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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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On July 31st, 2025, Bússola Tech hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “The Financial Requirements for Parliamentary Modernisation.” The event gathered senior parliamentary leaders to explore the budgetary, political, and institutional challenges of financing modernization in Parliaments.

Moderated by Mr. Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel welcomed Dr. David Wilson, Clerk of the House of Representatives of New Zealand; Mr. Marty Bickford, Vice President at Xcential Legislative Technologies; Mr. Miguel Landeros, Secretary-General of the Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados of Chile; and Mr. Moisés Benamor, Chief of Representative Institutions at the Organization of American States.

The session opened with reflections on the initial considerations parliaments must address when allocating funds for modernization. Dr. Wilson emphasized affordability and the importance of financial independence for legislatures to avoid dependency on executive priorities, while also highlighting New Zealand’s progress toward budgetary autonomy. Mr. Landeros described Chile’s long-term investment planning, including innovative approaches such as token-based valuation of digital services, and underlined the need for parliamentary commissions to validate and sustain modernization programs. Mr. Bickford stressed that modernization is not an event but a continuous cultural process, advocating for short-term, iterative projects that deliver measurable value and protect budget continuity. Mr. Benamor pointed to the lack of planning culture in many legislatures across the Americas, noting that budget under-execution remains a chronic obstacle to modernization.

The panel also examined the political challenges of securing approval for modernization budgets. Speakers highlighted the difficulty of convincing members of parliament to invest in projects that often extend beyond electoral cycles, and the need to frame modernization initiatives in ways that resonate with both legislators’ mandates and citizens’ expectations. Strategies included linking projects to tangible benefits such as transparency, accessibility, and efficiency in service delivery.

A key focus was the balance between risk and responsibility in engaging innovative companies and solutions. Mr. Bickford and Mr. Landeros emphasized the importance of building flexible, standards-based systems that allow for modular upgrades and reduce long-term risks. The discussion underscored that transparency, user engagement, and continuous measurement are essential to avoid failure and ensure financial accountability.

Finally, participants debated whether modernization investments should prioritize short-term, modular initiatives or long-term institutional reforms. While acknowledging the challenges posed by frequent leadership changes, panelists agreed that combining incremental steps with a broader strategic vision offers the best path forward, ensuring continuity and resilience while delivering visible results.

Concluding the session, each panelist underscored that financial planning for parliamentary modernization is not merely a technical exercise, but a political and institutional commitment. The discussion highlighted that securing adequate and sustainable funding, fostering political will, and embedding modernization into long-term institutional culture are critical steps for parliaments to remain effective, transparent, and responsive in the digital era.

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On July 23rd, 2025, Bússola Tech hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “Integrating Legacy Systems and New Technologies in Parliaments.” The event convened senior parliamentary officials and technology experts to examine the detailed strategic, technical, and institutional considerations involved in harmonizing existing legacy parliamentary systems with emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the panel featured Esteban Sanches, Head of IT System Development at Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados of Chile, Jonathan Ruckert, CEO of NovaWorks Australia, and Ludovic Delepiné, Head of IT Governance and Enterprise Architecture Unit at the European Parliament.

The session opened with comprehensive presentations by each speaker, detailing specific institutional experiences, challenges, and strategic approaches. Esteban Sanches highlighted phased integration processes used within the Chilean Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados, underscoring methods such as incremental user-interface updates and hybrid cloud solutions. He emphasized the significance of structured data migration and rigorous data cleaning to preserve information integrity when modernizing legacy systems.

Jonathan Ruckert contributed insights on innovative architectural strategies deployed by NovaWorks Australia, focusing on modular system architectures that allow gradual adoption of new technologies without disrupting ongoing parliamentary operations. He illustrated the importance of leveraging API-driven platforms to ensure compatibility between legacy systems and modern technological implementations.

Ludovic Delepiné shared the experience of the European Parliament in managing intricate integrations between multiple legacy systems and new technology frameworks. He discussed advanced data interoperability standards and underscored the criticality of comprehensive governance models to manage technological evolution within complex institutional structures.

The dialogue was further enriched through a structured discussion around critical topics. Speakers explored standards and best practices for ensuring seamless data interoperability between legacy systems and AI-driven solutions. They also debated architectural approaches for modularizing legacy systems, highlighting strategies to maintain interoperability and compatibility across diverse technological platforms. Additionally, the conversation addressed the decision-making processes used by parliaments to identify when legacy systems have reached a tipping point of unsustainability, particularly when considering the efficiency and strategic benefits of adopting cutting-edge technologies like AI.

