The CA Summit incredible line-up
This November some of the UK’s leading experts in tech and the economy will discuss the big ideas set to shape the future of business, at ICAS’s annual virtual event
It was Peter Drucker who once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
It’s been difficult to ignore the relentless march of change, both political and technological so far in 2024. The UK has its first new government in 14 years, the US is set to elect a new president, while war in the Ukraine and the growing conflict in the Middle East threaten to alter the geopolitical landscape forever. Meanwhile, technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and the blockchain are advancing at a mind-boggling pace, predicted to reshape economies in a similar way to steam power and electricity.
History is littered with organisations that have failed to evolve, while those who embrace change create their future.
For anybody curious about what happens next, the debates and discussions at CA Summit 2024 may offer plenty of thoughts for consideration.
Over two days in November (19-20) CA Summit 2024 will bring together leading voices in business, technology, economics and politics, from Edwina Dunn to Lord Mark Price, who’ll be discussing the latest ideas that will help today’s leaders stay informed.
Event host
Dharshini David is the BBC’s chief economics correspondent. Having started her career as an economist in government and at HSBC, she left the trading floor in 2000 to cover financial news for the BBC in London and New York. She’s covered stories such as the turmoil in financial markets following 9/11, the Enron scandal, and the birth of the Great Recession from Wall Street. Stints at Sky News and working in Tesco’s comms team followed, before Dharshini re-joined the BBC in 2018.
The theme of Day One [19 November] is Are you ready for business 3.0? The AI revolution has dominated headlines over the last 18 months, with tech-evangelists arguing it has the power to end low productivity, transform healthcare and even tackle the climate crisis. In financial services, the AI revolution is expected to produce faster and more accurate audits and calculations, improve workflow and reduce the burden of many time-consuming tasks, freeing up time for more strategic and value-add activities.
But AI’s rapid growth also raises questions about triggering a ‘jobs apocalypse’ (nearly 8m jobs could be lost to AI, according to a 2024 IPPR study), de-skilling, political disinformation and the danger of deepfakes.
CA Summit 2024 aspires to uncover what AI and other new technology might mean for you and your businesses. Our expert panel and speakers will: exchange views on what you need to do to prepare for an increasingly tech-driven world, consider the ethical concerns, debate whether regulation can keep up and discuss the challenges of upskilling workforces and other new trends.
Day One programme
Panel session
Time: 15.10
Professor Andy PardoeAndy is considered one of the UK’s leading AI thought-leaders. Before establishing his Pardoe AI Consulting firm in 2024, he spent five years as CEO at Wisdom Works Group which helps firms adopt AI technology and define their AI strategy. Andy is also chair of the University of Warwick’s Deep Tech Innovation Centre and acted as adviser to 2020 documentary We Need to Talk about AI. He is also author of The Executive AI Handbook, Becoming A Data Scientist, and AI Strategy for Business Leaders.
Paolo SbuttoniPaolo is a partner at international law firm Foot Anstey. He regularly advises some of the world’s biggest companies on digital transformation, AI, blockchain, data protection, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and more. One of his specialisms is fintech, and he has helped start-ups and other financial institutions launch digital financial services.
Zoë WebsterBy her own admission, Zoë “got into AI early.” For the past 20 years, she has advised organisations on AI strategy and practice, working in roles for Innovate UK, military research group QinetiQ, and leading BT’s AI Centre of Enablement. Earlier this year, Zoë joined Cambridge Management Consulting as associate consultant for AI, Digital & Innovation, and has also previously given evidence at the House of Lords on large language models.
Fireside chat with Edwina Dunn OBE
Time: 16:10
Edwina Dunn OBEEdwina is a British entrepreneur who has been a pioneer in data science throughout her career. She is the former CEO/chair of a consumer insights company and co-founded Dunnhumby (the data mining company behind Tesco’s Clubcard loyalty scheme). She is also director of the government’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation and sits on the board of the Geospatial Commission, which sets the UK’s geospatial strategy. In 2015, Edwina founded the Female Lead campaign, which aims to empower women; Edwina’s book When She’s in the Room is out now.
Day Two’s [20 November] ‘New Government, Same Old Economy?’ will focus on the post-election economic prospects. This summer’s general election saw Labour take power with a historic landslide win. But how will a change in government impact the economy in the years to come? Chancellor Rachel Reeves has talked about Labour’s plans to boost resilience, family finances, “fix the foundations” of the British economy, and unlock investment through new institutions such as GB Energy and the National Wealth Fund. But she’s also insisted that “tough decisions” are needed. However, with inflation having recently dropped to 1.7% (perhaps paving the way for the Bank of England to cut interest rates), what should businesses – and their finance teams – do in terms of forecasting? We’ll also be discussing what this year’s regime change means for growth, something the government desperately needs to improve public services and create new jobs.
Meanwhile, global economic stability may depend on whoever wins November’s US election, along with the many other new governments elected in countries from Mexico to Austria during a year when nearly half of the world’s population has gone to the polls. Our experts will be discussing these seismic shifts and more.
Day Two programme
Panel session
Time: 15.05
Lord Mark PriceLord Mark Price is the founder of WorkL for Business; Chair, Fairtrade Foundation; formerly Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Managing Director, Waitrose, and Deputy Chair, John Lewis Partnership.
Lucy FisherLucy Fisher is Whitehall editor of The Financial Times and also hosts the newspaper’s well-received Political Fix podcast. She is also the author of *Emily Wilding Davison: The Martyr Suffragette* and *Women in the War: The Last Heroines of Britain’s Greatest Generation*.
Michael MartinsMichael Martins is a seasoned public affairs, communications, and public policy specialist with over 15 years of experience. He is the founder of Overton Advisory, which provides advisory and implementation services across sectors such as energy, FMCG, financial services, defence, and net zero.
Fireside chat with Iain Anderson FRSA
Time: 16:10
Iain Anderson FRSAIain Anderson is an expert in communications, global political risk, and public policy; co-founder and Executive Chairman of H/Advisors Cicero; ex-LGBT+ Business Champion; co-author of *A New Partnership* with Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
Leading the right way
Throughout CA Summit 2024 our speakers will examine both the escalating tech advances and economic uncertainty through the lens of ethical leadership. How can businesses harness AI to shape society for the better? If the world plunges into recession, how can companies still prioritise environmental concerns and the well-being of its workforce?
Tickets
One ticket gives you access to both days.
This is the fourth CA Summit. In previous years, both CAs and those in the wider business community have heard the likes of Alistair Campbell, Lord Kim Darroch, Dame Stephanie Shirley, and Margaret Casely-Hayford discuss the most pertinent business issues of the day. CA Summit 2024 isn’t just the perfect place to contemplate the bigger picture beyond the balance sheet: many businesses and attendees also use the CA Summit to fulfil Continuing Professional Development (CPD) objectives too.
Depending upon your individual role and training and development needs, watching the CA Summit can count towards your annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirement.
