret legislative information with contextual precision.

The panel then examined the role of XML standards and data modeling in supporting AI-ready legislative environments. Speakers reflected on the continued relevance of established standards such as Akoma Ntoso and LegalDocML, while also discussing emerging approaches to link data semantically and preserve authenticity across systems.

In the final discussion, participants agreed that strong data governance frameworks depend on people as much as on technology. They stressed the need for developing expertise in both legislative drafting and technical domains, promoting training in data literacy, XML, ontology, and AI ethics. The debate concluded with reflections on collaboration between parliaments, think tanks, and international partners to advance modernization and ensure AI adoption aligns with institutional independence and transparency.

The session reaffirmed that preparing parliamentary data for AI integration requires structure, interoperability, and a professional culture committed to accuracy, accountability, and innovation.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On September 25th, 2025, Bússola Tech hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Interface with Parliaments.” The event gathered parliamentary leaders and experts to explore how artificial intelligence can transform the interaction between citizens and legislative institutions.

Moderated by Mr. Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel welcomed Mr. Fotios Fitsilis, Head of Documentation from the Hellenic Parliament (Greece), Mr. Jurgens Pieterse, IT Manager from the Parliament of South Africa, Mr. Stephen Dwyer, Senior Innovation Director from the U.S. House of Representatives, and Mr. Vishwajit Singh, Partner from HawkAItrack.

The session opened with reflections on the current state of AI applied to the public platforms of Parliaments, including websites, applications, and generative models. Participants outlined the initiatives being implemented in their respective institutions and organizations to enhance access, transparency, and citizen engagement through AI-driven tools.

The discussion then examined one of the key challenges for applying AI in parliamentary platforms: transforming legacy data into structured, machine-readable formats. The speakers shared perspectives on how parliaments can organize text, video, and audio data to make them more effectively integrated with modern AI systems.

A second round of interventions focused on identifying which citizen-facing interfaces should be prioritized for modernization. The panelists discussed how AI could be used to strengthen access to legislative information, improve searchability, and promote greater participation from the public.

In the final segment, participants addressed how user experience and system design play a critical role in making AI-powered platforms clear and intuitive for citizens. They reflected on the principles that should guide parliaments in developing accessible and user-friendly digital environments.

The session concluded with final thoughts from all participants, reinforcing that artificial intelligence represents not only a technological advancement, but also an opportunity to reimagine how citizens connect with their parliaments in an increasingly digital world.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On August 28th, 2025, Bússola Tech convened a LegisTech Talks debate titled “Digitalisation of the Hansard – Beyond the Automatic Transcriptions”, bringing together parliamentary officials and technology practitioners to examine how digital tools and artificial intelligence are transforming the production, use, and public value of official parliamentary records.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel brought together Lynne Frappier, Head of Parliamentary Publications at the House of Commons of Canada; Juliana Baldoni Figueiredo, Hansard Director of the Câmara dos Deputados of Brazil; Brahma Mishra, CEO of MeetMonk; Ahto Saks, Administrative Director of the Riigikogu of Estonia; and Roberto Eberhardt, Chief Information Officer of the Ontario Legislative Assembly.

The discussion focused on how Hansard is evolving beyond automatic speech-to-text transcription toward more integrated, intelligent, and citizen-oriented parliamentary records. Participants examined the role of artificial intelligence in supporting speaker identification, topic classification, summarisation, indexing, multilingual environments, and the integration of transcripts with video, voting records, legislative documents, and other parliamentary data sources.

A central theme of the debate was the balance between automation and human editorial responsibility. While AI technologies were discussed as powerful enablers of speed, scalability, and accessibility, the panel emphasized that human oversight remains essential to ensure accuracy, neutrality, authority, and institutional trust in official parliamentary records.

The panel also addressed operational and organizational challenges, including workflow redesign, bilingual and multilingual complexity, system integration with legacy parliamentary platforms, staff training, and change management. The digitalisation of Hansard was framed not as a single technological upgrade, but as a continuous institutional transformation requiring careful governance and long-term planning.

Beyond internal parliamentary efficiency, the discussion explored how digitally enriched Hansard records can strengthen transparency and democratic engagement. By enabling faster publication, structured data, advanced search, and AI-assisted interaction with parliamentary debates, Hansard can evolve from a static archive into a dynamic knowledge resource for members of parliament, staff, researchers, journalists, and citizens.

In conclusion, the panel reaffirmed that modernising Hansard is a foundational element of parliamentary digital transformation. When guided by strong governance and editorial principles, the use of AI can enhance the speed, usability, and public value of parliamentary records, while preserving the integrity and trust that underpin democratic institutions.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On August 22nd, 2025, Bússola Tech convened a high-level debate titled “The Strategic Role of AI in Enhancing Accountability in Parliaments”, bringing together senior parliamentary officials and institutional partners to examine how artificial intelligence can contribute to stronger accountability, transparency, and public trust in legislative institutions.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel brought together Danilo Aguiar, Secretary-General of the Federal Senate of Brazil; Hugo de Rosas, Secretary of Parliamentary Services of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico; Xolile George, Secretary-General of the Parliament of South Africa; and Marcos Aquino, CEO of Ágape Consultoria.

