IDC Kuwait CIO Summit 2024

The Future of IT: Rethinking Digitalization for an AI Everywhere World

Overview

The Kuwaiti government continues to push its digital agenda, in line with the Kuwait Vision 2035 and Kuwait 2040 Upstream Strategy . Across the public and private sectors, organizations are embracing different technologies and establishing digital-first mandates to be at par with their regional counterparts. In fact, many of Kuwait’s leading organizations will now explore and invest in generative AI (GenAI) use cases. IDC believes that these organizations need to be ready for an "AI Everywhere" world in the future. IDC forecasts that annual spending on AI-centric systems worldwide will surpass $300 billion by 2026, while ICT spending in Kuwait will exceed $5.5 billion by 2024.

In the era of GenAI-driven disruption, technology leaders are reassessing AI's pivotal role in the digitalization landscape. Given AI’s transformative power to significantly enhance digital innovation, customer experiences, operational efficiency, and sustainability, forward-thinking governments and digitally-driven organizations are adopting an ‘AI everywhere’ mindset and making AI a tech agenda priority to maintain competitive parity with early adopters.

As a result, today’s IT leaders increasingly find themselves in multidimensional, strategic, and collaborative roles in which reporting structures and mandates have evolved and risen in prominence. These new roles also have greater responsibilities. As it increasingly gets embedded in services, products, and experiences, AI will inevitably become intertwined with the lives of employees, customers, partners, and society at large. Indeed, AI will be everywhere — underpinning areas such as performance, growth, engagement, satisfaction, safety, security, governance, privacy, sustainability, ethics, wellbeing, payments, and more.

CIOs and IT leaders need to prepare their organizations for an "AI Everywhere" future. They must focus on building data-centric platforms, migrating workloads to cloud infrastructure, governing the economics of cloud, redefining security and digital trust, and investing in skills.

The IDC Kuwait CIO Summit 2024 will provide an essential platform for empowering IT leaders. It will help leaders better understand their new roles in today's AI-infused landscape and deliver expert guidance on achieving success while crafting innovative solutions for current and emerging challenges. Join us as we discuss a multitude of hot topics, trends, and challenges, providing technology leaders with the critical insights they require to forge new business models, adapt to shifting business landscapes, and scale massively in today’s dynamic digital economy.

Why Attend?

New Perspectives
Assess the progress of your team or your organization's growth while discovering what to do to correct common mistakes.

Professional Development
Learn new leadership skills that will set you apart and help you to advance in your career.

Peer-to-Peer Insights
Participate in immersive networking exercises and engage with your fellow leaders over lunch and dinner.

Persuasive Communication Techniques
Discover how to get you what you want when you need it.

New Product Offerings
Enhance your tech stack and strategy with exclusive access to the very latest services and solutions.

