Technology & Innovation Summit EMEA

Building Your Roadmap On The Road To High Performance

High-performance IT’s focus on business results can guide your journey through volatility. Its relentless strategic alignment, resulting in IT’s continuous adaptivity, yields trust and partnership with your business colleagues. How can you do this? In this session, you’ll learn how your tech roadmap can bridge the gap between the business strategy and IT’s execution. We provide a practical approach that takes you on your high-performance value creation journey. High-level business objectives point to the specific business capability changes that create key results. These, in turn, drive solutioning, prioritization, and effective communication of your high-performance IT roadmap. Join this session to:

Learn how to work with your business colleagues to craft a tech strategy that drives business results while navigating risk and volatility.

Recognize where your roadmap journey depends on a strategic portfolio when interacting with governance for policies, setting performance metrics, and driving funding.

Understand how to set the direction for your tech architecture, skills, practices, and platforms.

Speakers:
Frederic Giron, VP, Senior Research Director, Forrester

The Impact Of AI And GenAI On Your Development Teams’ Future.

AI and generative AI for software development (aka TuringBots) is reshaping the landscape of application development — but how significant is the impact? The answer depends on who you ask. Our team has done the heavy lifting to uncover the real story. This isn’t just another AI discussion — it’s a strategic roadmap for decision-makers who want to ensure their development teams thrive in the age of AI. Join this session to discover:

How AI-driven tools will redefine roles, collaboration, and management across the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

The tangible automation gains your teams can achieve and the specific steps you need to take to unlock them.

Why agentic AI is accelerating automation across the SDLC, and how leadership can either fuel or block its potential.

Speakers:
Diego Lo Giudice, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester
Michael O'Grady, Forecast Analyst, Forrester

Follow Four Recommendations To Make AI Work In Your Automation Fabric

For technology leaders navigating the adoption of AI, the stakes have never been higher. AI copilots abound, yet many struggle to scale beyond isolated success stories, trapped in siloed systems, opaque logic, and mounting technical debt. In this session, learn how to make AI work for your organization’s automation fabric. We’ll explore four essential lenses to evaluate AI deployment and how aligning process strategy with business strategy enables an enterprise-wide architecture that is resilient, transparent, and future-ready. Join this session to:

Learn how to handle AI agents and agentic automation in contrast to classic applications and automation technologies.
Understand how your process strategy can both enable and inhibit AI adoption.

Speakers:
Bernhard Schaffrik, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Mature And Justify Your Security Program

Enterprises have long struggled to define their security responsibilities, prioritize investments, and build a coherent strategy, challenges intensified by today’s tech and economic turbulence. Success depends on prioritization and justification of your security investments. Join this session to:

Learn how to successfully assess and evaluate your security program maturity.
Extend your maturity assessment with financial risk quantification for accurate and defensible investments.
Turn findings into a balanced, measurable, and trusted security program.

Speakers:
Paul McKay, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm BST

Case Study Sessions (In-Person Only)

Join case study sessions to hear real-world stories, solutions and insights leveraging the best in today’s technology, data, and AI solutions.

Templafy: Agentic document generation: achieving accurate and high-quality outputs at speed without sacrificing control

Templafy will explore how agentic AI is giving enterprise organizations and their employees the ability to create accurate, compliant, and on-brand documents with maximum efficiency and control. The session will look at how document agents enable this, what’s required for an organization to see impact from day one and why optimizing for time and quality is critical to seeing a greater return on AI investments.

Speakers:
Christian Lund, Co-Founder, Templafy

Writer Case Study

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm BST

Lunch & Marketplace (In-Person Only)

Enjoy lunch while networking in the Marketplace. Learn about innovative products and gain a deeper understanding of industry trends by attending any of the spotlight sessions, located in the Marketplace.

1:00 pm – 2:45 pm BST

Executive Leadership Exchange (Invite Only): Exclusive Networking Lunch

Establish connections with like-minded peers and Forrester experts as you trade insights on your approaches to the most pressing topics for technology, data, and security leaders.

