Agenda for TechTides
Main Stage
09.15am Opening Remarks. Alastair Cameron, Founder of TechTides
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09.20am Panel. HOW do you solve a BIG problem in your business?
Big problems demand bold solutions. But where do you start? This panel cuts through the noise to explore how human needs, business goals, and technology collide and how to turn that collision into innovation. In just 25 minutes, we’ll share sharp insights, real examples, and fresh thinking on what it really takes to solve the problems that matter.
Charlie Tuxworth, CEO of Celsio
Jacqueline McCann, Founder of Roll Innovation
Caoilfhionn Buckley, Founder of Dare to Du
Natasha O’Hea, Innovation Lead at Catalyst
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09.55am Panel. The Moral Code: Is Building Ethical AI Possible?
AI is shaping how we work, create, and connect, but with rapid innovation comes complex ethical questions. Who is accountable when algorithms fail? How do we balance innovation with fairness, privacy, and transparency? This panel brings together experts to explore the real-world challenges of building and governing ethical AI.
Sophia Devlin – CEO & Co-Founder of TechEthics
Tadhg Hickey – Head of AI & Digital Ethics and Policy at AI Collaboration Centre (AICC)
Patricia O’Hagan – Co-Founder of Core Systems
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10.20am Fireside. Disrupting Education: The Tech Shift We Can’t Ignore
How we learn is undergoing an enormous transformation. AI, Computer Games, and Immersive technologies are all transforming how we all access and engage with learning. This fireside chat explores the forces driving this shift, the opportunities ahead, and the challenges we must tackle to keep education equitable, relevant, and human-centered.
Justin Edwards, Director at Microsoft
Thomas Moore, Principal Lecturer in Digital Learning at NWRC
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11am Keynote. Beyond the Model: Building Value Through the Industrial Digital Twin
Digital Twins promise more than just virtual replicas, they unlock new ways to connect data, people, and performance. This session explores how AI and big data are transforming industrial operations, turning complex systems into actionable insights and measurable value.
Tyler Mitchell, Capability Architect (Partner Technologist) at AVEVA
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11.25am Panel. Women in Tech: Navigating the Sector, Breaking Barriers
This candid 30-minute discussion explores the realities of career progression for women in technology, – highlighting challenges, strategies for growth, and the importance of breaking barriers to build a more inclusive industry.
Niamh Tohill, CTO at Hurree
Janine Crosbie, VP of Engineering & NI Site Lead at Mintel
Jade Truffitt, Principal Specialist, Security Risk & Assurance
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11.50am Keynote. Building High Performance Tech Teams & Creating the Right Working Culture within Tech Organisations
Building resilient, high-performing tech teams takes more than technical talent: it’s about trust, culture, and structure. This talk explores how leaders can set teams up for success, with insights from scaling global teams and from DevDay, the next-generation platform that assesses engineers in real-world environments.
Laura O’Neill, Co-Founder & CEO of DevDay
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12.15pm Lunch and Networking
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1.20pm Fireside. How To Create A Confident Digital Youth
By creating environments where young people can thrive, we unlock not only social inclusion but also a new wave of economic innovation. This session focuses on unlocking confidence and inclusion among our hidden digital youth, leaving you inspired to play your part in creating environments where confidence, inclusion and innovation can thrive.
Katherine Rowlandson, Co-Founder of Kippie
Jennifer Neff, Founder of Hightop
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1.40pm Panel. From Pitch to Partnership: Navigating Tech Startup Fundraising
Join three tech founders as they share first-hand insights into the realities of raising investment. From crafting the right pitch to managing investor relationships and financial expectations, this discussion will highlight both the challenges and opportunities on the path to securing funding and building lasting partnerships.
Susan Kelly, CEO & Co-Founder of Respiratory Analytics
Ciaran Ryan, Co-Founder & CEO at Optik AI
John McElone, Co-Founder & CEO of American Rail
Ryan Williams, Co-Founder of the AMP Incubator
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2.05pm Keynote. From Zero to Global!
Join John Harkin, Founder of Alchemy Technology, for an inspiring 20-minute talk on his entrepreneurial journey. From modest beginnings to building a global company, John shares pivotal moments, unexpected challenges, and how a strong, values-driven culture became the cornerstone of Alchemy’s success.
John Harkin, Founder & CEO at Alchemy Technology Services
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2.55pm Keynote. Rethinking AI: Building Together
Are we asking the right questions before turning to AI? Is AI always the answer? This session explores a balance between AI, talent development and human connection to build a stronger, smarter and more sustainable tech industry.
Ross Hompstead, Director of Technology at ASOS.com
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3.20pm Coffee Break
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3.40pm Panel. Understanding the Funding Landscape
Explore how to find and secure the right funding for your venture. This industry-expert panel unpacks key funding options, investor expectations, and practical tips to help you navigate today’s financial landscape with confidence.
Jenny Ervine, Founder & Investor at Raise Ventures
Susan McKane, Senior Manager NI at British Business Bank
Barry Brennan, Venture Partner at Elkstone
Sian McLaughlin, Senior Investment Manager at Clarendon Fund Managers
Simon Bailie, Founder, Advisor and Connector
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4.05pm Panel. Innovation is the New Currency
In today’s fast-moving financial landscape, innovation isn’t optional. From digital-first banking to AI-powered insights, the way we design, deliver, and experience financial services is being redefined. This panel explores how bold ideas, emerging technologies, and customer-driven thinking are reshaping finance and how the island of Ireland is fast becoming a Fintech hub.
