IN-PERSON

UK & Ireland CIO Executive Summit

11 June 2025 | Royal Lancaster London

11 June 2025
Royal Lancaster London

APPLY TO PARTICIPATE

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with UK & Ireland's top CIOs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.

Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:

CIO Leadership That Drives Effective Technology Adoption Across the Business

Drive Secure Digital Business With an Outcome-Driven Approach

Maximise Technology Outcomes Through Business Partnerships

UK & Ireland CIO Governing Body


The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CIOs, For CIOs®.

What to Expect

Interactive Sessions

Hear from CIO practitioners and thought leaders on how they're solving critical challenges impacting your role today in Keynote sessions, and join smaller, interactive discussions with your peers in Breakout and Boardroom sessions.

Community Networking

Make new connections and catch up with old friends in casual conversations during dedicated time for networking designed to better acquaint you with your UK & Ireland CIO community.

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a private, one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

Agenda


10 June 2025

11 June 2025

18:00 - 21:00  Governing Body Private Dinner

Governing Body Welcome Reception

 

08:00 - 09:00  Registration & Breakfast

09:00 - 09:45  Keynote

Redesigning Partnerships Across the C-Suite to Accelerate Digital Business

Cijo Joseph headshot

Cijo Joseph

CTIO

Mitie

Jasmine Hudson headshot

Jasmine Hudson

Chief People Officer

Mitie

IT Leaders today face lofty expectations and a changing set of skills necessary to be successful. They are expected to manage high levels of ambiguity, align with corporate objectives, adopt game changing AI and the list goes on. How should CIOs ensure they are tackling their long list of priorities at speed, while ensuring customer centricity? Join Cijo Joseph, CTDO and Jasmine Hudson, formerly Chief People Officer, at Mitie, now Chief People Officer at Butternut Box, as they share how their effective partnership has led to the successful rollout of AI initiatives across the organisations, and the power such partnerships have on business outcome and customer satisfaction. Specifically, Cijo and Jasmine will share:

  • Mitie’s AI journey, and how the IT and People function have worked together to drive business outcome
  • Maintaining control of the narrative around emerging technologies, like AI, and ensuring effective governance and controls
  • How effective partnerships has enabled key business goals to be met through innovative technology solutions


09:45 - 10:00  Break

10:00 - 10:45  Executive Boardroom

Boardroom

 

10:00 - 10:45  Executive Boardroom

Next Generation CIO Programme — Laying the Groundwork for Becoming a CIO

Pravina Ladva headshot

Pravina Ladva

Group Chief Digital and Technology Officer

Swiss Re

The success of the modern enterprise increasingly hinges upon all things digital. This heralds the continued evolution of the CIO role, whose scope has needed to develop to be a representative that can successfully spearhead the digital enterprise. As such, the skills and traits of the prospective CIO have also shifted dramatically – and continue to do so.

The question for any aspiring CIO, then, should be which attributes are currently sought after, and what are the realities of the role?

Join this session to gain insights on:

  • The level of commitment expected of a CIO and how this might differ across organisations of varying sizes and sectors
  • How to understand and overcome hurdles and blockers while transitioning into the CIO role
  • How to sustain a healthy work-life balance

10:45 - 11:50  Networking Break

10:55 - 11:40  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

11:30 - 12:35  Executive Boardroom

Next Generation CIO Programme – Maximising IT’s Value by Getting the Right Seat at the Table

Rob O'Donohue headshot

Rob O'Donohue

VP Analyst, KI Leader, Executive Leadership Research

Gartner

As a future leader, “getting a seat at the table” is a great ambition. However, getting the right seat at the right tables is the better goal. This session provides best practices leaders can use to ensure IT is positioned to work effectively with executive leadership teams across the enterprise. Specifically, this session will dive into:

  • How to determine the optimal position for IT on key executive teams
  • Looking beyond the C-suite table to influence goals, strategies and initiatives
  • Ensuring IT value goes beyond the ‘tactical’, overcoming barriers to demonstrating value 


11:50 - 12:35  Executive Boardroom

The Security Imperative — Managing AI Risks While Driving Innovation

Marc Wheelhouse headshot

Marc Wheelhouse

Chief Security Officer, Solutions & Services Group

Lenovo

 As AI adoption accelerates, it is critical for organizations to prioritise security, compliance, and governance in order to mitigate risk. From protecting sensitive data, to ensuring AI models operate ethically and transparently, developing a security-focused AI strategy is essential to long-term success. Let’s talk industry-leading AI infrastructure, security frameworks, and responsible AI practices, and learn how to confidently scale AI while maintaining trust and compliance.

Join this session to explore:

  • Security, privacy, and regulatory risks in AI deployments
  • Best practices for managing AI data lifecycles and compliance
  • Building a resilient AI infrastructure that balances innovation with risk management

11:50 - 12:35  Executive Boardroom

Adopting AI Across the Business – From Chaos to Competence

Tracey Jessup headshot

Tracey Jessup

CTO

De Montfort University

With rapid technological advancements, the demand for tech talent continues to outpace supply. Despite waves of layoffs from the tech sector, it remains difficult to hire qualified talent, meaning CIOs must upskill their teams with high-in-demand skills such as GenAI, AI, machine learning and data. These skills gaps threaten organisations’ abilities to achieve their business objectives. Join this boardroom to address some of the key challenges when attracting and retaining talent, as well as effective upskilling of your workforce. Specifically, you’ll discuss:

  • How CIOs should identify, address and close AI skills gap, fast
  • Building the data foundations to drive AI adoption, and foster a culture of continuous learning to stay competitive
  • Track ROI on your learning investment and on key metrics like productivity and retention


12:35 - 13:20  Lunch Service

13:20 - 14:00  Keynote

The Impact of the Unseen – Elevating IT Through Strategic Visibility

Enterprise productivity is top of mind for business leaders everywhere and CIOs play a crucial role in showcasing progress and true value to the business in this mission. A well-crafted digital employee experience (DEX) strategy that addresses changes in the way employees work and interact with digital tools will ensure that your processes and technologies advance the mission of a high performing workforce and improved enterprise productivity.