Speakers:
Joe O'Brien, VP, CIO Executive Programs TL, Forrester
Ash Pal, VP, CIO Executive Partner, Forrester
Stephane Roger, Executive Partner, CIO Executive Program, Forrester

2:00 pm - 2:45 pm BST | Executive Leadership Exchange (Invite Only): A Fireside Chat with Rob Oddy, Bank of America

Details coming soon.

Speakers:
Ash Pal, VP, CIO Executive Partner, Forrester
Rob Oddy, Head of Enterprise Architecture, Global Technology, Bank of America

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm BST

Breakout Sessions

How Enterprise Architecture Enables Winning Technology Outcomes

Most large enterprises (according to Forrester data) have “architect” job classes and orgs. Discover how enterprise architecture drives business and technology outcomes and how genAI is accelerating and amplifying its impact. Architecture’s benefits span the gamut from risk and cost efficiency through customer experience to revenue and mission outcome, but you need a clear line of sight to value — and stay out of the dreaded “ivory tower.” Come hear cases and key insights. Join this session to:

Unlock insider insights into how top enterprises use architecture to outpace competitors.

Explore bold innovations that transformed business operations and delivered breakthrough results.

Connect with thought leaders and peers to spark ideas and gain exclusive strategies for success.

Speakers:
Paul Boyns, Head of Technology Strategy & Architecture, John Lewis
Glyn Rowlands, Director of Strategy and Enterprise Architecture, Flora Food Group
Charles Betz, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Help Your Front Line Workers Take Control Of Their Tech

Front-line workers must do more with less, playing their part in delivering better outcomes faster. At the same time, these workers and their employers grapple with huge questions around how front line jobs are changing. How, for example, do physical automation (robots) and software automation (AI and machine learning) alter the work day for a maintenance technician visiting customers’ homes, an engineer on the factory floor, or a shop worker restocking shelves? Join this session to:

See examples of modern technologies being used to transform front-line work.

Hear effective ways to introduce technology into traditional workflows.

Explore the implications of scaling successful pilots to enterprise scale.

Speakers:
Paul Miller, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Unlock AI’s Full Potential With Forrester’s AIQ Framework

Success with AI depends on human capabilities. Two companies could acquire the same AI technology, leverage similar data, and still generate radically different business results. The difference? The understanding, skills, and ethical awareness of their employees. Join this session to:

Understand how AIQ, the artificial intelligence quotient, measures your employees’ readiness.

Discover how AIQ can drive business success with AI.

Learn what steps organizations can take to improve your organization’s AI readiness.

Speakers:
Elina Bauwens, Principal Consultant, Forrester
Bharath Sivan, Consultant, Forrester

Prepare For 2025’s Cyber Threats

Deconstruct and anticipate the top current and emerging threats.

Learn how to act decisively to protect your organization.

Work with your stakeholders to respond with wisdom and agility.

Speakers:
Nick Jones, CISO, IPF International Limited
Simon Strickland, CISO, Imperial Brands
Jinan Budge, VP, Research Director, Forrester

2:55 pm – 3:25 pm BST

Breakout Session

New Horizons For Enterprise Architects

In this session, we’ll explore the widespread impact of GenAI on the Enterprise Architecture (EA) discipline and its associated tools. We’ll examine its effects on the BDAT + S layers, delve into how the architect’s role is evolving, and identify key areas where architects need to concentrate their expertise on and stay alert to GenAI’s insights and recommendations.

Speakers:
Stéphane Vanrechem, Senior Analyst, Forrester

Drive Scale And Speed With A Platform Operating Model

Ever felt like your organization is a maze of disconnected teams, each working in its own bubble? You’re not alone. Many companies have tried to increase delivery speed with small, agile teams but have ended up with a bunch of siloed squads instead of a cohesive unit. Enter the platform org structure — an increasingly popular option to break down silos and deliver scale.