Agenda

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Monday May 13, 2024

8:30	Registration & Networking
9:00	IDC Welcome Address
	Jyoti Lalchandani Group Vice President & Regional Managing Director (META), IDC
9:05	Opening Address
	Dr. Ammar H. Al Husaini Acting Director General, Central Agency for Information Technology
9:20	Advisory Council Members Felicitation
9:30	IDC Opening Keynote: Rethinking Digitalization for an AI-first World
	As generative AI unleashes a new wave of disruption across industries, tech leaders are reviewing their approach to AI and its role in digitalization. The promise of significant impact on digital innovation, customer experience and operational efficiencies will drive progressive governments and digitally-determined organizations to take an AI-first approach. The concerns about data privacy and displacement of jobs and the demand for regulatory oversight remain, yet the need for competitive parity with early adopters will drive tech agendas. Jyoti Lalchandani Group Vice President & Regional Managing Director (META), IDC
10:00	Accelerating Time To Value from Your AI Investments: From AI Spend to Business Impact
	As spending on AI initiatives continues to accelerate, business and IT leaders alike are beginning to scrutinize the true ROI of AI investments and are arriving at the realization that AI everywhere doesn't always equal value everywhere. However, a number of organizations are achieving significant and tangible value from their AI initiatives. This session will focus on the practices setting these successful companies apart and propose a framework designed to help attendees accelerate time to value from their AI initiatives and answer critical questions such as "What is our organization’s strategy and narrative around AI?" - "Where is the money to be made from AI?" and "Which AI capabilities do I build versus buy?" Jad Hammoud Vice President–Go To Market Strategy, ZainTECH
10:15	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
10:20	Liquid Cooling Technologies and the Dichotomy Between AI and Sustainability
	Manuel Rodrigues Vice President, Secure Power, Schneider Electric
10:35	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
10:40	The Gen AI Revolution
	At Google, we have long acknowledged the profound impact artificial intelligence (AI) will have on every industry and company, including our own. This has driven our decade-long investment in AI infrastructure, which in turn has empowered our customers to train and deploy cutting-edge large language models. In this session, we will focus on recent AI advancements, particularly generative AI, and share insights into Google's initiatives in the realm of AI, aligned with the theme of Rethinking Digitization in an AI World. Basil Ayass Regional Sales Lead - Public Sector, Google Cloud
10:55	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
11:00	Unlocking Secure Outcomes: Effective Risk Management in Digital Transformation
	In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations face a plethora of risks as they undertake digital transformation initiatives (journey to cloud, leveraging artificial intelligence, enhancing operational efficiencies etc.) to deliver business objectives. This presentation will delve into the critical aspects of identifying and managing these risks to secure successful outcomes. From cybersecurity threats to compliance issues and operational disruptions, we will explore comprehensive strategies that not only safeguard assets but also ensure robust, resilient digital operations. We'll discuss the importance of proactive risk assessments, the integration of advanced security technologies, and the cultivation of a risk-aware culture. By mastering these elements, businesses can unlock the full potential of their digital transformations, ensuring long-term success and innovation in a digitally driven world. Virendra Sabnani Cloud Security Lead – MENA Region, Deloitte
11:15	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
11:20	Tea / Coffee & Networking Break
	Platinum Partner
11:50	Overview
	Dr. Dari Alhuwail Associate Professor, Information Science Department, Kuwait University
11:55	Start of Session Raffle
12:00	Charting The Path To Innovation
	Samer Mohamed Saber General Manager, Kuwait & Bahrain, Dell
12:15	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
	Technology Focus Group Sessions
12:21	Data Resilience to Keep Your Business Running
	Nowadays, everything starts with security. Because Cyberattacks are relentless, organizations need to make sure their data is secure. This session discusses how to keep business running and data secure anywhere in the hybrid cloud. Murat Acinci Systems Engineer Principal (Middle East), Veeam
12:31	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
12:36	Safeguarding Digital Transformation in an AI Everywhere World
	Step into the future of IT security with our session "Safeguarding Digital Transformation in an AI Everywhere World." Against the backdrop of the event theme "The Future of IT: Rethinking Digitalization for an AI Everywhere World," we'll uncover the strategies and tools essential for navigating this evolving landscape. Explore how organizations can defend their digital assets and combat cyber threats in a world where AI shapes every aspect of our technological infrastructure. Ezzeldin Hussein Senior Director, Solutions Engineering, SentinelOne
12:46	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
12:51	Securing your data in a Zero Trust World
	As data breaches continue with regularity and compliance mandates get more stringent, organizations need to protect sensitive data in both on-premises and cloud environments. Thales data security portfolio offers customers a single vendor solution providing customer-controlled encryption and key management for all data in all states. Thales advanced data discovery, data encryption, key management, network encryption, hardware security module and data protection on demand solutions enable customers to protect and remain in control of their data wherever it resides – across cloud, on-premises and hybrid IT environments Ashokan K P V Senior Sales Engineer, Thales
13:01	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
13:06	The back office to boardroom journey of IT
	Siva Prakash Strategic Account Manager, ManageEngine
13:16	Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes
	For the CIO By The CIO
13:21	Panel 1: Maximizing IT Performance with the Right IT Operating Models
	Organizations are in a state of perpetual evolution toward everything digital, with the IT function evolving with it. CIOs must keep up and stay ahead, implementing models that enable high-velocity change, consistent governance, and a comprehensive talent strategy. If implemented correctly, organizations can reap massive rewards from maximized IT performance, including increased efficiency, improved risk management, clearly defined roles, and improved cost effectiveness. However, change management involves significant risk, and a failed IT transformation can be highly detrimental to the entire organization, making a clearly defined IT operating model vital to helping the organization remain agile moving forward. Dr. Dari Alhuwail Associate Professor, Information Science Department, Kuwait University Nikolai Belstein CISO, Boubyan Bank Yousef El Kourdi Group Head of IT, City Group Abdullah M. Al-Najjar IT Director, Head of CIO Office, Health Assurance Hospitals Company (DHAMAN) Hussain Al Nakkas CIO, Kuwait National Assembly Maisa Bakhesh Team Leader, Infrastructure, Security, Business Continuity & Communications, Petrochemical Industries Company Manoj Ramachandran Group CIO, Al Babtain Group
13:51	Panel 2: Realizing Optimal Business Value from IT
	Since building a digital business is now an imperative for success, the role of IT and CIOs in business transformation strategies and initiatives has become more critical than ever before. They are responsible for putting together a technology mesh that fits the exact needs of their organizations, creating an infrastructure that delivers optimal business value. However, this can only be realized by aligning with LOBs on the business impact of technology initiatives and establishing KPIs/metrics for business outcomes from digital transformation projects that show the real value and contribution of IT to business transformation initiatives. Rami AlHaddad Group CIO, Menzies Aviation Yousef AlMazeedi ICT Director, Capital Markets Authority Shamayel Al Marzouq AGM technical affairs & Business Intelligence, Corporate Banking - Gulf Bank Dr. Dheeraj Bhardwaj Group CEO, City Group Co. Praful Thummar Vice President IT, Jazeera Airways
14:21	Mega Raffle
14:31	Lunch & Networking
15:31	Close of Event