Concluding the session, each participant delivered closing reflections emphasizing the essential role of robust data governance, proactive cross-functional collaboration, and strategic alignment between technical innovation and institutional objectives. The discussion underscored the critical importance of meticulous preparation, foresight, and adaptability for parliamentary institutions navigating the digital transformation era.

Overall, the panel effectively highlighted the complexity and significance of integrating legacy systems with advanced technologies, providing practical insights and actionable strategies for parliamentary institutions aiming for sustainable digital modernization.

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On June 18th, 2025, Bússola Tech hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “Preparing Parliamentary Staff to Work, Adapt, and Thrive in the Digital Transformation.” The session convened senior parliamentary officials and technology experts to explore how legislative institutions can support their staff in adapting to increasingly digital and AI-enabled work environments.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the discussion featured the following distinguished speakers:

• Catherine Szpindor, Chief Administrator Officer at the U.S. House of Representatives;

• Jonathan Ruckert, CEO of NovaWorks Australia;

• Luiz Fernando Bandeira de Mello, Legal Director for the President of the Senado Federal of Brazil;

• Federico Fernandes, Head of Institutional Strengthening at the Senate of Argentina.

The panel began with opening presentations in which each participant shared institutional perspectives or relevant experiences on preparing parliamentary staff for the challenges and opportunities presented by digital transformation. These included considerations related to internal capacity-building, structural adaptation, and the role of external expertise in modernisation processes.

The discussion then turned to a series of targeted questions addressing some of the most pressing topics in this domain. The first focused on the widespread concern among staff about potential role displacement due to AI. The second explored which new technical skill sets — such as prompt engineering, AI oversight, and data literacy — are becoming increasingly important within legislative institutions. The third question examined how parliaments can enable non-technical staff to make use of no-code and low-code platforms as part of broader digital reforms.

Each speaker contributed their perspective to these questions, grounded in their institutional context or professional expertise. The session concluded with brief final remarks from each participant, summarising key takeaways and practical considerations for parliaments aiming to build more digitally resilient and future-ready teams.

The panel reinforced the importance of intentional staff development, cross-functional collaboration, and the careful integration of new technologies into legislative environments. It highlighted the need for sustained investment in both technical capacity and institutional culture to ensure that parliamentary staff are equipped not only to adapt, but to lead in the digital era.

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Bússola Tech, in collaboration with the Hellenic OCR Team and the University of Zeppelin, successfully hosted a one-day virtual workshop on June 6th, 2025, focused on developing a research agenda on the current state of artificial intelligence in Brazilian state legislatures. The event was hosted by the Assembleia Legislativa do Espírito Santo and was organized in partnership with Ágape Consulting.

The workshop gathered a distinguished group of senior parliamentary officials and experts, including Juliano Rafael Bringer Nunes from Ágape Consulting, Leonardo Rassi and Helio Silva from the Assembleia Legislativa de Goiás, Eliziane Esteves and Marcelo Fonseca from the Assembleia Legislativa de Minas Gerais, Fábio Vinícius Ferreira Moreira and Clayton José Araújo de Aguiar from the Assembleia Legislativa de Pernambuco, Marcio Welter from the Assembleia Legislativa de Santa Catarina, Frederico Bortolato and Felipe dos Santos Gomes from the Assembleia Legislativa de São Paulo, Leandro Morais de Oliveira from the Assembleia Legislativa do Amazonas, Marcos Aquino from the Assembleia Legislativa do Espírito Santo, Gabriel Lucas Barros from the Assembleia Legislativa do Mato Grosso, and Dylliard Alessi from the Assembleia Legislativa do Paraná.

Discussions centered around a comprehensive set of research questions proposed by Jorn von Lucke and Fotios Fitsilis, aiming to outline key areas for investigation and development regarding artificial intelligence applications in parliamentary operations.

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On June 4th, 2025, Bússola Tech hosted a panel discussion titled “Securing Members’ Support for Modernisation Initiatives in Subnational Parliaments.” The session brought together parliamentary officials and technology experts to reflect on how digital and procedural reforms can gain, challenge, or reshape member engagement within subnational legislative institutions.