Speakers:
Manuel Geitz, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Data Governance In The Age Of AI

AI is transforming enterprise governance — accelerating automation, improving decision quality, and enabling scalable insight. But to unlock its full value, organizations must govern AI itself for transparency, ethics, and trust. This session explores how AI-driven processes can streamline compliance, reduce risk, and deliver reusable, high-value insights across the organization. Join this session to:

Identify how AI can help you scale your governance efforts.

Learn how to govern AI for responsible, enterprise-grade deployment.

Explore governance strategies that accelerate value creation, not slow it down.

Speakers:
Raluca Alexandru, Analyst, Forrester
Lorenzo Introna, Principal Consultant, Forrester

Build Your Proactive Security Program By Thinking Like An Attacker

Most cyber attacks unfold through a chain of events — early intervention is critical. Success depends on aligning to the right security assessment program and understanding attackers. Join us in this session to:

Deconstruct how attackers compromise both traditional and modern AI systems.

Select the right proactive security program based on your values, and desired outcomes.

Gain practical, proactive defense strategies rooted in threat actor methodologies.

Speakers:
Tope Olufon, Sr Analyst, Forrester

3:25 pm – 4:10 pm BST

Marketplace Coffee Break & Networking (In-Person Only)

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm BST

Analyst-Led Roundtables

These dynamic, interactive sessions provide attendees the opportunity to engage with Forrester experts, as well as with peers, to gain deep insights, ask questions, share their own experiences, and collaborate in a focused, small-group setting. The session is designed to foster meaningful dialogue, offer actionable takeaways, and help attendees stay ahead in their strategic planning and decision-making.

Deconstruct Human-Related Breaches

Join your peers to learn the many and varied risks posed by and to humans — problems that have plagued cybersecurity teams for decades. Prioritize the human-related breaches that are most relevant to you and have conversations with executives and peers across functions about controls to mitigate the human-element breach types most common to their own organizations and industries.

Speakers:
Jinan Budge, VP, Research Director, Forrester

Enterprise Architecture: Is There A Blueprint For Delivering Value?

Let’s talk enterprise architecture! Join us for a dynamic roundtable discussion on what really drives value in EA. We’ll share live experiences, best practices, and the key enablers to produce tangible business outcomes.

Speakers:
Stéphane Vanrechem, Senior Analyst, Forrester

What Can You Do When Your AI Initiatives And Geopolitics Collide?

Recent developments on the legislative and regulatory front have left many technology leaders reeling. In this discussion, we’ll exchange insights and observations on minimizing the risk of your AI initiatives getting derailed by factors beyond your control.

Speakers:
Martha Bennett, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

3:35 pm – 4:05 pm BST

Special Session: Supercharge Your Focus Through Breathing And Meditation

During this interactive session, a meditation guide from The Yeh Yoga Co. will lead attendees through a carefully laid-out journey of movement, tension release, breath, and meditation, all from the comfort of a chair. The guide utilises (and explains the science behind) breathing and meditation techniques used around the world by high-performance individuals from CEOs to Navy SEALs! This session is intended to give you new inspiration for ways that you can level up your own focus and performance every day.

4:10 pm – 4:20 pm BST

Welcome Back

Speakers:
Pascal Matzke, VP, Research Director, Forrester

4:20 pm – 4:50 pm BST

Keynote: AI Inside: The Rise of the Intelligent IT Operating Model

AI is not just transforming the enterprise, it is reshaping the IT operating model from the inside out. For years, IT has struggled to balance stability with responsiveness, governance with agility. Now, the rise of generative and agentic AI introduces a new paradigm: intelligent systems that don’t just support operations, but actively participate in them. From incident response to IT portfolio governance, intelligent agents are beginning to traverse infrastructure, data, and human workflows — surfacing insights, proposing actions, and in some cases, initiating them. What emerges is an adaptive digital control plane, one that blends automation with judgment, telemetry with context, and operations with continuous learning. IT becomes not just a service provider, but a sensing, reasoning, and evolving system in its own right. Join this session to:

Understand how AI, graph technology, and feedback loops are redefining the IT control plane at the architectural level.

