The UK edition of the World CIO 200 Summit 2025 concluded on a high note at the prestigious Aga Khan Centre in London, gathering the region’s most influential CIOs, thought leaders, and technology pioneers for a day of transformative insights, thought leadership, and visionary dialogue.
The World CIO 200 Summit is a global platform celebrating the achievements and visions of Chief Information Officers across industries and geographies. As part of a multi-nation tour, the summit fosters collaboration, innovation, and recognition for technology leaders shaping the digital future.
Organized by the Global CIO Forum, the summit was proudly supported by TMC (Supporting Partner), Obrela (Gold Partner), and Aga Khan University (Knowledge Partner).
The event opened with a powerful keynote from Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of Aga Khan University, followed by an inspiring welcome address by Lord Holmes, Member of the UK House of Lords, highlighting the critical role of innovation, inclusion, and collaboration in the digital age.
Aditya Kaushik, Brand Ambassador of the Global CIO Forum, then set the stage with an overview of the global journey of the Global CIO Forum and discussed its strategic vision, milestones and impact.
Highlights from the UK Edition:
Panel 1: Females in Tech
Moderated by Georgina Owens, Chief Technologist, the panel delved into overcoming gender bias, mentorship, and women leading AI innovation. Panelists included,
- Grace Tattersall, Partner, Technology and Digital Practice (Anderson Quigley)
- Tracey Jessup, Chief Transformation Officer (De Montfort University)
- Natalie Schofield, Head of CDIO Programmes for the West Yorkshire ICB
Panel 2: CIOs as Business Growth Drivers
With Saif Mohammad, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Diligencia Group as moderator, panelists including,
- Lorna Allan, Chief Digital and Information Officer (Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust)
- Andrew Raynes, CIO (Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
- Dean Garvey-North, CIO – Technology and Transformation (Energy, Utilities and Assets)
- Ilham Ismail, Head of IT and Data/CISO (Karibu Community Homes)
They explored how CIOs are evolving from tech managers to strategic business enablers, leveraging AI and transformation to drive outcomes.
VIP Keynote & Fireside Chat
Mark Bramwell (CDIO, Said Business School, University of Oxford) and Dom Hilleard (Co-Founder – Innovative IT, Digital, Leadership Recruitment Search of GTalent Leaders) engaged in a powerful fireside discussion on leadership resilience and executive burnout—an increasingly critical topic for modern tech executives.
Panel 3: Digital Workspaces in the Age of AI
Led by Giles Lindsay (Chief information Technology Officer at Lif3away Inc.) this session explored the AI-powered future of hybrid work, with experts like ,
- Shaukat Ali Khan, Executive Chief Digital and Information Officer-CDIO (NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board)
- Rajesh Jethwa, Chief Technology Officer (Digiterre)
- Mivy James, Chief Technology Officer (UK Ministry of Defence)
- George Patsis, CEO (Obrela)
Panel 4: Empowering the Next Generation of CIOs
Moderated by Paul Smith (CIO, Amnesty International), this forward-looking discussion featured:
- Julie Bailey | Director of Corporate Engagement | BCS
- Vivek Jadhav | Head Of Technology
- Gary McAllister | CTO | Dell Technologies
- Pooja Bagga, CIO, Guardian Media Group
They shared critical insights on leadership, mentorship, and preparing tomorrow’s tech leaders.
The summit celebrated outstanding technology leaders in four prestigious categories—Next-Gen, Leader, Master, and Legend—recognizing their significant contributions to digital transformation in their organizations.
Country Ambassadors Saif Mohammad, Shaukat Ali Khan, Paul Smith, and Giles Lindsay delivered closing remarks, capturing key takeaways and inviting continued collaboration. The evening concluded with elegant canapés and networking, fostering deeper connections among peers and partners.
