John Seabourn

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2026.

As Chief Digital & Information Officer at global environmental consultancy APEM Group John leads technology, innovation and data excellence teams, comprising data platforms, data capture, sensing technologies, data management and survey operations.

He holds a Chartered IT Professional (CITP) accreditation from BCS, a Chartered Geographer accreditation from the Royal Geographic Society, is a member of the UK's Governments' Science and Engineering profession and has a BSc in Geography/Geology from the University of Leicester.

What's the most exciting part of your current role?

Technology, innovation and data is shaping the future of the APEM Group as we've grown exponentially over the last 12 months.

The most exciting part is seeing ideas turn into real world outcomes for our clients. The most rewarding part of that is seeing cross functional teams working together understanding the value they all bring and ultimately are great than the sum of their parts.

What do you do in week one of a new project to avoid pain in month six?

I aim to create an environment where everyone's genuinely on the same page. Sometimes that's as easy as a quick kick‑off meeting…but let's be honest, it's usually weeks of conversations, stakeholder wrangling, giving people space to raise issues, defining roles, and setting a clear mission and vision. It's all about going slow to go fast later. Plenty to pack into week one!

What’s the part of your estate you most want to simplify in 2026?

As a highly acquisitive business that has recently been acquired ourselves, what I'd most like to simplify is the way our local, regional, and global systems connect and work together. As we grow, our landscape naturally becomes more diverse, and strengthening that interconnectivity will help us operate with greater clarity, speed, and resilience.

It's always a careful balance ensuring we keep the business running smoothly while also evolving how it runs, but by streamlining these connections we create a more unified, scalable foundation that supports both our ambition and our day‑to‑day operations.

Excluding smartphones, what piece of technology could you not live without and why?

Headphones and headsets are a must-have for me. They help me shut out distractions whether I'm working, travelling, gaming, or just listening to music. They're absolutely worth the investment, both for the clarity of what you hear and the clarity of what you say.

What excites you most about the future of IT?

We're moving into, if not already living in, a world where technology, data, and - yes, we have to say it - AI are shaping almost everything around us.

What excites me most is that IT leadership has evolved far beyond simply "keeping the lights on." We're now key advisors and architects, helping the organisation understand how technology can become more intuitive, more empowering, and more human‑centred for everyone.

It's a shift from maintenance to impact, and that transformation is genuinely inspiring.

What talent are you quietly proud of that would never show up on LinkedIn?

I find extremely complex technical things relaxing, which is perhaps unsurprising given my choice of career. In my personal life that translates into a passion for baking, primarily birthday cakes for my two kids. We've created some incredible cakes.

What’s your most-used keyboard shortcut or command that you wish everyone knew?

It's a really boring one: CTRL+C and CTRL+V, which I use on a daily basis mainly between AI assistants and Word/PowerPoint/Outlook

Rewind 20 years and it’s definitely CRTL+ALT+Down arrow. Hours of fun in the office as people wonder why their screen is upside down!