I work as a Lead Technical Architect at the Home Office within the Automation and Innovation function of the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) department.
Before joining the Home Office, I spent over 20 years in the IT industry. My career has taken me across the globe, from India to the USA, Australia, and now the UK. I started as a Developer Analyst and later worked with several financial organisations, including government departments and banks. Along the way, I built expertise in open systems, cloud platforms, .NET and C#, and enterprise-grade software architecture.
I’ve been involved in many major digital transformation programmes across several government departments. This experience deepened my understanding of public sector technology and sparked a passion for using digital tools to improve public services.
After earning my Microsoft Power Platform certificate (along with several other enriching qualifications), I joined the Home Office’s Automation Centre. It felt like the right place to combine technical expertise with a sense of purpose and to develop solutions that make a real difference.
What drew me to the Automation Centre specifically was the opportunity to work with low-code platforms like Power Platform. I’m a strong believer in the rise of the ‘Citizen Developer’ and the potential of low-code tools to drive innovation quickly and cost-effectively. It’s exciting to be part of a team that’s leading this change.
As a Lead Technical Architect, my days are varied and fast-paced. I provide architectural direction across multiple projects, from discovery through to release. This includes managing technical design packs, supporting triage sessions, leading service reviews, and collaborating with teams across delivery, development, and security teams. I also work closely with Service Design and Transformation Managers to support post-deployment processes and procedures.
I create high-level and low-level designs, diagrams, and models to support each project’s technical framework. This includes Technical Design Authority packs, Data Design Authority packs, Lightweight Assurance Documents, C4 diagrams, and supporting models to establish the technical framework for projects. I also review peer architecture design packs and ensure that triage requests are addressed with appropriate input from the Technical Architect.
Tools like Mural, Visio, Draw.io, and Sparx Enterprise Architect help us visualise and validate our work. I’m also actively involved in peer reviews, testing discussions, and helping ensure accessibility and non-functional requirements are well integrated. These are areas that often get overlooked in other organisations.
One of the most exciting projects I’ve been fortunate to take part in is the AI-driven Asylum Case Summarisation (ACS) and Asylum Policy Search (APS) systems. It’s been rewarding to see these tools gain recognition both internally and externally.
More recently, I developed a presentation for the Model Context Protocol server (an open protocol that standardises how applications provide context to large language models) that was well received by the Head of Architecture and shared with the wider team. These experiences have helped me understand how Automation and Innovation can be applied responsibly in government. I’m proud that our team is shaping the future of AI.
I’m particularly proud of the architectural approvals I’ve secured for several high-impact projects. These have led to improved efficiency and cost savings for teams such as Migration and Borders Technology Portfolio and Police and Public Protection Technology. It’s been rewarding to contribute to solutions that are making a difference on the ground.
Another great thing about the Home Office is the culture. It is one of the best I’ve worked in. It’s open, collaborative, and genuinely focused on improvement. We’re encouraged to share ideas, experiment with new tools, and support each other’s growth. Collaborating closely with delivery managers, developers, testers, business analysts, and security teams has helped me grow as both a technologist and a teammate.
Overall, joining the Home Office has given me space to learn and grow technically and personally. I’ve deepened my knowledge of low-code platforms, built strong relationships with teams across government, and gained valuable insight into how to deliver impactful digital solutions at scale.
Most of all, I feel lucky to be part of a team that’s helping shape the future of government technology. The work we do isn’t just about systems; it’s about service. And that’s something I’m proud to be part of.