Speakers

Jyoti Lalchandani

Group Vice President & Regional Managing Director (META), IDC

Dr. Ammar H. Al Husaini

Acting Director General, Central Agency for Information Technology

Jad Hammoud

Vice President–Go To Market Strategy, ZainTECH

Manuel Rodrigues

Vice President, Secure Power, Schneider Electric

Basil Ayass

Regional Sales Lead - Public Sector, Google Cloud

Virendra Sabnani

Cloud Security Lead – MENA Region, Deloitte

Dr. Dari Alhuwail

Associate Professor, Information Science Department, Kuwait University

Samer Mohamed Saber

General Manager, Kuwait & Bahrain, Dell

Murat Acinci

Systems Engineer Principal (Middle East), Veeam

Ezzeldin Hussein

Senior Director, Solutions Engineering, SentinelOne

View All Speakers

Partners

Game Changer Partner

Strategic Partner

Summit Partners

Platinum Partner

Technology Focus Group Partner

Associate Partner

Health Partner

IDC Kuwait CIO Summit 2024

The Future of IT: Rethinking Digitalization for an AI Everywhere World

Agenda

Filter Topics

Registration & Networking

IDC Welcome Address

Opening Address

Advisory Council Members Felicitation

IDC Opening Keynote: Rethinking Digitalization for an AI-first World

Accelerating Time To Value from Your AI Investments: From AI Spend to Business Impact

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

Liquid Cooling Technologies and the Dichotomy Between AI and Sustainability

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

The Gen AI Revolution

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

Unlocking Secure Outcomes: Effective Risk Management in Digital Transformation

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

Tea / Coffee & Networking Break

Platinum Partner

Overview

Start of Session Raffle

Charting The Path To Innovation

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

Technology Focus Group Sessions

Data Resilience to Keep Your Business Running

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

Safeguarding Digital Transformation in an AI Everywhere World

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

Securing your data in a Zero Trust World

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

The back office to boardroom journey of IT

Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to Win Raffle Prizes

For the CIO By The CIO

Panel 1: Maximizing IT Performance with the Right IT Operating Models

Panel 2: Realizing Optimal Business Value from IT

Mega Raffle

Lunch & Networking

Close of Event

Speakers

Partners

Photo Gallery

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