John Seglias

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2025.

John Seglias is a global CDIO with a track-record of operating at executive level, leading digital functions, delivering mission-critical programmes, managing substantial budgets, and assisting businesses in extracting maximum benefit and value from technology. He has extensive experience of supporting organisations through transformation and fast growth periods, including mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing and off-shoring of IT Services.

John is currently Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, having joined in November 2021.

John is at ease operating internationally, backed by a multi-cultural profile having worked and lived in the UK, France, Greece, Lebanon, Germany, Luxembourg, and Spain. He is native in Greek and English, and fluent in French and Spanish.

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

The NDA group is a data-rich organisation; everything we do, touch or manage has a data equivalent, from assets to waste, from people to locations. The most exciting opportunity is how we use digital and AI technology to exploit our data in our mission to deliver our 100+ year mission more effectively, efficiently and safely.

We already use AI extensively, have stood up an AI centre of excellence and have developed ethical principles for the use of AI. We now need to take the use of digital technologies such as AI to the next level, upskill our staff, ember digital and data thinking in our culture and leadership, so that we do become a digital organisation.

What do you consider your greatest IT achievement of the last 12 months?

We agreed a group IT strategy to harmonise our approach across a previously fragmented group IT, designing a new operating model to be implemented over the next two years. The shared solutions and architecture have already been delivered.

We ensured both our exec team and board were aware and supportive of AI. As part of this I arranged and ran an AI deep dive for them, with hands-on use of AI to get across how powerful a tool it can be.

Launched and implemented an AI beacon project to ensure consistent adoption and exploitation of AI across the group. We now have an AI CoE, ethical principles and we are delivering nine bespoke AI solutions across the group.

Developed a cloud data strategy for the group, looking at harmonising our approach to data. We worked with the business to identify our big challenges and how we can use technology to accelerate business deliverables. Implementations are underway.

Finally, worked with group L and D to develop and implement a consistent approach to skilling, reskilling and up-skilling colleagues.

What's the biggest challenge facing IT leaders today, and how are you tackling it?

1. Cybersecurity - how can we exploit the power of technology in a secure way? This is extremely important for the NDA because of the work we do.
2. Finding the right balance between exploiting technology and business value. When and how are important questions.
3. Funding and resources. We are all after the same people, including the big technology companies.
4. Changing business culture to maximise the adoption and value of technology.

What piece of technology could you not live without, and why?

My smartphone. It allows me to do everything I need to do, at my convenience.

What excites you most about the future of IT?

Over the past few years I have seen boards finally recognise that technology is as critical for business outcomes as people and budgets. I want to see us build on this, and deliver real change and value through IT.

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?

When I was a teenager I spent a summer loading lorries with watermelons.

If you could instantly master one new skill, what would it be?

Play the piano, especially the blues.