Join us for Data Bristol’s May Meetup, where we’ll be exploring DataOps and Streamlining Data Flows.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday 21 May
• Time: 18:00 – 21:00
• Location: iO Associates, St. Bartholomew’s House, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NH
• Registration: Sign up via Meetup.com to secure your free spot

The Talks

DataOps: 10 years later by Steph Locke

I started talking about DataOps and where the future of our industry needed to go an astonishing 10 years ago. Today, I want to reflect on some key questions: how has our industry moved on, what’s key today, and where does the future lie?

Streamlining Data Flows: Integrating Power Automate with Microsoft Fabric by Laura-Jayne Adamson

Learn how to leverage Power Automate to seamlessly read emails and push data directly into Microsoft Fabric. This demonstration will highlight the simplicity of setting up workflows, extracting actionable insights from email content, and automating the integration with Microsoft Fabric for powerful data storage and analytics.

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The defence sector is navigating a rapidly changing digital environment. Join us for this online panel discussion, as we bring together leading experts, policymakers, and strategic thinkers to provide valuable insights on the pressing challenges and exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday 15 May
• Time: 16:30 – 17:30
• Location: Zoom (link shared after registering)
• Register: Complete our registration form to secure your spot.

The Discussion

In this discussion on ‘Post SDR: The Digital Defence Challenge’, our experts explore:

• Why is there so much misunderstanding of SMEs?
• Balancing Sovereignty in an increasingly international operating environment
• Integration by Interoperability and connectivity
• Implications of the Cybersecurity & Resilience bill
• Resilience of the defence supply chain

Our Chair

Chris Parker MBE (Director of Government Strategy, Fortinet UK)

Chris Parker MBE serves as the UK Director of Government at Fortinet UK, a subsidiary of the world’s largest cybersecurity vendor. With extensive experience in both national and multinational operations, Chris has led and designed international strategies across various sectors. He is an enthusiastic collaborator between industry and government, actively supporting initiatives focused on integration, skills and sustainability.

Chris has held the role of Industry Co-Chair for the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Integration Working Group since 2022. In addition, he chaired the DESNZ COPP from 2023-2024, where he led efforts to enhance resilience in the UK energy supply chain. Chris serves on two techUK Government committees and is a guest lecturer for the UK FCDO Chevening Fellowship, helping improve cyber leadership in developing nations.

Chris had a 20-year military career on nine combat and operational tours, notably as Chief of Staff 7th Armoured Brigade in Kosovo 2001 and Iraq 2003. He then held a range of senior corporate roles, including as Project Director of a £1B engineering project, Chief Operating Officer at a global oil exploration corporation and founder of three consultancy businesses.

Our Panel

Stuart Mckean (Founder & CEO, Nine23)

Stuart Mckean is a former British Army Lynx helicopter pilot with an accomplished service career spanning 23 years. Now the Founder and CEO of Nine23, a UK Sovereign High Assurance MSP, providing high assurance managed services, cyber security integration, private and hybrid cloud, collaboration, interoperability, and managed infrastructure solutions to UK Central Government, Law Enforcement, Defence Industry, and their supply chains.

Sara Sharkey CBE (Strategy Director, Prolinx)

Ben Baker (Head Strategic Engagement Land / Defence Enablers, Lockheed Martin)

Ben Baker is the Head of Strategic Engagement at Lockheed Martin (UK) for the Land and Integrated Force. This follows a British Army career where he served on operations globally in Land and Joint leadership and staff roles, often working with Allies and Partners.

His final military appointment was supporting Defence’s most senior leaders as part of the UK Ministry of Defence Strategy Unit. He is currently an industry member of the DIJC Market Engagement Task and Finish Group. He has a particular interest in the history of Combined and Joint Operations.

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Register today and join us for this insightful discussion.

As part of our ongoing partnership with FreshEgg to deliver opportunities for professionals to enhance their careers through a range of interactive and practical training sessions, we are pleased to share details of our latest full-day workshop.

This session is ideal for developers who want to improve their skills in BigQuery. It will make you even more indispensable to your organisation’s marketing team and strengthen your CV for future job opportunities. Book your spot today.

Early-bird offer – £199 (from 22.04.25 – £399)

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday 7 May
• Time: 10:00 – 16:00
• Location: Online
• Who: Developers, technical marketers, and data-savvy team members who want to strengthen their analytics knowledge, become more cross-functional, and add future-ready tools to their toolkit.
• Register: Secure your place with Fresh Egg

What You’ll Learn

• Why marketers and analysts will use BigQuery in 2025.
• Connecting GA4 and GSC data to BigQuery.
• Flattening GA4 tables correctly.
• Using BigQuery for reporting and data visualisation.
• Cost, billing, and user management.

Why take this course?

Enhance your CV, make yourself indispensable:

Don’t Miss Out, Get Our Early Bird Price

£199 until 22 April, then £399

Register

Head over to Fresh Egg to secure your spot.

