Where UK’s IT Leaders Drive Innovation Forward
The CxO Institute, Oxford brings together 100+ senior IT leaders for a day of collaboration, strategic networking, and expert-led discussions tackling the most pressing industry challenges. This exclusive, end-user-driven platform equips digital leaders with the insights and strategies needed to enhance productivity, drive innovation, and accelerate growth.
Key topics include digital transformation, cybersecurity at scale, leveraging data for business impact, and fostering technology leadership and culture. The agenda features Keynotes, Panel Discussions, Interactive Boardrooms, and 1-2-1 meetings, delivering practical takeaways and high-value connections to shape the future of IT leadership.
Agenda
08:00 - 08:45
Registration & Networking Breakfast
08:45 - 09:35
Opening Panel
CxO
Shaping the Future of IT Leadership in a Disrupted World
- Explore how senior IT leaders are evolving their roles to drive innovation while ensuring operational stability in a rapidly changing environment
- Discuss the critical mindsets and leadership skills needed to lead cross-functional transformation in today’s digital-first enterprises
- Examine how IT leaders can prioritise strategic investments to maximise business value amid challenges like AI disruption, cybersecurity and talent gaps
Shaukat Ali Khan
Executive Chief Digital and Information Officer
NHS
Stephen Miller
Group CIO
International Personal Finance Plc
Sarah Leteney
Group CIO
Urenco Global
Jim Cosser
Group CISO
Zepz
09:40 - 10:20
Strategy
From Uncertainty to Clarity - Leveraging Data for Resilience and Business Impact
- We’ll explore what organisational resilience is and provide some common traits that successfully resilient organisations share.
- We’ll look at how these organisations integrate data into decision making, and associated trends.
- We’ll explore how organisations make better decisions, with some real-world examples of how organisations tackle uncertainty by leveraging data, and even how machine data can impact your business.
Mark Woods
EMEA Field CTO
Splunk
AI
AI, Agents and the Future of Enterprise Productivity
From early experiments to real-world implementation, organisations are at very different points in their AI journey, especially when it comes to intelligent agents. In this session, senior leaders from diverse industries will share candid reflections on how they’re adopting, prioritising, and measuring AI success. We’ll explore:
- Where agents are being deployed today
- How teams choose what’s worth pursuing
- The biggest industry-specific hurdles and opportunities
- What AI success looks like now, and in 2030
Emma Voller Lupton
Principal for Product & Strategy
Elsewhen
10:25 - 11:05
Strategy
The Next Era of AI Networking
As enterprises embrace hybrid work, cloud-first strategies and heightened security demands, AI-driven networking is becoming a cornerstone of agility and resilience. Intelligent automation, secure architectures and real-time insights are transforming networks into strategic assets for growth. Key Discussion Points:
- Predict performance issues, resolve them instantly and deliver consistent connectivity for all users
- Build adaptable, zero-trust networks ready for hybrid and multi-cloud environments
- Use real-time telemetry and AI to anticipate risks, optimise operations and cut complexity
Keith Cahoon
Sales Director, Campus & Branch UK&I
Juniper Networks
Strategy
Navigating Multinational IT Complexity - Building Resilient, Globally Aligned Technology Strategies
- Balancing global consistency with local flexibility in IT strategy
- Managing IT risk, compliance, and vendor coordination across regions
- Evolving service delivery and governance models for agility and alignment
Emery Geosits
CEO
GITA
11:10 - 11:50
Strategy
Scaling AI Enterprise-Wide with Purpose and Precision
- Explore frameworks for deploying AI at scale while aligning with business goals and operational realities
- Discuss how to embed governance, transparency and ethical principles into enterprise AI strategies
- Examine the infrastructure, talent and change management needed to support sustainable AI adoption across functions
John Seglias
Group CDIO
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Security
Building Cyber Resilience That Withstands Complexity, Crisis and Change
- Navigate the intersection of cybersecurity, regulation, and operational risk in an unpredictable environment
- Learn how cross-functional resilience planning prepares organisations for real-world incidents
- Understand the value of combining legal, technical and strategic expertise in building long-term digital trust
Dr Megha Kumar
Chief Product Officer and Head of Geopolitical Risk,
CyXcel
11:55 - 12:35
Security
Securing the Browser: The New Modern Workspace
In today's evolving digital workspace, securing the browser is critical. Drawing from implementations and customer successes, this presentation explores how organisations can effectively secure their modern workspace without sacrificing productivity. Through real use cases, we'll examine the surge in browser-based threats targeting hybrid workforces and demonstrate how Zero Trust principles and browser isolation technologies are revolutionising workspace security. In addition, we'll address how Generative AI is transforming the modern workspace, unlocking new efficiencies while introducing unforeseen risks. Get actionable insights on implementation strategies, ROI metrics, and future trends, backed by real examples from successful deployments, offering security leaders a practical roadmap for securing their next-gen workspaces.