Stephen Leonard, VP, Software Engineering at Payroc
Hilary Moran, CEO at The Fintech Corridor
Ray Hogan, VP, Principal Engineer at FinTrU
Simon Bailie, Founder, Advisor and Connector
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4.30pm Keynote. What I learned as Head of Comms at Tinder
Tinder – It’s the app that’s made 75 billion matches, had over 530 million downloads worldwide and at its peak users were swiping 2 billion times per day… so what can Tinder’s former Head Of Communications tell you about how to create an app that goes viral? Hear from Hermione Way at TechTides about her time at Tinder and what it was like working at one of the world’s most famous startups.
Hermione Way, Technology Entrepreneur & Formerly Head of Communications at Tinder
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4.55pm Panel. Customer-centricity: solving customer problems, not systems or functions
True customer-centricity means solving real customer problems, not just optimising systems or functions. This panel will explore how organisations can break down silos, deeply understand customer needs, and design solutions that create genuine value. Hear from experts on turning customer insights into action and making customer-centricity a driver of innovation and growth.
Dr Stephen McKeown, Global VP at Allstate Corporation
Paula Kennedy Garcia, Global CX and Innovation Leader
Paul McElvaney, Co-Founder of Learning Pool
Stage 2
10.35am Panel. The Future, Powered by Data Science?
This panel explores how data science is shaping the future across industries—from healthcare and finance to climate science and AI. Experts will discuss the evolving role of data in decision-making, innovation, and predictive technologies, highlighting real-world applications and ethical considerations. Join us for an insightful conversation on how data-driven insights are not just informing the future—they’re actively building it.
Dr Jaclyn Harron, Senior Data Scientist at DailyPay
Dr Dawn Thompson, Senior Manager of Delivery Data Science at Smarsh
Michelle McGlone, Lead Data Scientist at Allstate NI
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11.00am Panel. How technology can be a leverage for the power of good.
Blurb: With great technological power comes great responsibility. How can we prevent “tech for good” from becoming just a PR buzzword? In this panel we are joined by Founders who have worked at Tech companies with a transformative positive impact at the heart of what they do.
Leeann Monk-Özgül, Founder of Hard Yards
Stephen McPeake, Founder & CEO at CivicDollars
Katrin Busch, Social Innovator
Dave Linton, Founder of Madlug C.I.C
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11.25am Talk. From Chaos to Clarity: Solving the Financial Pain Points of Digital & Tech Businesses
Running a digital or tech business is exciting but often chaotic, with many founders lacking financial clarity around cash flow, profitability, and compliance. The good news is that these challenges are common and solvable with the right strategies.
Kieran Phelan, Founder & CEO of Satori Accounting
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11.50am Innovation Without Breach. How Growth Companies Can Protect Trust from Day One
In the rush to grow, many companies treat security as a “later problem.” By the time they scale, security debt is costly and sometimes fatal. This talk shows growth-focused companies how to embed lean, practical security from the very beginning – protecting customer trust without slowing innovation
Colin Manson, NI Cyber Guy
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12.15pm Lunch and Networking
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1.40pm Talk. From Spreadsheets to Smart Systems: Your Data-to-AI Journey
As we enter the age of AI, it is ever more important for companies to manage their data effectively, and adapt their strategies as they grow. In this session, we’ll go through a maturity model for data management in companies and examine strategies aligned with their size.
Joon du Randt, Lead Architect, Data at Globalization Partners
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2.05pm Fireside Chat. From Sketchpad to Shelf: Getting Your IoT Product to Market
Taking an IoT product from idea to launch means navigating design, prototyping, manufacturing, compliance, and beyond. In this fireside chat, two industry experts share insights and lessons learned on turning connected concepts into successful, market-ready products and the pitfalls to avoid!
Martin Naughton, MD at Galvia Digital
Michael Doherty, Co-Founder at Badger IOT
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2.30pm Panel. Empowering the Next Wave of Female Entrepreneurs
This panel brings together trailblazing female advocates to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping female entrepreneurship. From breaking barriers to accessing capital and scaling ventures, our speakers will share insights to inspire and empower the next generation of women driving innovation and impact.
Prof Maura McAdam, Expert In Women’s Entrepreneurship
Clare McGee, CEO & Co-Founder at AwakenHub & AwakenAngels
Máirín Murray, Founder, TechFoundHer
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2.55pm Talk. From Classroom to Conference Stage: How Extracurriculars Can Launch Your Tech Career
Yuan Zhang explores how extracurriculars like volunteering and community involvement can fast-track growth for early tech career professionals. Sharing personal experience and practical strategies, this talk covers building an authentic brand, networking with ease, and using tech communities to unlock new opportunities.
Yuan Zhang, Associate Software Engineer at Liberty IT
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3.20pm Coffee Break
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3.40pm Chat. Picking the Right AI Stack for your product / business
With AI evolving fast, choosing the right stack is critical to your product’s success. This panel will explore how to evaluate foundation models, tools, and infrastructure to align with your goals and growth stage. Walk away with a clear framework for building scalable, future-ready AI into your product.
Scott Wylie, Co-Founder at Evermind AI
Declan McDonough, Founder of MetaDeck Ltd
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4.05PM Interview. Reboot & Relaunch: Building My Next Startup in the Age of AI
After one startup ride, everything looks different the second time around. This conversation explores what it means to rebuild with heart and hindsight – launching an emotionally intelligent app in 2025’s AI era, and what second-time founders know that first timers can’t yet see.
Rachel McMullin, Founder of Trnches
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4.30pm Talk. The disruption of software engineering in the AI era
AI is transforming how software is built, from writing and testing code to shaping team dynamics. This talk explores the opportunities and risks of AI-powered development, and what these changes mean for the future of software engineering.
Joe Dunleavey, Regional CTO for Europe & Head of Dava.X AI Group at Endava
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