MAIN STAGE

DAY 2 [7.11.24]

About the conference

Core Festival, MAIN STAGE, VICTORIA BATHS

Experience the pinnacle of tech talks at the Manchester Tech Festival Main Stage. Curated by top tech leaders from Manchester’s major companies, our stage features captivating panels and discussions on topics that matter most to the local tech community.

SPEAKERS

Check out our lineup of speakers by clicking their images below! 

Amy Newton

Festival Director
MTF

Fernando Lucini

Global Data Science & Machine Learning Engineering Lead
Accenture

James Heggs

Technical Director
Counter

Colin Preston

Product and Service Design Director
EM Code

Greg Headley

Lead Data Scientist
Informed Solutions

Jess Sherratt

Head of User Experience (UX)
EM Code

Pete Brown

Head of Engineering
Lloyds Banking Group

Suzanne Ellison

Head of Product
Lloyds Banking Group

Scott Manson

Director for Cyber Security
UKI Cisco

Peter Petrovics

Product Manager
Equal Experts

Ella Ovenden

AI Consultant | AI & Analytics
IBM

Peter Petrovics

Product Manager
Equal Experts

Sebastian Weir

AI, Analytics and Automation Practice Leader
IBM

AGENDA

Download the day’s agenda on the link below and explore the talks details in the drop downs!

Peter Petrovics
Product Manager
Equal Experts

 

SESSION OVERVIEW: The critical questions about GenAI for enterprise business leaders are around security, scaling, and measurable success. How can GenAI enable real large-scale innovation? What are the challenges in gaining customer acceptance, and winning their trust in AI conversations? How do you evaluate the performance of a GenAI tool, and what’s the most effective way to create safeguards?

In 2023, one of Equal Experts’ customers successfully launched Europe’s largest GenAI-driven conversational FAQ service, for a multinational enterprise organisation with more than 50 million customers in 30 countries. The organisation wanted a step change in their customer conversation service, and while they saw the potential of onboarding GenAI, they didn’t know how to navigate the technology in a secure, responsible, and efficient way.

Working with the organisation’s teams, the project resulted in our GenAI FAQ product setting a new standard in customer support. Our learnings and approach included:

1. The major build hurdles we encountered, and how we addressed them;
2. How we measured the performance and effectiveness of the GenAI system;
3. The safeguards we put in place to prevent hallucinations, and maintain the integrity
of generated content;
4. How we tackled significant challenges in gaining customer acceptance, focussing on
concerns like data privacy and confidence in AI-generated responses.

Fernando Lucini
Global Data Science & Machine Learning Engineering Lead
Accenture

SESSION OVERVIEW: Unlocking the power of generative AI: Insights from 1000+ client projects and our UK AI Research

How can enterprises harness AI’s true value and use it for improved decision-making and novel customer experiences rather than merely focusing on the technology itself?

Are your organisation’s people, data, and technology ready for generative AI?
Are you taking intentional actions to design, deploy and use AI to create value and build trust by protecting from the potential risks of AI?

James Heggs
Technical Director
Counter

 

SESSION OVERVIEW: Join us for a candid and insightful session with James Heggs, Technical Director at Counter, as he delves into the “7 Deadly Sins” of tech management. Expect a no-holds-barred exploration of the mistakes he’s made throughout his career and how to steer clear of them with grace (and a sprinkle of humour).

What you’ll take away:
Practical strategies for avoiding common pitfalls: Learn actionable tips to identify and sidestep the most common management blunders before they wreak havoc on your team and projects.
Real talk on team dynamics and culture: Gain insights on how to foster a productive, engaged team by focusing on what truly matters – the people behind the tech.
Adapting to change with confidence: Discover how to embrace change, pivot quickly, and lead your team through uncertainty without losing sight of your goals.
Building a vision that resonates: Understand the importance of a clear, compelling vision that not only guides your team but also keeps them motivated and aligned with the bigger picture.
Prepare for an engaging session filled with real-world advice, humour, and a few uncomfortable truths. Whether you’re a tech management veteran or an aspiring leader, this talk will equip you with the tools to lead effectively, avoid common mistakes, and ultimately drive your team to success.

