As technology becomes embedded in every aspect of business strategy, from marketing and finance to operations and product innovation, the role of the CIO is evolving from IT guardian to strategic collaborator. In this opening panel, we explore how today’s CIOs are redefining their relationships with fellow board members and C-suite peers, both technical and non-technical. This session will unpack the shifting dynamics between CIOs and roles like CFO, CMO, CDO, and CHRO, and how cross-functional alignment has become a key lever in successful digital transformation. Our panel of executive leaders will share how they are navigating tensions, building trust, influencing enterprise direction, and ensuring technology is not just an enabler—but a shared, strategic responsibility across the board. Whether you’re working to gain more influence, align priorities, or foster innovation beyond the tech function, this conversation will offer actionable insights and candid reflections on what it means to lead in a business where everything is now tech, and tech is now everybody’s business.

The AI-fueled explosion of APIs, applications, and data has resulted in unprecedented levels of IT complexity, making it challenging for enterprises to deliver quality customer experiences, forge new business models, and realize value for their AI efforts. In fact, 82% of enterprise leaders say IT complexity is impeding success. Static, rigid, manual approaches to integration aren’t up to the task.

Join IBM to discover how businesses can harness integration to unlock the full potential of AI.

What happens when one of Britain’s most cherished heritage organisations takes on a bold digital transformation? In this insightful session, Jon Townsend, CIO of the National Trust, shares the remarkable journey of bringing 125 years of history into the digital age, modernising systems, unlocking data, and reshaping the visitor experience across thousands of sites, estates, and members. From restoring aging infrastructure to building digital-first strategies that preserve legacy while enabling scale and sustainability, Jon reveals how the Trust bridged the gap between past and future. Hear how they overcame cultural and operational challenges, what worked (and what didn’t), and the role of leadership in aligning innovation with mission. This is a story of digital transformation with heart, where technology doesn’t just support tradition, it helps it thrive.

In this interactive session, our event partners will take the lead in initiating and facilitating conversations centered on challenges and solutions within the industry. Attendees can expect dynamic discussions where diverse perspectives are shared, fostering collaborative problem-solving and the exploration of innovative solutions to common industry hurdles.

At a time when innovation demands diverse thinking and inclusive leadership, the representation and recognition of women in technology has never been more vital. This powerful panel brings together inspiring female leaders to explore the journeys, challenges, and triumphs of women shaping the future of tech across industries. We’ll spotlight bold moves made by women who have carved their path to the top, what drove them, what held them back, and how they turned obstacles into leadership breakthroughs. Expect honest stories, career-defining moments, and practical takeaways that you can apply to create space, amplify voices, and build cultures where female talent thrives. We’ll also explore the emotional intelligence, resilience, and diverse approaches that women bring to complex tech challenges, and how this leads to richer, more impactful leadership. Whether you’re a woman in tech, an aspiring leader, or a senior stakeholder ready to elevate others, this session is your call to action. Let’s shift the narrative, celebrate leadership in all its forms, and create a future where every voice has a seat at the table.

In this session, Lynda Petherick, CIO of New Look, shares two powerful examples of how AI is transforming the retailer’s operations and customer experience. Discover how the team achieved “data stitching” across complex systems in just 10 days using AI, and explore the innovative use of Agentic AI to reimagine the New Look fitting room. A practical look at how AI is moving from concept to impact inside one of the UK’s best-known fashion brands.

In “The CIO’s Practical Guide to AI,” Phil Pavitt, Group CTO & Transformation Officer at Belron, shares a pragmatic roadmap for CIOs seeking to harness AI without falling into the common traps of hype or over-engineering. Drawing on his extensive transformation leadership experience at Belron, HMRC, and Transport for London, Phil addresses key challenges such as fragmented data, legacy system integration, and the absence of clear AI governance. He offers actionable solutions, from harmonizing data pipelines and phasing AI into legacy infrastructure, to embedding governance and ethical safeguards from day one. With a strong emphasis on operational clarity and cross-functional alignment, this session provides CIOs with the practical tools they need to move from AI curiosity to enterprise impact. Key takeaways include: how to assess your organization’s AI readiness, identify high-value pilot opportunities, build sustainable governance frameworks, and drive measurable outcomes without disrupting core operations.

Mergers and acquisitions are among the most disruptive, and potentially transformative, events a technology organization can face. In this session, Richard Stuchfield-Nash, Director of Technology M&A at Maersk, shares lessons from the front lines of one of the world’s most ambitious business transformations: Maersk’s pivot from shipping giant to integrated logistics powerhouse, involving 27 acquisitions and divestments worth $23 billion. Drawing on over five years of leading complex tech integrations, Richard will explore the critical decisions that turned M&A from a threat into a transformation engine. You’ll hear how his team overcame fragmented systems, siloed leadership, and integration burnout, and ultimately used M&A to drive platform rationalization, reduce operating costs, and improve customer and employee outcomes. This session is a must-attend for transformation leaders, CIOs, and enterprise architects navigating M&A now or expecting to soon. You’ll leave with practical strategies, cautionary tales, and a clear takeaway: with the right approach, M&A can be your greatest lever for change , not a crisis, but a catalyst.

Take a break, engage in meetings and join a discussion roundtable! During this PM Power Break, fellow enterprise leaders will guide discussions on their favorite topic, fostering an environment of open exchange, exploration of diverse perspectives and experiences. Attendees can grab a coffee and anticipate engaging conversations through 1-2-1 meetings and roundtables. Conversations will be driven by shared challenges and interests, offering valuable insights and opportunities for collaborative learning and networking.

As IT leaders face mounting pressure to do more with less, the debate over outsourcing vs insourcing is once again front and center. Is outsourcing still the silver bullet for cost savings and scale, or are organisations regaining control through strategic insourcing to build internal capability, drive innovation, and enhance agility? In this candid closing panel, IT leaders from diverse sectors will share how they’ve navigated the trade-offs, challenges, and surprising outcomes of both models. Expect real-world insights on where outsourcing delivers ROI, when insourcing becomes a strategic advantage, and how to balance short-term savings with long-term value. We’ll dive into offshore management, skills gaps, control, security, and the business case for hybrid models, grounded in results, not assumptions. Walk away with fresh thinking and practical takeaways to inform your next big IT delivery decision.