UK & Ireland CIO Virtual Executive Summit

Organisations are feeling a shift in the world of networking and security as they continue to rapidly adopt and embrace the cloud. With this shift, security and networking services and controls are converging whilst shifting to the cloud also. Enterprises are demanding speed, agility, security and reliability without compromise whilst CIOs are being tasked with delivering this transformation with the same clear reduction in costs that cloud infrastructure programmes have delivered. 

In this session, we will:

• Showcase how the move to cloud can improve TCO and improve ROI on network and security spend
• Demonstrate operational efficiencies to ensure network and security staff can re-purpose and prioritise their time to focus on events, alerts and incidents
• Share a 4-phase strategy focused on improving cloud security whilst supporting network and security transformation

As a CIO, it’s critical to play a part in the progressive data movement through creating a collaborative working structure with internal stakeholders, as well as have an understanding of the key Data & Analytics priorities. Digital Transformation requires the ability to provide timely, accurate and reliable data to the interested parties, but there are key challenges when it comes to building your data backbone to deliver data driven transformational outcomes that enterprises require to be and stay competitive. Join this session to discuss these challenges with your peers and, crucially, the tools and techniques CIOs should be equipped with to meet the overall business requirements.

Specifically, you will discuss:

• The cultural and technical challenges involved in moving to a more data-driven cloud, and tactics for success
• Communicating confidence to the business that data infrastructure is aligned with data strategy
• Bridging the knowledge gap for your staff and recruiting and retaining the missing skills

As AI continues to make its way from theory to reality for most enterprises, a new set of skills and competencies are needed. Automation through AI and machine learning is changing customer experience, and as consumer preferences shift to more digital interactions, enterprises can accelerate AI adoption to reduce friction in the customer journey. In this session, join peers to discuss the adoption of consumer-centric AI and how 'human-in-the-loop' technology is democratising AI model training. 

Topics that will be discussed include:

• How you can lower the barrier of AI adoption - move fast, increase efficiency, manage risk
• Operationalising AI through incremental improvement
• Leveraging domain expertise to maintain AI accuracy — the power of your workforce

Digital Technology initiatives are high on the Board of Director’s priority list. As such, boards must take innovative approaches to their governance models by leveraging technology and IT expertise to accommodate an uncertain environment. They look to the CIO to lead these digital business issues. But how can a CIO become a more rounded leader and empathetically help executive teams to deliver on CEO demands? Join this session to discuss how CIOs can ensure their IT strategy supports the CEOs renewed vision for the organisation, and reappraise which new technologies matter most as you plan a different future. Specifically you will:

• Discuss how to keep the conversation strategic and translate deeply technical topics to succinct, salient points
• Communicate consistently and be on message
• Demonstrate progress on agreed upon metrics that help build board trust

Transforming IT is as a key enabler for enterprise-wide transformation, and the change goes beyond the introduction of agile working in IT. The real challenge of IT is about how the business connects and partners with IT to create value and deliver the right solutions. In this lively discussion, you’ll hear shared journeys of IT transformation, together with lessons learned and recommendations for those grappling with their own IT initiatives. Specifically, you will discuss:

• Bringing people and stakeholders together for the common objective of enterprise-wide transformation
• Moving towards a product based IT organisation and the associated benefits
• Recommendations for CIOs who are faced with the daunting challenge of driving IT transformation in their organisation

RPA is already automating large parts of routine work, to free capacity and enable people to focus on higher value work. RPA together with AI allows organisations to achieve greater end-to-end automation potential.

As a CIO, how can you build initiatives that embrace a combination of humans and digital workers complementing each other's capabilities, enabling employees to perform their jobs more effectively than either human experts or AI-enabled robots working alone. 

This Keynote will address:

• The key automation drivers that will affect the future of work
• Help employees embrace new ways of working for greater organisational agility
• Scale your intelligent automation programs to stay adaptable and increase ROI

CIOs all across the globe are responsible for driving their organisation’s digital transformation. Yet, no matter their geographical location or industry, all CIOs face common obstacles; limited talent pool, establishing organizational cloud fluency, and identifying practices that are restricting their organisation’s maturity on their cloud journey. For one hour in this Boardroom, CIOs will discuss how they are improving business performance by enabling digital transformation and upskilling their people.

In this session, you and your peers will:

• Discuss key principles of a “cloud culture,” shifting organisational mindsets, and “unlearning” practices that may be hindering your organisation
• Outline key measures of success for assessing cloud maturity and ROI of cloud providers
• Identify best practices for talent transformation and scaling organisational cloud fluency

Product-centric models are aimed to enable significant scale to a business. This is where there should be a strong appeal for digital investments, which offer a promise of hypergrowth and better profitability. Achieving a successful transformation to such an organisation requires new skill sets and roles, as well as a new investment model, investment pool and culture. Furthermore, investment in business

expertise, market expertise and the product management role pushes to the forefront. Join this session to discuss:

• Investment model for a product-centric organisation and common metrics
• Placing product management at the core of digital vision, roadmap and prioritisation
• Create product-oriented multidisciplinary teams

The CIO mandate is changing. No longer an order-taker, the new CIO plays innovator and strategist, applying technology and architecture to drive measurable outcomes instead of simply in response to business needs. This means abandoning legacy processes and embracing change to move organisations forward into the cloud- and mobile-first future.

This keynote will give you insights into:

• How to align technical and business objectives
• Enhancing enterprise agility with secure digital transformation
• Cybersecurity as a business-enabling technology

Remember when “embracing disruption” was an aspirational call-to-action – not a necessary navigation of everyday life? Now that you have your company’s undivided, fully-disrupted attention, why look back? As more and more customers head online, CIOs must ensure that their experience is seamless – creating the right channels for connection and utilizing the right data to innovate products or services.

This conversation will focus on:

• Designing and delivering an optimal digital future for your business
• Leveraging a cultural shift to more agile, rapid technology outcomes
• Ways to evolve a data-centric approach to consumer insight – fostering new business opportunities

Meet virtually for in-depth conversations with your colleagues

Don't miss this opportunity to meet with CIO practitioners and industry thought leaders who shared their insights on the agenda. Come with questions and get ready to meet new friends in this casual session designed to foster peer connections and collaboration in the UK community.