Moderated by Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the discussion featured distinguished speakers:

• Valerie Quioc Lim, Deputy Clerk and Executive Director of Legislative Services at the Ontario Legislative Assembly (Canada);

• Tom Duncan, Clerk of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly (Australia);

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

• Marcos Aquino, CEO of Ágape Consulting (Brazil).

The panel began with each participant outlining their assembly’s current modernisation process and highlighting key operational challenges. From entrenched procedural traditions and member priorities outside of technology to varying levels of digital literacy among legislators and staff, the speakers provided first-hand perspectives on the realities of introducing reforms in their respective jurisdictions.

In the second segment, the discussion pivoted toward an ideal scenario: how each panellist would redesign their engagement systems from the ground up. The responses underlined the importance of regular benchmarking against peer legislatures, clear timelines and benefits in an annual innovation roadmap, early user-testing with small groups of legislators, and digital-literacy orientation for incoming members.

The third round focused on the potential risks of rapid or poorly managed modernisation. Concerns raised included the erosion of substantive committee deliberation, the creation of a digital divide among legislators, the pitfalls of standalone tools lacking strategic integration, and the danger of diminishing the human element that safeguards democratic scrutiny.

Next, the panellists examined how their current processes could be incrementally improved. They considered pragmatic enhancements, such as piloting new portals in select member offices, setting measurable benchmarks for efficiency gains, organizing quarterly “tech roundtables” to share small workflow improvements, and publishing evidence-based dashboards to demonstrate cost-effectiveness.

The discussion concluded with a final round in which each speaker shared a key “do” or “don’t” for institutions considering digital or AI-driven reforms. The closing remarks emphasised the need to schedule major procedural reviews away from election cycles, prioritise member experience through early engagement, avoid treating technology as a substitute for deliberation, and codify technology usage within internal rules to resist political backsliding.

The panel underscored the vital role of collaboration between technologists, legislative staff, and institutional leaders to ensure that any transformation remains aligned with the constitutional role and responsibilities of subnational parliaments.

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Bússola Tech, in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS), hosted the “LegisTech: Digital Agenda in Parliaments” conference on May 8th and 9th, 2025, in Washington, DC. Held at the U.S. House of Representatives and the Organization of American States, the event convened Members of Parliament, senior parliamentary officials, parliamentary administrators, and technology experts from across the Americas, Europe, and Asia to discuss the strategic development of digital agendas in legislative institutions.

The conference focused on the role of digital transformation and artificial intelligence in strengthening parliamentary efficiency, institutional resilience, transparency, cybersecurity, and citizen engagement. Across two days of presentations and panel discussions, participants examined governance frameworks, implementation strategies, and practical use cases for digital technologies within legislative environments.

The opening session on May 8th featured Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, and Moises Benamor, Chief of Representative Institutions at the Organization of American States (OAS). This was followed by opening presentations by each delegation on “The Role of the Digital Agenda in Parliaments of the Future”. Speakers included Stephanie Bice, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Modernization of Congress at the U.S. House of Representatives; Grant Vergottini, CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies; Ed Malaga, Member of Congress of Peru; Juan Carlos Montoya, Vice-President of the Inter-American Commission of Science and Technology of the OAS; Marcos Aquino, CEO of Ágape Consulting; Juliano Bringer, CIO of Ágape Consulting; Eric Aedo, Vice-President of the Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados of Chile; Karim Bianchi, Senator of the Senado de la República of Chile; Federico Döring Casar, Member of the Cámara de Diputados of Mexico; and Brahma Mishra, CEO of MeetMonk.

The first panel discussion, “The Future of Parliaments: What Does Parliamentary Representation in the Future Look Like?”, was moderated by Luís Kimaid and featured Eric Aedo, Vice-President of the Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados of Chile; Federico Döring Casar, Member of the Cámara de Diputados of Mexico; and Grant Vergottini, CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies.

The afternoon sessions addressed cybersecurity concerns in parliaments, with a panel moderated by Moises Benamor and contributions from Kerry-Ann Barrett, Chief of the Cybersecurity Section of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE); Ed Malaga, Member of Congress of Peru; and Karim Bianchi, Senator of the Senate of Chile. The programme also included an official visit to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and a formal photo session at the Rayburn Room.

A dedicated session presented the book “Artificial Intelligence in Legislative Services: Principles for Effective Implementation”, featuring Luís Kimaid, Wade Ballou, Legislative Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (retired); Fotis Fitsilis, Head of Department of Scientific Documentation and Supervision at the Scientific Service of the Hellenic Parliament; Grant Vergottini, Moises Benamor and Brahma Mishra.

