Keynote speakers announced for CIO Summit UK

The Summit begins on 11 October, focusing on the role of CIOs as change agents, and how the CIO of the future looks less and less like the CIO of the past.

Our keynote speaker, Stemettes co-founder Anne Marie Imafidon, will share her insight from a long career in tech and why she sees a need for greater diversity, how to challenge company cultures, and the importance of youth entrepreneurship and STEM.

Throughout day one, CIOs will also look at how to align IT strategy and operations with the wider objectives of an organisation, manage expectations in the boardroom, and build a more agile, iterative, and robust IT function. Discussion will also centre around careers in tech and where professional development has been going wrong and new approaches that can be taken. Speakers on day one includes boohoo CIO, Jo Graham, three CIO, Belinda Finch, and The Hut Group CIO, Jo Drake.

Lara Burns, CDO at The Scouts, joins Martyn Wallace, CDO for Scottish Local Government, and Paul Fleming, Director of Digital and Business Change at Blackburn with Darwen Council, to discuss how CIOs now need to measure value and the steps they must take to develop business acumen and influence.

In today’s business environment, IT has no choice but to evolve at the speed that the business demands. Jason Oliver, CDTO at the University of Sussex and Natascha Polderman, IT Director at Schillings, make up a panel to discuss the new business demands, from pivoting to remote working, employing online services and changing business operating models.

On day two, our attention shifts to security, agility, and resilience.

Keynote speaker Kylie Wright-Ford will focus on how to build a company brand and build ESG credibility using data analytics. She will also delve into positioning your organisation as the leading tech company, and how to appeal to the Gen Z workforce.

Mudassar Ulhaq, CIO at Waverton, and Gemma Moore, Director at Cyberis, discuss how to pivot security and risk to the forefront of your IT strategy. Bola Rotibi, Research Director at CCS Insight, will host an intimate CIO Boardroom session on cyber resilience, privacy, and compliance.

Later in the day, Jessica Sansom discusses how to develop and implement strategic plans and business models to have a minimal environmental impact. Currently the Head of Sustainability at Huel, Jessica brings over 20 years of experience in developing and implementing strategic plans and business models that have a minimal environmental impact.

Day three begins with Doug Drinkwater, Editor at CIO UK, speaking with Simon Wheatcroft, a blind ultramarathon runner who uses technology to achieve his goals, from running the Boston marathon, to completing an ultramarathon across north Africa. Simon will share insights into how he is working with organisations like Google, IBM, and MIT, to take on even greater challenges.

Gina Gill, CDIO at the Ministry of Justice will share some details behind the MOJ Digital Strategy 2025, which will aim to build a simpler and faster public service. Finally, Tracey Jessup, CDIO at De Montfort University and Katie Warriner CDIO at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust join Laurence Watson, Head of Technology at Subak, to discuss how technology can be used in a collaborative, ethical way in our closing panel on Tech for Social Good.

Economic headwinds are becoming more challenging for businesses and hybrid work continues to be the preferred method of working. These are just some of the challenges CIO’s are facing when it comes to delivering the digital employee experience that organisations expect. Karl Nicplson, Technology Evangelist at Slack joins Vik Iyer to dive into these challenge in more details and highlight Slack’s vision for the ‘Digital HQ’.

Throughout the summit, partners including Manage Engine, Intercity, GFK, and others will share how they are supporting IT leaders during this period of dynamic change. CIO Boardrooms will be back by popular demand, hosting smaller, live conversations across the three days on some of the key topics being covered in the programme.

Check out the full summit agenda here. The event is free to attend for qualified attendees. Don’t miss out – register today.