Brett Raybould
Head of EMEA Sales Engineering
Menlo Security
Strategy
Unlocking IT Transparency with Unit Economics for Cloud and On-Prem Environments
- Discuss approaches to achieving holistic unit economics as a foundation for IT cost transparency. How precise tracking, allocation and reporting that aligns IT spending with business outcomes and value can shift the trajectory of a business
- Learn best practices for reducing cloud and infrastructure costs by integrating ITFM and FinOps, including resource right-sizing, usage monitoring, and leveraging reserved instances
- Explore strategies to enhance data-driven decisions and maximize ROI, ensuring IT investments are transparent, measurable, and aligned with long-term business goals
David Harding
CEO
MagicOrange
12:35 - 13:25
Networking Lunch
13:25 - 14:05
Data
Accelerating AI Adoption through Smarter Data Management
- Build governance that balances compliance with enabling innovation
- Use automation and AI to enhance data quality and accelerate insights
- Design resilient, adaptable platforms that support hybrid and multi-cloud strategies
Dr Abhiram Gandhe
Director Data, AI, Platform Service
DS Smith
14:10 - 14:50
Strategy
Leading Through Complexity: The Evolving Role of IT and Security Leaders in the Digital Age
In an ever-growing world of lightning-speed technological advancements and unprecedented connectivity, the role of IT leaders and security leaders has never been more important. With complexity seeming to multiply year on year, the role of a CIO/CTO/CISO has become integral to not only business continuity but to business growth and expansion in the digital age. In this discussion, we want to explore the art of the possible while understanding the realities of life as a senior IT leader in a fast-moving world. We will investigate the complex interplay of Technology, Process, and People factors that must be addressed in balance to guarantee success. Seasoned IT professionals know that without addressing ‘people’ and ‘processes’ in tandem with ‘technology,’ new initiatives are unlikely to deliver expected returns.
Zac Warren
Chief Security Advisor
Tanium
AI
Harnessing Agentic AI for Enterprise Impact
Agentic AI is redefining enterprise operations by automating complex workflows, improving decision-making, and driving innovation. To realize its full potential, organizations must deploy it securely and responsibly across multi-cloud environments. Success depends on building the right infrastructure, governance, and culture to move beyond pilots and achieve enterprise-scale outcomes. Join us to explore practical strategies and actionable insights for making agentic AI a catalyst for measurable business impact.
Atif Sheikh
Strategy Consultant
Rackspace Technology
14:55 - 15:35
Security
Cyber Recovery and Resilience Best Practices - Do You Know Your Minimum Viable Company?
The cyber resilience landscape continues to shift, with perpetually evolving threats to today’s enterprise adding exponential complexity in the face of a cyber incident. Join Matt Williams from industry leaders Commvault to discuss cyber resilience and recovery strategies and best practices, including: How well do you understand your minimum viable company (MVC) in the event of a cyber incident? Cyber recovery is more than just disaster recovery planning; how can you better structure your cyber recover plan? How can you close the recovery gap and bridge the gap between infrastructure and cyber security?
Matt Williams
Principal Solutions Engineer
Commvault
Strategy
'Leading with AI' Executive Education Programme: A Blueprint for AI Transformation at Scale
This 40-minute boardroom briefing will provide a deep dive into how Lloyds Banking Group is developing the capability to reimagine their business in the age of AI. Through an executive education programme developed in partnership with Cambridge Spark, Lloyds Banking Group has developed a scalable blueprint for building a company-wide culture of AI literacy that delivers tangible business outcomes. We will discuss key takeaways from the programme's implementation, including how it is designed to equip over 200 senior leaders with the knowledge to embed AI into critical business functions
George Anthony
Commercial Director
Cambridge Spark
15:40 - 16:15
CxO
AI Tech Trends and AI Agents
In this forward-looking session, Dr. Lester Thomas explores the cutting edge of artificial intelligence, highlighting transformative trends shaping the future of business and technology. Topics include:
- The exponential growth of AI capabilities
- The emergence and impact of autonomous AI agents
- Advances in multi-modal AI integrating image, audio, and video
- The growing influence of open-source AI ecosystems
- Breakthroughs in reasoning models enabling AI to outperform human cognition
Dr. Lester Thomas
Head of New Technologies & Innovation
Vodafone
16:15 - 17:15
Networking Drinks Reception
Event Speakers
Shaukat Ali Khan
Executive Chief Digital and Information Officer
NHS
Shaukat Ali Khan is the Executive Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO), Executive Director, and Board Member of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Integrated Care System (ICS). In this pivotal role, Shaukat is leading the modernization of healthcare systems, enhancing operational efficiency, and empowering clinicians to create a future ready healthcare ecosystem. Shaukat oversees the Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) Directorate and chairs leadership forums, driving initiatives that benefit 2.4 million residents across multiple regions, while ensuring seamless IT support is provided to over 100,000 users across a vast network of healthcare providers.
Stephen Miller
Group CIO
International Personal Finance Plc
Stephen brings a remarkable breadth of experience, combining deep expertise across financial services, digital retail, and public sector transformation. With 25 years of executive and non-executive leadership, Stephen has shaped strategic IT direction in both mature and emerging markets — including five years based in Asia leading cross-product initiatives in retail and transaction banking. His background spans client services, regulatory relations, cybersecurity, logistics, and digital solution design — making him a versatile voice on the future of enterprise IT. Stephen also serves as an advisor to both government and non-government agencies on education, accessibility, infrastructure, and cyber defence. A respected board member and regular contributor to global forums, Stephen continues to push the conversation forward around resilience, inclusivity, and the evolving role of the CIO in a multi-stakeholder environment.
Sarah Leteney
Group CIO
Urenco Global
Since 2021 Sarah has been working with Urenco, a supplier of enriched uranium within the global nuclear fuel cycle, as their Group CIO. She has three decades of expertise in leading IT delivery teams for Blue Chip, Central Government and Secure organisations and was recently ranked 20th in the 2024 UK Top 100 CIO Awards having demonstrated her expertise in Digital Transformation, Business Change, Consultancy, Service Delivery, Programme, Project, and Organisational Management. Sarah lives in the North West of England on the edge of the beautiful Pennines with her family and dog!
Jim Cosser
Group CISO
Zepz
Jim is a CISO with a highly technical background and a passion for solving hard problems, he's spent the last 6 years as Group CISO for a FinTech payments company that helps migrants move money, processing over $12bn in remittances a year. Prior to that, he helped create and deliver security strategies for clients such as Arsenal football club, Addison Lee and others as a security consultant. He's also had senior security roles at Sainsburys and Parker Meggitt (FTSE 100 Aerospace & defence).
Mark Woods
EMEA Field CTO
Splunk
As EMEA Field CTO Mark provides advice and guidance to leadership teams, policy makers and boards; helping organisations to get more value from data. Before joining Splunk Mark co-founded a GenAI company and as CTO created and scaled the start-up’s proprietary analytics technology used across many sectors including finance, manufacturing, FMCG and research. He has also led the creation and commercialisation of novel integrated hardware/software solutions at British Telecom (BT), Bentley and for various energy firms including Chevron, BP and Shell. Mark spent the first decade of his career as a British Army Engineering Officer, specialising in new technology introduction, strategic planning and spending time in hot and cold places that would not be on most people’s bucket-list.
Emma Voller Lupton
Principal for Product & Strategy
Elsewhen
Emma is a Principal Product Consultant at Elsewhen, the Digital Product Consultancy. With a background in both industry and consulting, she specialises in aligning user needs with strategic goals to design and deliver digital products that create measurable business impact. Her work spans sectors including institutional finance, insurance, and ecommerce, as well as digital products underpinned by technologies like machine learning — with clients ranging from fast-moving scaleups to enterprise leaders.
Keith Cahoon
Sales Director, Campus & Branch UK&I
Juniper Networks
With over 20 years of experience in the networking and wireless industry, Keith is an industry veteran with a remarkable background. Having led sales and business development for Juniper's AI-driven enterprise solutions since their acquisition of Mist Systems, he is a leading expert on the future of AI in the network.
Emery Geosits
CEO
GITA
With a remarkable 26-year career as a global sales and operations executive, Emery is a veteran in the IT solutions space. As a co-founder of GITA and now its CEO, he is the ultimate evangelist for navigating multinational IT complexity, bringing a wealth of experience from leadership roles at Connection Inc., ISAM Group, and Valiantys America.
John Seglias
Group CDIO
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
John is a transformational, commercial, and business-outcomes focused CDIO with a successful career at publicly traded and government organisations, driving business strategy through digital innovation, whilst delivering substantial change programmes, and enabling businesses in extracting maximum benefit from technology and data, in a secure way. He has extensive experience of supporting complex organisations through transformation and restructuring periods, including mergers and acquisitions. John is currently Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority having joined in November 2021. The NDA group is at the centre of the country’s renewed Nuclear Energy plan, as it is responsible for managing and storing all nuclear waste safely and securely, and for cleaning up nuclear sites after they stop operating. Previously he was CIO for Electricity Transmission at FTSE-50 National Grid, having also been CDIO at Defra, Transport UK (previously Abellio) and Global IT Director at market research and public opinion giant Ipsos. John's achievements are recognised in the wider industry through his consistent representation on the UK’s top 100 CIOs and the 50 most influential people in UK IT.
Dr Megha Kumar
Chief Product Officer and Head of Geopolitical Risk,
CyXcel
Dr Megha Kumar is Chief Product Officer and Head of Geopolitical Risk at the global cyber consultancy CyXcel, which is a Weightmans business. She brings over 14 years’ experience in advising C-Suite decision-makers in Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies on digital resilience, AI and geopolitics of tech. Within the public sector, she has worked extensively with major governments on national policy and regulations, and various international bodies, including the United Nations, IMF, NATO and the World Bank. Prior to joining CyXcel in 2024, Megha held senior leadership positions at the pioneering geopolitical risk consultancy Oxford Analytica, where she established and led the firm’s Cybersecurity and Technology Practice for over seven years.
Brett Raybould
Head of EMEA Sales Engineering
Menlo Security
With over two decades of experience in the cybersecurity marketplace, Brett is passionate about providing organizations with a new approach to an old problem. While traditional systems rely on detection, Brett's work at Menlo Security focuses on isolation—a unique technology that solves the problems others continue to struggle with.
David Harding
CEO
MagicOrange
With over two decades of experience in financial services, he has held leadership roles across institutional securities, wealth & investment management, and technology infrastructure, including as International COO for Technology at Morgan Stanley. A recognized leader in cost transparency, benchmarking, and business transformation, David has driven accountability, efficiency, and strategic decision-making for global enterprises. His expertise in expense management and financial innovation continues to shape the future of IT finance and technology investments.
Dr Abhiram Gandhe
Director Data, AI, Platform Service
DS Smith
With over two decades of leadership and consulting expertise, Dr. Gandhe is a pioneer in enabling data-driven decision-making. His unique background combines hands-on experience in diverse domains—from Banking and E-commerce to Life Sciences—with a history of founding companies and publishing impactful research papers.
Zac Warren
Chief Security Advisor
Tanium
With over two decades of experience helping government agencies and Fortune 100 companies address their most urgent security challenges, Zac is a leading expert in the field. He is passionate about building a security-minded culture and empowering leaders to enhance their security posture, reduce risk, and enable business outcomes.
Matt Williams
Principal Solutions Engineer
Commvault
With extensive experience in technical sales and network administration, Matt serves as a technical authority, helping businesses in the UK and across EMEA with their most critical data and security challenges. He is passionate about continuously learning and pushing beyond his comfort zone, both personally and professionally.
George Anthony
Commercial Director
Cambridge Spark
George is a seasoned leader specialising in Data, AI, and workforce transformation. As Enterprise Director of Cambridge Spark, a leading data & AI skills provider, he helps organisations to develop critical competencies needed to drive positive business impact through applying Artificial Intelligence. Prior to Cambridge Spark, George spent several years at Coursera, where he partnered with HR and L&D leaders in developing large scale skill-building initiatives, including curriculum design, learner engagement planning, and business case building. Besides collaborating with organisations on their AI strategies, George takes a keen interest in the field of AI, most recently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence for Business at Oxford University.
Dr. Lester Thomas
Head of New Technologies & Innovation
Vodafone
Dr. Lester Thomas is Head of New Technologies and Innovation and a Distinguished Engineer at Vodafone. A 20-year Vodafone veteran, he leads Vodafone’s Open Digital Architecture strategy, driving innovation in Generative AI and cloud-native technologies. Lester is passionate about telecoms’ role in society and is a strong advocate for open standards and open-source. When not shaping telecom’s future, he enjoys adventurous sports, has a private pilot’s license and also enjoys sailing and other watersports.
Why Attend?
UNRIVALLED CONNECTIONS
Engage directly with IT leaders and industry experts who can provide valuable insights and solutions to your strategic challenges.
CUSTOMISED LEARNING PATHS
Choose the sessions, panels, and discussions that best align with your unique goals, enabling targeted and impactful networking.
TANGIBLE VALUE
Gain actionable insights and connections that translate directly into strategic initiatives and measurable progress for your organisation.
Featured Attendees
Location
Oxford City Council, Town Hall
Located in the heart of the city, Oxford Town Hall offers a grand and historic setting for CxO Institute Oxford. With its striking architecture and civic heritage, the venue provides a distinguished backdrop for thought leadership, executive networking, and meaningful conversation among the UK’s top IT leaders.
A Community of Leaders
The CxO Institute is the premier platform for IT leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges facing their organisations. Designed with delegates in mind, our events bring together CIOs, senior IT leaders and other key decision-makers to explore cutting-edge solutions, drive collaboration, and achieve impactful outcomes.
Speakers
Featured Attendees
Delegates in Attendance
The list below showcases the esteemed IT leaders, executives, and decision-makers attending the event. These are the key individuals driving innovation, transformation, and strategy within their organisations.
To view the full list of delegates, please scroll and swipe down through til the end.
Engage with Top IT Decision Makers
The CxO Institute provides an exclusive platform for sponsors to connect with senior IT decision-makers actively seeking solutions to their most pressing challenges. Our events bring together CIOs, senior IT and other key technology leaders, offering a unique opportunity to engage, build relationships, and position your brand as a trusted partner.
Official Partners
OFFICIAL CATEGORY: SECURITY
Splunk - A Cisco Company
Splunk was founded in 2003 to solve problems in complex digital infrastructures. From the beginning, we’ve helped organizations explore the vast depths of their data like spelunkers in a cave (hence, “Splunk").
OFFICIAL CATEGORY: STRATEGY
Juniper Networks
Company bio in this information. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
ADVISORY PARTNER
INSIGHT PARTNER
INSIGHT PARTNER
INSIGHT PARTNER
INSIGHT PARTNER
INSIGHT PARTNER
INSIGHT PARTNER
INSIGHT PARTNER
INSIGHT PARTNER
SR. ENGAGEMENT PARTNER
SR. ENGAGEMENT PARTNER
SR. ENGAGEMENT PARTNER
ENGAGEMENT PARTNER
ENGAGEMENT PARTNER
ENGAGEMENT PARTNER
Why Sponsor?
LEAD GENERATION
Connect with Top IT and Senior Executives in a curated environment designed for meaningful conversations and long-term partnerships.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Showcase Thought Leadership through panel discussions, round tables, and tailored engagements that demonstrate your brand's expertise.
REPORTS & INSIGHTS
Gain valuable market insights by understanding the key challenges and priorities shaping IT investments and decision-making.
BRAND AWARENESS
Accelerate business growth by positioning your brand, solutions, and services in front of decision-makers and budget-holders with active projects and procurement needs.
Sponsorship Packages
Oxford Town Hall: A Historic Venue for CxO Institute Oxford
Nestled in the heart of the city, Oxford Town Hall stands as a symbol of the city’s rich history and architectural grandeur. This iconic venue, with its impressive Victorian Gothic design and deep civic heritage, offers an inspiring and distinguished environment for the CxO Institute in Oxford.
More than just a backdrop, Oxford Town Hall sets the tone for a day of insightful dialogue, strategic collaboration, and high-level networking. Its historic chambers and elegant spaces provide the perfect atmosphere for the UK’s leading IT executives to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and shape the future of digital leadership.
Whether welcoming a keynote speaker or hosting peer-to-peer roundtable discussions, the venue adds a sense of prestige and purpose to every moment of the event—reinforcing the CxO Institute’s commitment to delivering impactful, executive-focused experiences.
An Exclusive Venue for the Top Leaders in IT
Carefully selected to match the prestige of its attendees, this venue offers a refined and high-impact environment designed for IT leaders, innovators, and decision-makers.
Seamless Accessibility with VIP Transport
Enjoy a hassle-free arrival with private car transfers, valet services, and priority access, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience from start to finish.
A Sophisticated Setting for Strategic Discussions
With dedicated spaces for networking and discussions, the venue fosters valuable connections and strategic conversations in an exclusive setting.
VIP Car Service
Arrive in style with our chauffeured executive transport, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free journey. With priority access and reserved drop-off, you’ll experience the ultimate convenience from door to venue.
Luxury Hospitality & Dining
Indulge in chef-curated meals, premium refreshments, and exquisite catering throughout the event. Our carefully selected menu ensures a world-class dining experience, perfect for refined networking in a relaxed, elegant atmosphere.
Dedicated Concierge & Support
Enjoy a personalised service experience, with our dedicated concierge team assisting with event details, special requests, and VIP accommodations to ensure a smooth and productive visit.
Find the Venue
Get in Touch
Ready to connect with top IT decision-makers and elevate your brand? Whether you're looking to sponsor, attend, or learn more about our exclusive events, we're here to help.
More Ways to Connect
Select an option below to find the right opportunity and become part of the CxO Institute experience.