Greg Headley
Lead Data Scientist
Informed Solutions

SESSION OVERVIEW: Informed Solutions’ CIO and Transformation Director David Lawton reflects on the current state of AI in the Public Sector, shares his thoughts on the path ahead, and outlines how Public Sector leaders can work with industry experts to unlock opportunities for transforming the quality of services for citizens.

In the landscape of technical innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a potential game changer for a public sector, which is caught in the middle of limited investment and a plethora of new economic, societal, and environmental challenges. Yet, as we delve into the use of AI into public services, we find ourselves at a crossroads between ambition and execution.

Colin Preston
Product and Service Design Director
EM Code

 

Jess Sherratt
Head of User Experience (UX)
EM Code

 

SESSION OVERVIEW:

In this talk, we’ll dive into how you can turn customer journey maps into powerful tools that fuel growth and innovation. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to enhance your customer experience (CX), use service design to boost satisfaction, and even measure its impact on your bottom line. With real-world examples and actionable tips, this talk is ideal for anyone looking to transform great CX into long-term profitability. Don’t miss the chance to learn how to turn empathy into revenue and give your business a competitive edge!
 
We’ll cover:
  • From Insight to Innovation: How to transform customer journey maps into practical action plans that drive both customer satisfaction and business growth.
  • Service Design for Profitability: How well-designed customer experiences can streamline operations, delight your customers, and increase revenue.
  • Measuring CX ROI: Learn to measure the financial benefits of your CX efforts, turning customer empathy into real, trackable business results.
  • The Future of CX: How AI and predictive design will revolutionize customer experiences, allowing you to anticipate needs and reduce customer churn.

Suzanne Ellison
Head of Product
Lloyds Banking Group

 

Pete Brown
Head of Engineering for Smarter Journeys Lab
Lloyd’s Banking Group

 

SESSION OVERVIEW:

In today’s rapidly changing digital world, the collaboration between product and tech teams is critical for fostering innovation and delivering outstanding customer experiences.

In this exciting session, Suzanne Ellison and Pete Brown will explore how a shared vision, seamless communication, and cross-functional collaboration can transform the way teams create and launch new solutions. Through real-world examples, they’ll demonstrate the power of aligning priorities, breaking down silos, and fostering creative problem-solving to achieve faster, more impactful results.

Key takeaways include:

  • How to build a unified strategy between product and tech teams.
  • The role of communication and shared accountability in delivering better outcomes.
  • Actionable insights on creating a customer-first mindset in tech-driven environments.
 
Attendees will walk away with actionable strategies for cultivating strong partnerships between product and tech, accelerating innovation, and staying ahead in a competitive landscape.

Ella Ovenden
AI Consultant | AI & Analytics
IBM

 

Sebastian Weir
AI, Analytics and Automation Practice Leader
IBM

 

SESSION OVERVIEW:

The next generation of Al is upon us, we have entered the era of agents. This signifies a new chapter in Al development, one that promises increased efficiency, improved decision-making and enhanced collaboration between humans and Al systems.  This session will explore the transition from Chatbots, to Assistants to Agents and how IBM is helping organisations improve productivity and deliver business outcomes at unprecedented speed.

Scott Manson
Director for Cyber Security
UKI Cisco

 

SESSION OVERVIEW: Informed Solutions’ CIO and Transformation Director David Lawton reflects on the current state of AI in the Public Sector, shares his thoughts on the path ahead, and outlines how Public Sector leaders can work with industry experts to unlock opportunities for transforming the quality of services for citizens.

In the landscape of technical innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a potential game changer for a public sector, which is caught in the middle of limited investment and a plethora of new economic, societal, and environmental challenges. Yet, as we delve into the use of AI into public services, we find ourselves at a crossroads between ambition and execution.