Explore how IT functions — from CMDBs to AIOps to FinOps — are becoming proving grounds for enterprise-scale intelligent systems.

Learn what governance, leadership, and strategy look like when IT becomes a cognitive participant in shaping digital business outcomes.

Speakers:
Charles Betz, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

4:50 pm – 5:20 pm BST

Keynote: FinOps And Beyond: Scaling Tech For The Future Without Breaking The Bank

The rapid pace of technology innovation has made IT an enabling force behind business strategies, necessitating informed budget decisions where tight integration between IT functions is key. This keynote will dive into the expansion of scopes in the FinOps framework. We’ll explore the integration of FinOps with IT financial management (ITFM) practices can drive more strategic and effective budgeting. Join us for this enlightening session to learn how expanding FinOps into wider ITFM can transform your budgeting approach and drive better financial outcomes for your organization.

Session highlights include:

Strategic budgeting: Learn how expanding FinOps can enhance budget planning and decision-making processes, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Managing interdependencies: Discover strategies to manage the complex interdependencies within IT functions, and how FinOps can provide clarity and control.
Real-world applications: Gain insights from real-world examples and case studies that demonstrate the successful integration of FinOps and ITFM.

Speakers:
Tracy Woo, Principal Analyst, Forrester

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm BST

Networking Reception

Join us in the Marketplace for an opening night reception full of networking, fun, food and refreshments.

6:30 pm – 8:30 am BST

Executive Leadership Exchange (Invite-Only): Networking Reception At Sky Bar

ELE attendees will be welcomed at the Eighteen Sky Bar for a drink’s reception with breathtaking views of the River Thames and iconic Canary Wharf skyline after dark. Connect with industry leaders and engage in intimate discussions with our analysts.

Friday Oct 10

8:00 am – 9:00 am BST

General Breakfast

8:00 am – 8:55 am BST

Forrester Women's Leadership Program: Breakfast Roundtable

Speakers:
Oliwia Berdak, VP, Research Director, Forrester
Enza Iannopollo, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

9:00 am – 9:10 am BST

Welcome Back

Speakers:
Pascal Matzke, VP, Research Director, Forrester

9:10 am – 9:40 am BST

Keynote: Data Readiness Drives AI Results

The dirty secret behind the hype and ability to scale AI is the readiness of data. Of course – because AI is a data application! Rather than a side operation, data strategy and governance need to weave into the overall AI effort by design to improve outcomes, reduce cost, and keep the guardrails on. In this session you’ll:

Understand the new data challenges, how they degrade AI, and what you should do.
Join the fireside chat with an AI leader that is navigating and succeeding in data readiness for AI.

Speakers:
Rishi Nalin Kumar, Fractional Chief Data & AI Officer, Sanlam Group
Indranil Bandyopadhyay, Principal Analyst, Forrester

9:40 am – 10:10 am BST

Keynote: Forrester’s 2025 Technology Awards

Welcome to the highly anticipated Forrester Technology Awards, the only assessment dedicated to recognizing excellence in technology strategy and enterprise architecture. These awards honor remarkable IT organizations that have proven their mettle in aligning technology with the dynamic needs of the business.

Speakers:
Frederic Giron, VP, Senior Research Director, Forrester

10:15 am – 11:00 am BST

Marketplace Coffee Break & Networking (In-Person Only)

11:00am - 11:10am - Deepset Spotlight Session

10:20 am – 10:50 am BST

Certification Wrap-Up (Invite Only)

Complete your Certification journey by joining us for the wrap-up session to reflect on key learnings, exchange insights, and connect with peers and Forrester experts on assessing your AI & Data Readiness and High-Performance IT Strategy.