The discussion centered on the premise that accountability in parliaments is not achieved solely through the publication of information, but through its intelligibility, accessibility, and contextualization. Artificial intelligence was examined as a tool capable of processing large volumes of parliamentary data and transforming them into usable, comprehensible information for citizens, legislators, and parliamentary staff, provided that its deployment is guided by clear governance principles.

A core theme of the debate was the distinction between instrumental use of AI and the preservation of parliamentary judgment and political responsibility. The panel emphasized that AI should support legislative, oversight, and participatory functions—such as data analysis, legislative comparison, information retrieval, and public-facing services—without replacing human deliberation, decision-making, or democratic accountability.

Participants also addressed the institutional and ethical risks associated with AI adoption in parliaments. These included the dangers of unchecked generative tools, disinformation, misuse of AI-generated content in political communication, and automated decision-making that could undermine legitimacy or public confidence. The discussion underscored the need for human oversight, explainability, traceability of sources, and safeguards to ensure that AI outputs remain aligned with verified parliamentary records.

Significant attention was given to the organizational and preparatory conditions required for responsible implementation. These included structured and reliable data, staff training, cybersecurity measures, regulatory clarity, and integration with existing parliamentary systems. The panel highlighted that AI adoption should follow a gradual, iterative approach, allowing institutions to test use cases, measure impact, and adjust governance frameworks over time.

The debate further explored how AI can enhance core parliamentary functions such as oversight and public participation, enabling more effective analysis of government performance, synthesis of public submissions, multilingual access to proceedings, and clearer communication of legislative activity. At the same time, it was emphasized that technology alone cannot resolve challenges of trust or legitimacy without corresponding institutional commitment and cultural change.

In conclusion, the panel reaffirmed that artificial intelligence should be treated as a strategic support tool embedded within democratic values, rather than a technological shortcut. Strengthening accountability through AI requires not only technical capability, but also sustained institutional governance, ethical responsibility, and a long-term vision that reinforces the role of parliaments as transparent, representative, and trusted democratic institutions in the digital era.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners:

Join our Newsletter

On August 15th, 2025, Bússola Tech hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “The Main Challenges Secretaries-General of Parliaments Face When Considering an Artificial Intelligence Implementation.” The session brought together senior parliamentary leaders and experts to examine the institutional, strategic, and operational complexities that arise when adopting artificial intelligence in legislatures.

Moderated by Mr. Wade Ballou, Legislative Counsel (Retired) at the U.S. House of Representatives, the panel featured Mr. Bruno Thomasi, CEO at GovSys; Mr. James Pinnell, Deputy Head of Programmes at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; Mr. Jason Smith, Parliamentarian at the U.S. House of Representatives; and Mr. José Pedro Montero, Secretary-General at the Cámara de Senadores de Uruguay and President of the Association of the Secretaries-General of Parliaments.

The session opened with introductory remarks from each participant. Mr. Montero underscored the difficulties faced by Secretaries-General in balancing institutional traditions with the disruptive nature of AI, highlighting the need for robust governance frameworks, ethical safeguards, and gradual, step-by-step implementation. Mr. Pinnell stressed that AI adoption must start from institutional mandates rather than technological trends, warning against “solutions in search of a problem” and calling for pilot projects, capacity-building, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Mr. Smith shared the U.S. House of Representatives’ experience in building continuous communities of practice around modernization, emphasizing the importance of trust, agency, and ongoing dialogue to reduce resistance and foster institutional buy-in. Mr. Thomasi offered a technological perspective, noting that parliamentary innovation is never just about systems but about harmonizing people, processes, and expectations. He advocated for incremental pilots, framing AI benefits in terms relevant to each stakeholder group, and ensuring that small wins are communicated widely to build momentum.

The discussion evolved into a structured examination of core challenges:

• Governance and ethics in AI adoption, including transparency, accountability, and safeguards against systemic risks.

• Change management strategies to overcome institutional inertia, address emotional resistance, and empower staff and legislators through training and participation.

• Resilience in facing the unexpected, through scenario planning, safe testing environments, and open communication channels to address failures before they escalate.

• The role of transparency not only towards the public but also within parliamentary institutions, ensuring trust among staff, members, and external stakeholders.

Closing reflections emphasized that artificial intelligence in parliaments cannot be treated merely as a technical upgrade. Instead, it represents a deeper institutional transformation that touches the core of democratic practice. The panelists agreed that success depends on gradual experimentation, strong ethical frameworks, sustained capacity-building, and a cultural shift toward transparency and trust.

Overall, the session provided a comprehensive account of the strategic, organizational, and cultural dimensions of AI adoption in legislatures, offering practical insights for parliaments seeking to harness emerging technologies while preserving democratic legitimacy and institutional resilience.

Access the Recording

Strategic Partners: