Dr. Nici Sweaney is the Founder & CEO of Ai Her Way, a feminist AI strategy and education company empowering values-driven leaders to adopt ethical, human-first automation at scale. View LinkedIn

“We don’t just need smarter AI, we need braver leadership. The future of automation must be human-first, values-led, and built for equity.”

AI can feel like both a silver bullet and a black box, especially from the boardroom. In this session, Dr. Nici Sweaney breaks down the fundamentals of artificial intelligence in clear, human terms, cutting through the jargon and hype. She explains how AI really works, what it can and can’t do, and why understanding it is no longer optional for leaders shaping the future of their organisations.

By the end of this session, you’ll understand the core terminology and capabilities behind AI (including machine learning and large language models), common myths and misconceptions that cloud decision-making, the difference between automation and augmentation, and how to begin thinking strategically about AI’s role in your business, from risk to opportunity.

Includes downloadable slides and supporting materials from the session.

Bryan Cassady is Director at the Global Entrepreneurship Alliance and a seasoned innovator who has founded multiple businesses across six countries and now leads a global mission to train one million entrepreneurs by 2027. View LinkedIn

“The best AI use cases don’t start with technology, they start with a problem worth solving. Focus on value first, then build the right solution around it.”

Knowing where to start with AI can feel overwhelming. In this practical session, Bryan Cassady helps you cut through the noise and identify real, high-impact use cases inside your business. Drawing on his experience working with startups and corporate innovators globally, Bryan introduces a simple framework to help executives match the right type of AI application, automation, acceleration, or augmentation to the problems that matter most.

By the end of this session, you’ll understand how to identify low-risk, high-reward AI opportunities, distinguish between automating tasks, accelerating workflows, and augmenting decision-making, align use cases with tangible business value, and why starting small and iterating often is the smartest way to adopt AI.

Includes downloadable slides and supporting materials from the session.

Ben Gamble is Field CTO at Ververica and a leading voice in real-time data, AI systems, and scalable tech architecture, bridging strategy and innovation from Apache Flink to frontier logistics. View LinkedIn

“AI adoption isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a leadership challenge. Success comes from earning buy-in and using AI to enable faster, smarter decisions across the business.”

Adopting AI isn’t just about installing new tools, it’s about leading real cultural and operational change. In this session, Ben Gamble explores how executives can successfully guide their teams through AI transformation by building trust, reducing resistance, and fostering a shared vision. Drawing on his experience as Field CTO and advisor to global tech-driven companies, Ben shares practical strategies to gain buy-in at every level, from the boardroom to the frontline.

By the end of this session, you’ll understand how to lead AI adoption with confidence, communicate its value beyond buzzwords, and create a culture that sees AI as an enabler—not a threat. You’ll also learn how to position AI as a decision-making partner, helping teams act faster and more intelligently in high-stakes environments.

Includes downloadable slides and supporting materials from the session.

Patrick Beswick is a Director of a one-of-a-kind AI-focused sales enablement consultancy, assisting organisations align AI automation with their business goals, driving value for their clients. View LinkedIn

AI has permeated all business aspects – it’s no longer about which AI you use or which AI is most recent, it’s how & where you use it.”

AI utilization in sales has become a crucial factor in business growth. In this session, Patrick Beswick explores how AI has changed the traditional sales pipeline. Drawing on his experience as a founder, business analyst and enterprise client relationship manager, Patrick breaks down how AI can be strategically leveraged to net internal performance gains, unlock client value and identify business growth opportunities.

By the end of this session, you’ll understand how embedding AI automation leads to increased client satisfaction through personalized outreach and faster deal closure, while also enabling internal optimizations by reducing repetitive tasks and scaling bespoke engagement across teams. You’ll learn how strategically placed AI within a sales function — from prospecting to closing — leads to time savings, efficiency gains, and measurable business growth opportunities. And most importantly, you’ll begin thinking strategically about where to deploy AI in your sales workflow, aligning technology with real business goals, and building a scalable, value-driven approach.

Includes downloadable slides and supporting materials from the session.

Irina Marsh is the Responsible AI Integration Lead at AII ORA, where she helps organizations implement ethical and scalable AI solutions that align with real-world business goals. View LinkedIn

“Responsible AI isn’t just about compliance, it’s about building systems people can trust, and businesses can stand behind.”

As AI adoption accelerates across industries, so too do the risks. In this session, Irina Marsh unpacks what every executive needs to know about responsible AI from emerging regulations to real-world reputational threats. Drawing on her experience helping global organizations embed ethical AI practices, Irina offers a clear framework for navigating compliance, bias, and accountability without slowing innovation.

By the end of this session, you’ll understand the key AI governance and regulatory shifts for 2025, how to assess and manage risk, the ethical considerations leaders must own, and how to embed responsible AI into your strategy, culture, and daily operations.

Includes downloadable slides and supporting materials from the session.