Speakers:
Martha Bennett, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester
Frederic Giron, VP, Senior Research Director, Forrester
Lorenzo Introna, Principal Consultant, Forrester
Stephane Roger, Executive Partner, CIO Executive Program, Forrester

10:25 am – 10:55 am BST

Analyst-Led Roundtables

Attend one session:

Industry Roundtable: Public Sector Is Losing Citizens' Trust. Truth Or Legend?

Join us to learn about Forrester’s latest data and research on Government trust and discuss with your peers about what it means for your organization.

Speakers:
Enza Iannopollo, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Industry Roundtable: Does Modern Manufacturing Need MOM?

Mass manufacturing based on economies of scale and low cost is giving way to an era of mass customization based on economies of scope. Manufacturers must augment their legacy manufacturing execution system (MES) of record. This is necessary to accommodate the content and embedded analytics required to offer variety, innovation, and prompt availability, which enables tech leaders to win, serve, and retain customers in a modern digital economy. Join this session to learn how tech leaders develop and communicate the vision for a manufacturing operations management (MOM) application portfolio that enables them to compete on variety, availability, and cost.

Speakers:
Paul Miller, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester
George Lawrie, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Industry Roundtable: GenAI Is Ready For Retail Prime Time. Or Is It?

Our latest AI survey data suggests around a third of firms globally have live deployments of GenAI powered solutions to empower front line employees, mine unstructured data, orchestrate better customer conversations and even directly serve customers via chatbots. If you aren’t already deploying GenAI solutions, you are falling behind. Or are you? Lets discuss the realities of data governance, AI ethics, building trustworthy AI and the rise of AI legislation across the EU as it impacts retail.

Speakers:
Martin Gill, VP, Research Director, Forrester

Industry Roundtable: Agentic AI Makes Zero-Back Office Possible - Or Does It?

Agentic AI is all the rage, promising to automate complex financial services workflows and even eliminate the back office entirely. But is the vision of a Zero-Back Office a strategic breakthrough—or a seductive oversimplification? This roundtable will explore how far agentic AI has truly progressed, what risks and operational challenges remain, and whether full autonomy is a goal worth chasing or a myth worth debunking.

Speakers:
Oliwia Berdak, VP, Research Director, Forrester

10:30 am – 11:30 am BST

Workshop: The Hidden Costs: Managing Tech Debt Through M&A And Organizational Change (Pre-Registration Required)

This workshop is designed for tech executives navigating the complexities of mergers, acquisitions, and significant organizational restructurings. We will explore the multifaceted impact of tech debt on integration efforts, operational efficiency, and future innovation. If you have been avoiding technical debt / portfolio assessment because it’s hard, guess what! It might get a whole lot easier with GenAI – there’s no excuse anymore! Through in-depth analysis of relevant use cases, participants will learn to:

Develop effective strategies for prioritizing and addressing critical technical liabilities.
Identify where AI makes an impact and learn best practices for technology integration and consolidation.
Identify best practices for technology integration and consolidation.
Foster a culture of proactive tech debt management to ensure long-term agility and value creation.
Hear from clients who have successfully established a repeatable practice for managing technical debt post-acquisition.

Speakers:
Charles Betz, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester
Duncan Watkins, Principal Consultant, Forrester

11:00 am – 11:30 am BST

Breakout Sessions

Build A Value Driven Portfolio For High Performance IT

Today’s tech executives walk a continuous tightrope, balancing non-stop demand with uncertainty caused by external and internal events. How can organizations deliver strategic outcomes while maintaining an effective operating model? Strategic portfolio management (SPM) practices and tools enable leaders to identify the best fit to meet goals without wasting money on risky investments or overspending to achieve less than desirable results. Join this session to:

Integrate SPM with strategic roadmaps to understand the cost of total demand.

Leverage the portfolio to optimize your high-performance IT operating model.

Develop the metrics that matter to demonstrate value.