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In today’s data-centric world, building a culture where every employee understands and values data is crucial.

Join the Tech Leaders Collective – Manchester Data for this roundtable discussion, chaired by Mark Wheeler, as we explore strategies to improve data literacy across all levels of an organisation, ensuring that data becomes an integral part of decision-making processes.

With fellow data leaders, we’ll discuss practical approaches to engage employees and share success stories from establishing data-driven cultures.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday 14th May
• Time: 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM
• Location: Dakota Hotel, 29 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JL
• Register: Complete our registration form to secure your spot.

Our Chair

Mark Wheeler has a track record of providing innovative solutions which unlock insights to support business decision making.

He is a seasoned, people-centric, data leader with over 20 years’ experience working in the legal industry. Over the years he has covered a wide variety of data functions: from Reporting & Management Information to BI; Data Engineering and Data Architecture.

Currently, Mark is leading the Data Engineering function for Clyde & Co, a large international law firm, and is a key part of firm-wide transformative projects such as Case Management system migrations and creating a modern Enterprise data platform in Azure.

Registration

Sign up now to secure your spot.

In this episode of the Defence series, host Harry sits down with Robert, one of the founders and CEO at FiberCoat, to explore the innovative journey of transitioning from a university project to a significant player in the defence industry.

Robert delves into the unique challenges faced by FibreCoat in adapting their product for defence applications and how geopolitical shifts have accelerated their growth trajectory. With exciting insights into FibreCoat’s development of an aluminium coated glass fibre, Robert elucidates their impact on defence technology, particularly in shielding and countermeasures.

The conversation also touches on the company’s strategic global expansion plans for 2025 and 2026, showcasing their ambition to establish production sites in Germany and beyond. With fresh funding, FibreCoat is set to revolutionise how materials shape our world.

For anyone interested in innovative materials, the defence sector, or entrepreneurial growth in complex industries, this episode is packed with inspiration and strategic insights. Tune in for Robert’s advice on pursuing ground-breaking ideas and capitalising on global opportunities!

Over the years, the tech industry has seen significant shifts, from the rise of remote and hybrid work models to the increasing emphasis on work-life balance. Successful managers have had to adapt to these changes, navigating the challenges and opportunities brought about by new technologies and evolving employee expectations.

At this Tech Leaders Roundtable, we’ll discuss how we’ve navigated these changes over the years, adapting to the evolving wants, needs, and success factors of our teams. We’ll then explore the strategies to ensure teams are positioned to thrive in an ever-changing environment.

Event Details

• Topic: Working Culture in Technology Teams – The Evolution of Hybrid and Remote Working and How we Structure our Working Environment
• Date: Wednesday 30 April
• Time: 7:30am arrival; 8:00am discussion
• Location: Hotel du Vin, 11 Bristo Pl, Edinburgh EH1 1EZ
• Register: Complete our registration form to secure your spot

Our Chair

Having worked in a variety of Tech related roles for over 25 years, Sarah Thomson leads the Tech department at People’s Postcode Lottery. As Head of Tech UK, Sarah’s role is to provide leadership to the team and to oversee the development, delivery, maintenance and support of the technology that enables the local Business, as well as working together with peers in the other markets, to deliver the Postcode Lottery Group Tech strategy. The Postcode Lottery Group is a non-profit organization that operates charity lotteries worldwide to raise funds for good causes and social initiatives.

Sarah lives in Edinburgh and outside of work enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, reading and travel.

Register

Sign up now to secure your spot at the discussion.

Navigating Post-Military Careers: A Journey of Growth and Support in the Gen Dit Network

In this episode of the Defence series, host Harry is joined by guest Chris Shaw, an inspiring former Royal Marine who shares his journey of transitioning from the military to a civilian career.

Chris discusses his experiences in project management, sales, and business development, emphasising the importance of understanding your strengths and finding the right industry fit.

The conversation also highlights the incredible work Chris is doing with the Gen Dit Network, a support group he co-founded to connect the military community with valuable resources and opportunities. Chris shares insights on the upcoming Gen Dit event in Bristol, emphasising its value for networking and personal development.

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, career development, or supporting veterans, this episode is packed with valuable advice and stories. Don’t miss out on Chris’s top tips for military service leavers as they navigate their future careers!

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, businesses face mounting pressure to integrate advanced digital methodologies. The adoption of frameworks like React, Angular, and Node.js is reshaping operations, driving efficiency, and enabling innovative solutions. However, the journey towards modernisation is fraught with challenges, including the seamless integration of emerging technologies, managing technical debt, and balancing innovation with sustainability.

In this Roundtable Discussion, chaired by Matthew White, we’ll confront these challenges, sharing knowledge and experiences that will help to overcome them and enable the effective implementation of modern engineering practices at enterprise scale.

Sign up now to secure your free spot at this exclusive event.