Join this case study to discuss a journey with DEX, including:

  • Improving operational efficiency and business outcomes
  • Measuring IT impact to strategic business growth
  • Leveraging DEX to improve optimization and visibility of IT assets


14:00 - 14:15  Break

14:15 - 15:00  Breakout Session

AI, Data, and Digitised Experiences – Using IT and Data to Accelerate Digital Business

Chris Blatchford headshot

Chris Blatchford

Group CTO

Kingfisher

Data and AI maturity varies drastically among organisations and it can be difficult for CIOs to know where they start, and whether they are making the most out of their data sets. These challenges are further amplified as organisations build AI-powered digital strategies. From communicating data updates internally to demonstrating the impact AI strategy has on business outcomes, how can IT Leaders get past the complexities of these challenges and utilise them to improve their strategies? Join Christopher Blatchford, CTO, Kingfisher as he shares his thoughts about how AI and Data strategy can contribute to increased sales and enhanced customer experience.

Specifically, Christopher will share:

  • How Kingfisher accelerated their use of data and AI to unlock growth opportunities in line with the ‘Powered by Kingfisher’ ethos
  • Communicating confidence to the business that data infrastructure is aligned with data strategy
  • The learnings and recommendations for CIOs looking to make the most out of their data sets and drive business collaboration and value


14:15 - 15:00  Breakout Session

Unpacking MAG ― Building the World’s Most Intelligent Airports

Nick Woods headshot

Nick Woods

CIO

Manchester Airports Group

From the moment you start shopping for flights until you check in at your hotel, technology is at the center of the travel experience. Which is why Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is investing in digital transformation and innovation to give their passengers the best experience possible at their airports. By focusing on the business outcomes, and customer experiences, MAG has made huge strides towards delivering intelligent airports of the future.

Join this session as CIO Nick Woods shares:

  • Securing leadership buy-in for technology investments to drive the intelligent airport
  • Enhancing operational efficiencies by leveraging data and AI
  • How CIOs can better link IT to business value through enhanced experiences an ROI


15:00 - 15:15  Networking Break

15:15 - 16:00  Breakout Session

Navigating Through Change – Sustaining Momentum to Create a Digitally-Enabled Enterprise

Adrian Berry headshot

Adrian Berry

CTO

ASDA

Organisations must navigate the unpredictable with a calculated and dynamic mindset. From supply chain shortages to rising inflation and complex business transition, technology leaders must increasingly do more with less and innovate to keep customers. Clear communication and vision is key, but how should IT Leaders sustain multiyear strategies with so much transformation, at pace. Join Adrian Berry, CTO at Asda as he shares his thoughts and insights into:

  • How Asda are accelerating their digital strategy and driving an ambitious transformation programme
  • Sustaining change in multiyear programmes and practical advice on establishing a clear vision for the desired state
  • Recommendations on managing complex change programmess against a backdrop of business expectations and strategies

15:15 - 16:00  Executive Boardroom

When Traditional Change Management Falls Flat — Sustaining Momentum for Digital Success


Organisations and employees have dealt recently with changing business and operating models, staff departures, digital acceleration, hybrid work and many other disruptions. They’re exhausted, and it's impacting the success of technological initiatives. With CIOs driving largescale transformation over a sustained period of time, what are the tactics that can be used to mitigate change fatigue, re-energise stakeholders and sustain momentum. Join this boardroom to discuss:

  • Evaluating the impact of change management fatigue when prioritising initiatives
  • Overcoming the pain points of sustained change management, and how CIOs can drive momentum
  • Creating positive experiences throughout transformation, not just at the end



16:00 - 16:15  Break

16:15 - 17:00  Keynote

Word Wizardry — How Powerful Language can Empower CIOs to Thrive

Rob O'Donohue headshot

Rob O'Donohue

VP Analyst, KI Leader, Executive Leadership Research

Gartner


CIOs face an increasingly difficult dual challenge of navigating complex environments while effectively communicating to inspire and lead. The intentional use of words can boost their influence, improve their communications, and forge stronger bonds with the CEO, peers, and employees. With so many competing priorities, how can CIOs think and act more as an executive first, and functional leader second. This Keynote will address:

  • How to boost influence over others by tapping into people’s agency and identity
  • Overcoming cognitive bias when someone assumes others have the same knowledge they do
  • Using emotional language to build stronger connections with others and improve outcomes



17:00 - 17:30  Closing Comments and Prize Drawing

10 June 2025

11 June 2025

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming in-person gathering


Gartner cares about the health and safety of our community. Please review the following recommendations prior to attending the gathering.

Location


Venue & Accommodation

Royal Lancaster London

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Royal Lancaster London at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 020 7551 6000.

Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of £390 GBP (plus tax) is 18 May 2025.

Your Community Sponsors


Key Sponsor
Program Sponsors

Community Programme Manager


For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.

Lucy Guille

Senior Community Programme Manager

+44 (0)7701 308 981

lucy.guille@gartner.com