Speakers:
Ash Pal, VP, CIO Executive Partner, Forrester
Elina Bauwens, Principal Consultant, Forrester

Digital Sovereignty Drives Cloud Choices In Times Of Geopolitical Volatility

Geopolitical volatility has changed the way European decision-makers are looking at cloud services. European organizations’ overreliance on US-based cloud hyperscalers and global service providers has come to a turning point that is forcing tech executives to think differently about their cloud deployments and migrations. Join this session to:

Discover how digital sovereignty impacts cloud services and decisions.

Learn which sovereign cloud services options are available for European cloud leaders.

Speakers:
Dario Maisto, Senior Analyst, Forrester

How To Select And Prioritize AI Use Cases

Most organizations aren’t short of ideas and suggestions when it comes to finding (gen)AI use cases, and it’s not uncommon to have dozens of proofs of concept and pilot projects under way. The challenge is figuring out which of these to take further, with a view to potential enterprise-wide rollout. Join this session to:

Discover what successful (gen)AI projects have in common.

Hear lessons learned and pitfalls to avoid.

Learn about Forrester’s framework for prioritizing AI use cases.

Speakers:
Martha Bennett, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Structure Your Security Organization To Fuel Your Risk, Business And AI Ambitions

Cybersecurity organizational structures are undergoing a significant evolution, as cybersecurity functions work to align with shifting business goals, AI and digital innovation, regulatory demands, and stakeholder expectations. Join this session to ensure that your cybersecurity organizational structure:

Considers the significant design principles and parameters.

Balances risk management with business agility and innovation.

Aligns to and scales with your security, trust, business, and AI adoption ambitions.

Speakers:
Madelein van der Hout, Senior Analyst, Forrester

11:40 am – 12:25 pm BST

Breakout Session

Learn The Common Approaches To Gaining A Complete View Of Total Cost Of Ownership

In the dynamic world of technology innovation, organizations are constantly seeking ways to maximize their IT investments. In this session, you’ll learn about strategic approaches to effectively manage IT budgets and enhance IT cost management operational efficiency. You’ll hear about the importance of aligning IT spend with business goals, with the interdependency between FinOps and IT financial management (ITFM) practices as the crucial lynchpin.  And you’ll gain insights into best practices for cost optimization, including prioritizing critical investments, using real-time data to drive decision-making, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. By adopting these strategies, organizations can achieve sustainable growth, maintain a competitive edge, and ensure their IT infrastructure supports long-term success. Join this session to:

Learn the common approaches to gaining total cost of ownership.

Understand how to use data from ITFM and FinOps to inform each other.

Hear about best practices in integrating your ITFM and FinOps practices.

Speakers:
Tracy Woo, Principal Analyst, Forrester

Maximize Value With Tech Services Contractual Terms

Traditional tech services contracts are changing as a result of technology, business, and regulatory needs. Cloud services have become an integral part of the tech services fabric while autonomous tools allow predictive analysis, self-reporting monitoring processes, automated alerts, and “smart” contract performance analysis. Learn about the latest trends in order to negotiate service provider contracts that align with their business needs and maximize value. Join this session to:

Understand how to make continuous improvement an integral part of your contracts.

Learn how to motivate and urge your service providers contractually to treat you as their preferred clients.

Speakers:
Jeffrey Rajamani, Senior Analyst, Forrester

Leverage Top Emerging Technologies To Drive Innovation

Explore Forrester’s top emerging technologies for 2025, with a focus on agentic AI, blockchain, TuringBots, and synthetic data. Analysts will dive into evolving use cases, rapid advancements, and implementation best practices. Join this session to:

Understand key trends driving top emerging technologies like TuringBots and synthetic data.

Discover use cases and strategies to maximize ROI.

Learn how to experiment with emerging technologies while mitigating risks.

Speakers:
Oliwia Berdak, VP, Research Director, Forrester
Enza Iannopollo, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester
Martha Bennett, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester
Diego Lo Giudice, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester