World AIDS Day, 1 December 2024

Today, on World AIDS Day we at SONAR CMS join millions around the globe to unify in the fight against HIV, show support for those living with the virus, and remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses. 

Since the early 1980s, approximately 21,000 people in the UK have died from HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. In 2021, there were 646 deaths among people with HIV in the UK, with non-AIDS cancers being the most common cause.  

This year’s theme, “Let’s End Inequalities, End Aids.”, resonates deeply with our mission to enhance healthcare pathways and interoperability within the Health and Justice landscape.  For us, it’s not just about technology, it’s about using innovation to ensure that no one is left behind in receiving the care and support they need.   

The Role of Technology in HIV Care 

HIV care has evolved significantly, with digital tools and systems playing a pivotal role in improving patient outcomes.  At SONAR CMS, we are proud to contribute to this evolution by providing healthcare providers with the data insight they need to deliver personalised, timely and effective care.   

Our work supports the integration of health systems, allowing healthcare teams within the justice sector to: 

• Ensure continuity of care for patients living with HIV as they move through the justice system. 

• Track and address gaps in care such as missed appointments or treatment interruptions. 

• Empower patients by enabling better communication between healthcare provider and support services.   

Breaking Barriers to Care 

Despite progress, stigma and inequalities continue to be significant barriers to accessing HIV care, especially for vulnerable populations.  Our commitment is to leverage data and technology to dismantle these barriers, ensuring that healthcare pathways are equitable and inclusive.   

Whether it’s improving data quality to better inform care decisions or enabling seamless information sharing across providers, our solutions aim to build a future where technology supports humanity’s most important goals: better health and equality for all. 

How You Can Help

• Educate Yourself: Learn the facts about HIV and share accurate information to combat stigma. 

• Get Tested: Knowing your status is the first step toward taking control of your health. 

• Support Initiatives: Advocate for and support programs that provide care and education for vulnerable communities. 

Today and every day, we stand with healthcare professionals, advocates, and individuals working tirelessly to make AIDS a thing of the past. Together, we can build a future that is healthier, fairer, and free of stigma. 

John White

Founder and CEO

Exploring AI’s Future: Insights from the Financial Times Future of AI Summit 2024

On the 6-7th of November 2024, the Financial Times hosted their annual Future of AI Summit. The event brought together global experts from technology, business, and policy to discuss the evolving landscape of AI, focusing on key innovations and the challenges ahead. The summit's emphasis on AI-powered enterprises, responsible regulation, and the economic impact of AI aligns closely with SONAR's mission to implement ethical AI technologies that enhance outcomes across health within Criminal Justice. Our Head of Emerging Technologies and Solutions, Joe Doyle, was in attendance to gain vital insights from the demoes, workshops and talks held throughout the two-day event. The event agenda including speakers and topics covered can be found here.

Summit Goals and Major Discussions

The summit aimed to assess the latest advancements in AI across the globe and address the challenges companies face when integrating AI into their operations.

Geoff Dryer and Josephine Teo during the opening keynote speech at the Future of AI Summit

Keynote speakers and discussions at the summit highlighted AI's transformative potential across industries. Singapore’s Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information, revealed that 65,000 government employees now use a secure ChatGPT system and have created 7,000 AI agents to perform routine tasks, illustrating that AI adoption is already underway.

Peter Kyle, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, stated the UK government forecast the AI industry going from £1 billion to £6.5 billion by 2035. This was backed by Clare Barclay, President of Enterprise and Industry for Microsoft EMEA, discussing a landmark deal has been made with the UK government to further utilise AI ensuring that privacy and data protection with the use of AI in the ecosystem would match that of their 365-product suite used around the globe. To meet these projected demands Microsoft are currently deploying a new datacentre every 3 days!

For companies jumping on board now it is important to note AI adoption is still in its early adopter phase as highlighted by Ana Paula Assis, Chair and General Manager of IBM EMEA. She gave a refreshing statistic on how approximately 1% of companies have onboarded their data over to some form of AI application. Parallel to this, in one of the keynote speeches for “AI on the world stage”, involving Nikos Loutas, Director of Innovation at NATO and Cristina Vanberghen, Professor and Senior Expert at the European Commission, we learned some of these use cases involved a wide range of industries. From smaller models natively hosted in hospitals managing data transfers and forms, monitoring resources to tackle wildfires, a combined effort with META and the US government to create a cybersecurity-based AI and even interest from NATO for civilian and military purposes.

Driving Innovation in the Face of the EU AI Act Workshop

Novel insights and reassurances were provided in the “Driving Innovation in the Face of the EU AI Act” workshop hosted by the global law firm, DLA Piper.

Open discussions took place with multiple businesses about the current state of their AI governance in place. Examples laid out by DLA Piper on just how to write your companies AI policy from a practical standpoint. The discussions became a blend of addressing the variances between the need for model vs use case regulation and the right path forward when navigating the nuances between both the UK and EU AI acts. Mentioned were the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) voluntary frameworks and the arrival of the EU AI Act templates expected to arrive in 2025 from the EU’s AI Office. This will provide further guidance and an approach industry can take to remain compliant under the EU AI Act.

One of the main takeaways was that employees everywhere want to use AI to aid their work. A clear change in sentiment is forming where company representatives came out stating how there was a noticeable uptake in the use of AI which needed relevant policies and governance structures agnostic to the given industry that they came from. An example was given of a company that prevented work emails from being used with certain known AI services like ChatGPT. Stemming from this they saw a tenfold increase in the use of personal emails sending AI generated content to their corresponding company emails instead.

Conclusion: Reflections and SONAR’s Commitment to Responsible AI

The Financial Times Future of AI Summit 2024 attracted over six hundred senior decision-makers, including executives, data scientists, AI leaders, and policymakers, facilitating rich exchanges of ideas and potential collaborations.

For SONAR, it was an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and explore partnerships to advance AI-driven innovation in Health and Justice, underscoring our dedication to responsible AI implementation. The summit reinforced SONAR's belief in collaboration, ethical standards, and informed dialogue as AI integrates into business and society.

A special thank you to the Financial Times team for hosting this event and fostering such meaningful discussions on the future of AI.

John White

Founder and CEO

SONAR CMS Sponsors Thriving Survivors' 2nd Annual Conference on Sibling Sexual Abuse

On the 10th of October 2024, the Thriving Survivors' 2nd Annual Conference on Sibling Sexual Abuse (SSA) took place in the historic Trades Hall of Glasgow. It was a ground-breaking event sponsored by SONAR CMS. This landmark conference brought together experts, survivors, and professionals to address the critical and often overlooked issue of SSA.

Stuart Allardyce, Director at The Lucy Faithful Foundation and conference chair, welcomed attendees to a day of insightful discussions and expert contributions. The objective of the conference was to shed light on the prevalence, challenges, and long-term impacts of SSA while providing practical strategies for prevention, intervention, and recovery.

Keynote speakers delivered powerful and emotive presentations that set the tone for the conference. Ashley Scotland, the founder of Thriving Survivors, discussed her own experiences along with the organisation's mission for making a difference. Professor Kieran McCarten, Professor of Criminology at University of the West of England, explored quantifying Key Performance Indicators and the societal impacts of SSA. Amy Adams, doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham, added to this by providing valuable legal perspectives on safeguarding and justice. David Russell, Development Lead and Service Manager at Thriving Survivors, delivered a compelling keynote speech, “Putting it all into practice”, on embedding research within practice to enhance understanding of SSA. David emphasised the importance of integrating research findings into practical applications to improve interventions for survivors and families. Additionally, Jane Epstein, Co-founding member of 5WAVES, captivated the audience with her recount of how she began spreading awareness on SSA, inspiring many with her dedication and tireless efforts to bring this critical issue to the forefront of public consciousness. Her Ted Talk is linked here.

The conference included a series of hands-on workshops that tackled essential topics related to SSA. For more information and a breakdown of what was discussed please see the link to the Thriving Survivors 2024 itinerary here.

These workshops equipped the attendees with practical frameworks and strategies to better support SSA survivors, those responsible for the harm, and affected families.

How SONAR can help the current support system

As the main sponsor, SONAR CMS demonstrated its commitment to trauma-informed care and justice for vulnerable groups. Our support highlighted a strong alignment with Thriving Survivors' mission to elevate the voices of SSA survivors and the professionals dedicated to supporting them.

Our involvement went beyond financial sponsorship. Throughout the conference, we displayed how our data management systems support healthcare professionals and agencies in achieving better outcomes for survivors. By providing timely and accurate information, SONAR CMS facilitates informed decision-making crucial for sensitive cases like SSA. Our technology promotes effective communication between agencies, fostering a coordinated approach to supporting survivors.

The conference attracted a diverse audience of professionals, including social workers, counsellors, psychologists, educators, and healthcare providers. Attendees had ample opportunities to engage with experts, ask questions, and gain insights into best practices for prevention, intervention, and recovery.

One of the key benefits of this conference was the emphasis on lived experiences. Survivors and professionals with extensive experience shared their perspectives, enriching the discussions and providing invaluable insights.

Looking ahead, both Thriving Survivors and SONAR CMS remain committed to driving meaningful change in addressing SSA and broader trauma-related challenges and other sectors. The conference highlighted the ongoing need for dedicated efforts in this field, and SONAR CMS pledged to continue providing tools that empower professionals and enhance outcomes for survivors.

The Thriving Survivors' 2nd Annual Conference on SSA marks a significant step forward in addressing this critical issue. By bringing together experts, survivors, and professionals, the conference has laid the groundwork for improved understanding, support, and intervention strategies in cases of sibling sexual abuse. The success of this conference underscores the importance of continued collaboration between organisations like Thriving Survivors and technology providers like SONAR CMS.

References:

Jane Epstein - “Giving Voice to Sibling Sexual Abuse” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X5TvYrHxTA 

Thriving Survivors Itinerary - https://www.thrivingsurvivors.co.uk/event-details/ts-annual-conference-2024

John White

Founder and CEO