February 2025: 2024 The Year Cities Learned to Stop Worrying and Love AI
“AI is the story of the year and the pace of AI adoption has really picked up in cities and the public sector at large”
Amy Edwards Holmes
Transforming innovative ideas into actionable strategy.
About Amy
“For more than 20 years, I have worked to increase the capacity of organizations to build data-fluent workforces and harness data to generate public value and improve public services while strengthening the research and evidence base around data practices that work.”
Previously, Amy was the Executive Director of the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University, where she led efforts to empower public sector organizations across more than 37 countries to enhance data capacity, leverage AI, and improve public services. Her leadership has driven the development of innovative platforms like City AI Connect, which was recognized by Fast Company in 2024 for fostering responsible AI use in government.
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Amy held key leadership positions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and as the Deputy Assistant Secretary, she oversaw the financial operations for the entire federal government and led initiatives to enhance data transparency, including the policy, passage and implementation of the first open data law in the U.S. the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act). Her work established an improved USAspending.gov, the first government-wide digital product built using agile development principles.
Amy's extensive experience in government performance also includes serving as the Director of the Task Force on Government Performance for the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, where she advised on technology and data policies, and led the passage of key bipartisan legislation.
Earlier in her career, Amy managed performance management programs at The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Council for Excellence in Government, where she supported federal,state and local governments in adopting innovative practices. She has also served as an advisor to governors, state officials, and Congressional leaders on improving government efficiency and transparency.
Amy is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and has served as a U.S. delegate to international forums such as the United Nations and OECD. She is also a Member of the U.S. Open Government Federal Advisory Committee where she offers advice on making the government more open and transparent to strengthen democracy. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Troy University and a Bachelor of Science from Radford University. With a proven record of advancing data-driven governance, Amy is a thought leader in public sector innovation, dedicated to leveraging emerging technologies for the betterment of government operations and public services.
Thought Leadership
Accomplished executive with extensive experience leading enterprise data strategy, digital transformation, and AI-driven innovations in the public sector. Proven expertise in data governance, strategic vision execution, and cross-sector collaboration to modernize government operations and improve transparency. Recognized for bipartisan legislative achievements and a commitment to evidence-based policy making.
Accomplished executive with extensive experience leading enterprise data strategy, digital transformation, and AI-driven innovations in the public sector. Proven expertise in data governance, strategic vision execution, and cross-sector collaboration to modernize government operations and improve transparency. Recognized for bipartisan legislative achievements and a commitment to evidence-based policy making.
January 2025: Cities Across the Globe Realize the Benefits of Data Strategies
“New data strategies have an immediate impact on some cities. In Montevideo, soon after implementing the new plan, a water crisis emerged and elements of the strategy saved lives, allowing the city to share real-time water-quality updates with residents, identify safe well-water reserves, and micro target water-bottle delivery to people with medical conditions.”
May 2024: How the 'Most Significant Advancement in Government Transparency’ Came About
“Based on what I’ve learned over the past 10 years, passing a new policy or law is challenging, but implementation is much harder. But as Sen. Warner said at our event, federal policymakers will likely need to pass another DATA Act to keep pace with changing technology, including the emergence of AI.”
May 2024: Celebrating 10 years of the DATA Act
“I have watched this DATA Act grow from an idea to a robust movement across the globe, inspiring a new approach for linking financial data and unlocking the power of connected data for public benefit,”
May 2024: White House issues clarified guidance for local governments to support data and evidence investments
“Taken together, these revisions represent a significant step forward in federal support for transparent, community-informed development of data practices across the country.”
February 2024: Congressional testimony on preparing for AI in public workforces
“In order to prepare the workforce to leverage AI and use data effectively – we must acknowledge that the entire workforce needs fundamental data literacy. Data is everyone’s job.”