Networking and Registration

IDC CIO Summit UK Opening Remarks

Hannah Dowie

Senior Event Manager, IDC

IDC Keynote: Modernize. Secure. Innovate. Lead with the power of Agentic-AI

As organizations accelerate digital investment, CIOs face a complex set of challenges: modernizing legacy systems, addressing rising technical debt, embedding cybersecurity, ensuring regulatory compliance, and preparing their workforce for technology-driven change. IDC research shows that nearly 40% of CIOs expect to overspend on digital infrastructure within the next 18 months, with technical debt cited as a primary driver, while only a fraction of digital initiatives deliver measurable business impact. At the same time, global digital transformation spend is set to surpass $4 trillion by 2027, underscoring the urgency for CIOs to deliver value, not just investment.

Yet the next frontier is already here: Agentic AI. Systems capable of autonomous decision-making, task execution, and continuous learning. According to IDC’s 2025 research, while 77% of European organizations are actively using GenAI, only 28% have deployed agentic AI systems. CIOs are now tasked with governing this wave of automation, balancing innovation with control, and rethinking architectures, skills, and policies to harness AI safely and strategically.

Andrea Siviero

Senior Research Director, AI-fueled Business Strategies, IDC

AI Isn’t the Foundation for Modernization. Trust Is.

Build the shared trust layer first—where data and security come together—and every team moves faster.

AI is accelerating modernization efforts, but it’s not the foundation of long-term success. Trust is. Trust is built on the “shared trust layer,” where data and security work together to form the backbone of a resilient, future-ready IT ecosystem. Without robust security, your data is vulnerable; without actionable data, your security measures lack precision. Together, they enable innovation, agility, and long-term impact.

IDC research shows nearly 40% of CIOs expect to overspend on digital infrastructure in the next 18 months, driven by technical debt and initiatives that stall before delivering results. Operational friction—rework from quick fixes, access exceptions from workarounds, inconsistent controls, reactionary audit scrambles, and untested recovery plans—undermines progress.

This keynote introduces the Shared Trust Layer as the foundation beneath every modernization initiative. Build it first, and teams move faster everywhere: delivery cycles shrink, resilience improves, compliance gets easier, and AI scales with confidence.

You’ll leave this session with:

• A practical model to align data and security strategies for IT modernization.
• Steps to reduce operational friction and accelerate delivery cycles.
• A focused 90-day action plan to benchmark your maturity with the IDC Modernization Index and build a resilient, future-ready IT ecosystem.

Andrew Simpson

Principal Solutions Architect, Rocket Software

Michael McKay

Senior Engineer, Rocket Software

The Rise of Non-Human Identity

The ratio of non-human to human identities is exploding. From service accounts and automated bots to the rapid emergence of agentic AI, these “digital workers” now perform critical business tasks, access sensitive data, and make autonomous decisions. However, this shift has expanded the attack surface, leaving organizations vulnerable to over-privileged service accounts, secret-sprawl, and AI-driven threats that traditional, human-centric IAM systems were never built to handle.

In this session, Ping Identity and Ensono explore why non-human identity (NHI) has become the new frontier of cybersecurity. We will dive into the unique challenges of managing machine-to-machine interactions and the necessity of a unified identity fabric.

Abdullah Masud

Principal Solutions Engineer, Ping Identity

James Peet

Practice Director – Identity, Ensono

Strategic Session

Opening Panel Discussion: From Cyber Risk to Digital Trust: The CIO’s Role in Security, Sovereignty and Strategic Control

As organisations become increasingly data-driven and cloud-dependent, CIOs sit at the centre of a growing web of cyber risk, regulatory pressure and strategic accountability. Moving beyond traditional security models, this panel explores how CIOs are redefining digital trust not just through technology, but through governance, supplier choices and control over critical data and systems.

The discussion will examine the CIO’s role in navigating digital sovereignty, managing third-party and geopolitical risk, and balancing innovation with resilience. Listen to CIOs sharing practical insights on the decisions they are making today to protect their organisations, maintain autonomy, and build trust with boards, regulators and customers in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Shivika Singh

Head of Global Strategy, Business Development, TikTok

Silky Vaidya

CTPO and Board Advisor, Head of Technology & Product at Nominet

Lydia Nicola

Head of Operations, Amnesty Internationals

Alex Butler

Director, Digital Data and Technology, Sport England

Duncan Brown

Group Vice President, IDC Europe, IDC

Networking Break

Strategic Session

Strategic Session

Networking Lunch Break

Networking Break

IDC Research Insight: Sustainability and the CIO Mandate – Embedding ESG into Technology Strategy

Sustainability is no longer just a corporate responsibility — it’s a strategic imperative, and CIOs play a central role in embedding ESG into technology strategy. From energy-efficient IT operations to responsible data practices and green cloud adoption, technology decisions directly impact an organisation’s environmental, social, and governance performance.

Duncan will explore how CIOs can align IT investments with sustainability goals, ESG reporting, and green innovation, driving measurable outcomes while supporting broader business strategy. This session will share practical insights on integrating sustainability into enterprise technology planning, fostering a culture of accountability, and positioning IT as a driver of long-term value and innovation.

Duncan Brown

Group Vice President, IDC Europe, IDC

Closing Panel: Agentic AI: Strategic Opportunities and Operational Challenges for CIOs

Agentic AI – systems capable of autonomous decision-making is no longer a distant concept: it’s becoming a critical tool for enterprise innovation. But with strategic opportunity comes operational complexity. How can CIOs harness these technologies to drive efficiency, insight, and competitive advantage while managing risk, compliance, and ethical considerations?

Join this panel to discuss the real-world implications of agentic AI in the enterprise. IDC states that only 13% of proofs-of-concept (PoCs) make it to production, which highlights the execution gap CIOs must close. This panel will explore how to evaluate AI adoption, integrate autonomous systems into existing operations, and ensure responsible use, all while maintaining control and delivering measurable business impact whilst practical insights into how CIOs are balancing innovation with accountability in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Chris Leong

Virtual Chief Responsible AI Officer Advisor, Assessed Intelligence

Basit Tanveer

Head of Business Platforms & Data Engineering, Lebara

Alpesh Doshi

Founder and CEO, Fintricity

Chris Weston

Senior Technology Consultant, NashTech

Martina Longo

Research Manager, C-Suite Tech Agenda, IDC

Closing Remarks and Key Takeaways

Hannah Dowie

Senior Event Manager, IDC