The final panel of the first day, “Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Participation and Citizens’ Oversight in Parliaments”, included Luís Kimaid; Fotis Fitsilis; Kyoungshin Kim, Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Bureau at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea; Bruno Thomasi, CEO of GovSys; and Daniel Schuman, American Governance Institute.

The second day, May 9th, held at the Organization of American States, focused on case presentations on the use of artificial intelligence in parliaments. Presentations were delivered by Stephen Dwyer, Senior Innovation Director at the U.S. House of Representatives; Danilo Aguiar, Secretary-General of the Senado Federal of Brazil; Marcos Aquino, CEO of Ágape Consulting; Juliano Bringer, CIO of Ágape Consulting; Miguel Landeros, Secretary-General of the Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados of Chile; Juan Oses, Director of International Relations of the Senado de la República of Chile; Grant Vergottini, CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies; José Andrés Jiménez Martín, Head of the ICT Technical Advisory Department of the Congreso de los Diputados of Spain; Javier de Andrés Blasco, Adviser to the Secretary-General of the Congreso de los Diputados of Spain; Brahma Mishra, CEO of MeetMonk; Kyoungshin Kim, Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Bureau of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea; Bruno Thomasi, CEO of GovSys; Alexandre Bess, CEO of Legalbot; Fotios Fitsilis, Head of Documentation at the Hellenic Parliament; and Cathy Pagano, iLegis.

The afternoon panels addressed the alignment between modernisation strategies and parliamentary rules of procedure, moderated by Moises Benamor, with Stephen Dwyer, Fotis Fitsilis, and Luís Fernando Pires Machado, Adviser at GovSys. This was followed by a panel on the use of generative artificial intelligence for procedural and legal advice, moderated by Luís Kimaid, and featuring Miguel Landeros; Kirsten Gullickson, Director of Systems Analysis and Quality Assurance at the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives; Danilo Aguiar; and Grant Vergottini.

The final sessions focused on preparing parliaments for digital legislative processes and machine-readable information, with contributions from Wade Ballou; Javier de Andrés Blasco; Jordan Wilson, Director of Member Services, Modernization & Innovation at the U.S. House of Representatives; Juan Oses; and Marcos Aquino. The closing panel, “The Anticipated Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Enhancing Legislative Openness and Comprehensibility”, was moderated by Luís Kimaid and included José Andrés Jiménez Martín; Warren Burke, Chief Legislative Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives; and Alexandre Bess.

The conference concluded after two days of substantive discussions and exchanges, reinforcing the importance of coordinated digital agendas, institutional governance, and international cooperation in advancing the digital transformation of parliaments worldwide.

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The conference centered on the theme “Modernisation of Subnational Parliaments,” underscoring the growing necessity for technological innovation in legislatures. Through a series of presentations and panel discussions, participants examined how artificial intelligence can be integrated into legislative workflows, assessed procedural adaptations required for new technologies, and compared modernisation initiatives implemented by subnational assemblies globally. The event demonstrated Bússola Tech’s and the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Norte’s shared commitment to advancing more efficient, transparent, and resilient parliamentary institutions.

The opening session featured remarks from Ezequiel Ferreira, President of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Norte; Augusto Viveiros, Director-General of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Norte; and Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech. Each speaker highlighted the unique challenges faced by subnational legislatures and the importance of collaboration across jurisdictions to drive meaningful change.

A keynote panel discussion titled “What Does It Mean to Be a Modern Legislature in the Age of New Technologies?” was moderated by Luís Kimaid and included contributions from Augusto Viveiros, Roberto Eberhardt, CIO of the Ontario Legislative Assembly (Canada); Andy Beattie, Chief Parliamentary Counsel in Scotland; and Martin Montes, Professor at the Austral University of Argentina. The panelists shared their perspectives on institutional readiness, the balance between tradition and innovation, and lessons learned from diverse legislative environments.