Event Details

• Topic: Challenges and Strategies for Implementing Modern Engineering Practices at Enterprise Scale
• Date: Wednesday 2nd April
• Time: 7:30am for arrival & networking; 8:00am for discussion
• Location: TBC, Central Manchester
• Register: Complete our registration form to confirm your spot

Our Chair

With over 25 years of engineering and delivery experience, spanning both private and public sector, and a wide variety of environments from laboratories through to insurance and digital marketing, Matthew White has a wide portfolio of skills and experiences to bring software projects from concept to reality.

With a strong background in lean and agile engineering, he has managed everything from small product inceptions through to large engineering departments comprising multiple cross functional teams; helping to shape digital transformation and ways of working, to optimise delivery at scale.

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Secure your free spot by completing our registration form.

Join us for Data Bristol’s April Meetup, where we’ll be exploring Data Culture and Discovery Graphs.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday 19 March
• Time: 18:00 – 21:00
• Location: iO Associates, St. Bartholomew’s House, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NH
• Registration: Sign up via Meetup.com to secure your free spot

The Talks

Discovery Graphs by Alex Cole

Data discovery projects often reveal a chaotic and intricate data landscape—how can we untangle this mess and communicate it effectively? In this talk, I’ll introduce graph databases and share how I’ve leveraged them to create interactive, structured visualizations of the data landscape. I’ll demonstrate how these tools can highlight data lineage, manage complexity, and provide meaningful insights to stakeholders.

Data Culture Renaissance by Cayleigh O’Dwyer

Sharing the key components required to bridge the gap between people and the ever changing world of Data & AI.

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Connect with fellow South West tech leaders on Wednesday 23rd April from 16:00 at the Tech Leadership Collective of the South West, organised by iO Associates.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday 23rd April
• Time: Arrival from 4pm. Talks from 4:30pm
• Location: iO Associates, St. Bartholomew’s House, Lewins Mead, BS1 2NH
• Who: This iO Meetup will suit tech leaders including: CTOs, CIOs, CEOs, Founders, Directors, Heads of and Managers
• Register: Complete our registration form to secure your spot.

An opportunity to network with fellow tech leaders in the South West area before a thought-provoking talk from AND Digital’s Stuart Munton.

The event will be held under Chatham House Rule, creating a trusted environment that encourages open discussion.

The Talk

The Convergence – how AI is changing Agile Roles, Teams, and Practices (Stuart Munton, Chief for Group Operations & Technology at AND Digital)

“The Convergence” is a future-facing interactive discussion about the profound impact of AI on Agile Product Delivery. Ushering in an era where AI Transformations become the focal point, surpassing the current realms of Agile and Digital Transformation strategic approaches. The session explores the evolution of key team roles, showcasing how currently compartmentalised roles are converging into new hybrid forms.

We will focus on specific roles, including Engineers, Product Managers, UX Designers, and Delivery Managers, providing practical examples and case studies to illustrate these AI driven changes. We will discuss how “The Convergence” of roles is changing our approach to shaping team capabilities, how it will increase in speed with which teams will need to form / reform, and how this will significantly alter the daily activity of people in these fluid AI augmented micro teams.

During the session we will touch on the wide range of AI approaches that are currently available and how you might make sense of the appropriate options in this rapidly evolving landscape. This is not a ‘one-size fits all approach’, however indecision is increasing the risk of non-AI augmented teams and organisation being left behind.

Our Speaker

Community and Curiosity are Stuart’s core values which have led him through his 20+ year digital career. Starting with pivotal Agile and Digital transformations for major players like ASDA / Walmart and the NHS, he became an agile advocate back in 2004.

Stuart joined AND Digital as a 10 person start-up in 2014 and led the set-up and evolution of their way of working as they have grown to 1500+ consultants. He has honed practices for ~50 of AND’s clients across various industries – Retail, eCommerce, Insurance, Leisure, Hospitality, Media, Publishing etc. Currently, as Chief for Group Operations & Technology, Stuart leads AND’s internal technology functions consisting of AND’s Information Technology team, AND’s Business Platform Engineering team, and AND’s Security and Quality Standards team. He is also regularly involved in AND’s complex and scaled Agile engagements.

Alongside AND, Stuart co-founded the Agile Reading meet-up, creating a space for agile enthusiasts since 2020 and has been speaking at international conferences (e.g. Agile on the Beach, Global Scrum Gathering, ACE Krakow, XP2023 Amsterdam, ScanAgile etc.) from 2021 onwards. Stuart lives with his family in Reading Berkshire where he is a coach and semi-retired player at his local rugby club and is a lifelong Leicester Tigers rugby team fan.

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Exclusively open to South West-based tech leaders, we only have limited spaces available, so sign up today to secure yours.

We do our best to make our events accessible. Please let us know if you have any special requirements by emailing hello@iomeetups.com.