Following the panel, Mário Sérgio Gurgel, Technology Director of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Norte, presented an overview of the modernisation efforts underway in Rio Grande do Norte, detailing recent digital tools and process improvements. Roberto Eberhardt then described the modernization journey of the Ontario Legislative Assembly. Wade Ballou, Legislative Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (retired), showcased the U.S. House’s Comparative Print Suite project, demonstrating how automated comparison of legislative texts has streamlined review processes. Later, Luís Kimaid, Wade Ballou, Fotis Fitsilis (Head of Department of Scientific Documentation and Supervision, Scientific Service of the Hellenic Parliament), and Grant Vergottini (CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies), presented the book “Artificial Intelligence in Legislative Services: Principles for Effective Implementation,” discussing best practices, ethical considerations, and pilot cases from various parliaments.

An additional session featured William Clark, Program Principal of the U.S. National Conference of State Legislatures, who outlined the NCSL’s digital initiatives, and Sean McSpaden, Principal Legislative IT Analyst of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, who shared Oregon’s experience implementing new digital tools. Grant Vergottini returned to discuss “Effective Usage of Artificial Intelligence in Legislative Drafting”.

On the second day, a panel on “Challenges for the Implementation of New Technologies in Legislative Services” was again moderated by Luís Kimaid, with William Clark, Mário Sérgio Gurgel, Fotis Fitsilis, Grant Vergottini, and Sean McSpaden as panelists. They examined issues such as change management, data governance and integration with legacy systems, as challenges to successfully adopt innovative technologies.

Midday presentations included Ornella Vanzillotta, Director of International Relations and Cooperation of the Buenos Aires Legislature, who described Buenos Aires’s digital modernization roadmap; Fotis Fitsilis, who presented the latest academic research on artificial intelligence applications in parliamentary contexts; Bernice Watson, Clerk Assistant of the Queensland Parliament (Australia), who outlined Queensland’s phased approach to e-committee systems; and Andy Beattie, who discussed the Scottish Legislative Counsel’s adoption of e-Law.

The final panel, “Procedural Preparations Legislatures Should Adopt for Emerging Technologies,” was moderated by Luís Kimaid and featured Wade Ballou, Bernice Watson, Tatiana Cunha, Legislative Director of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Norte, and Luís Fernando Pires Machado, Legislative Process Professor. Together, they emphasized the need for updated standing orders, new training programs for legislative staff, and frameworks to ensure transparency and public trust as AI and other technologies become integral to law-making.

Closing remarks were delivered by Augusto Viveiros, and Luís Kimaid, who reflected on the collective insights shared over two days and reiterated the event’s goal of fostering lasting collaboration among subnational legislatures. The conference concluded marking the culmination of an impactful exchange of ideas aimed at shaping the future of modern, technology-driven parliaments.

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On April 16th, 2025, Bússola Tech hosted a panel discussion titled “The Role of Clerks and Secretaries-General of Parliaments in Driving the Modernisation.” The session explored the strategic leadership roles played by parliamentary officials in evaluating, guiding, and implementing modernisation efforts within legislative institutions.

Moderated by Mr. Luís Kimaid, Executive Director of Bússola Tech, the discussion featured distinguished speakers: Mr. Kevin McCumber, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Eric Janse, Clerk of the House of Commons of Canada, Mr. James Pinnell, Deputy Head of Programmes of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and Mr. Grant Vergottini, CEO of Xcential Legislative Technologies.

The panel began with reflections on the key considerations that Clerks and Secretaries-General must weigh when evaluating modernisation proposals—whether they originate from IT departments, business units within parliaments, or from Members themselves. The speakers emphasised the need to align initiatives with institutional mandates, legal frameworks, and operational readiness.

In the second segment, the conversation shifted to the challenges and benefits of embedding digital innovation—such as artificial intelligence, accessibility standards, and modern legislative infrastructures—into the formal rules of procedure. Participants underlined the importance of transforming procedural norms into enforceable mechanisms for sustainable modernisation.

The third round focused on how legislative leaders can draw from successful modernisation efforts in other jurisdictions while remaining attentive to procedural and contextual nuances. The panellists highlighted the need to balance inspiration with institutional specificity to ensure reforms are both impactful and appropriate.

Following this, the discussion addressed the long-term role of Clerks and Secretaries-General in anticipating emerging technologies and equipping parliaments to adapt. From AI to remote deliberation, the speakers stressed the importance of future-proofing legislative processes through proactive leadership and principled experimentation.

The panel concluded with final thoughts from each participant, underscoring the central role that procedural guardians play in enabling thoughtful, effective, and institutionally grounded modernisation. The session reaffirmed that innovation in parliaments must be guided not only by technical feasibility but also by a deep understanding of legislative tradition and democratic responsibility.

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