CAB: The Changing Face of Innovation in Northern Ireland - The Need to Disrupt with Ambition

Описание: Speakers: Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, Catalyst NI and Sonya Kerr, CATAGEN.

"Innovation - Imagine the future and fill in the gaps" - Brian Halligan
Innovation is about more than good ideas. Those ideas need support, resources, values, the right culture and talent to be able to grow. Join us on 24 February for a free webinar examining how organisations can address the need to innovate and to disrupt with ambition.

This event is organised by the Ulster Society's Chartered Accountants in Business sub-Committee, but all members are very welcome to attend. Please book in advance using the booking link below
Dr Adrian Johnston MBE joined Catalyst NI as Director of Strategic Business Partnerships in January 2022. His most recent role prior to this was as Director of Operations with Digital Catapult NI from December 2018. He has 20 years technology leadership experience having previously worked for Seagate Technology in their Springtown facility heading the Data Science and Analytics team.

With a PhD in Informatics and AI, Adrian has continued to drive research in advanced manufacturing and the adoption of AI, IOT and automation in complex data environments with both Ulster University and Queens University Belfast. His academic and industrial experience is enabling NI SME, Tech innovators, corporates and public sector adoption of emerging tech to enhance productivity, growth and the NI economy.

Adrian was awarded the 2020 Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the year for his work in this field. He continues to engage with the research community and contributes to a number of initiatives on future Northern Ireland AI strategy, funding and policy including as a member of the NI Matrix Science Panel, the UKRI AI Review panel and the UK RD Place Strategy Advisory group.
Sonya Kerr is Head of Marketing and Strategic Communications at CATAGEN, responsible for leading the growth of the core business through brand development, lead generation and market expansion as well as building stakeholder relationships for the development of its new Net Zero Technologies.

She has over 20 years’ experience in marketing, strategic communications, and innovation however her roles have always included an element of environmental and social responsibility. She is currently researching behaviour change to impact transport emissions.

Sonya spent 8 years as Head of Marketing at Allstate, Northern Ireland’s largest technology company, where she led a highly successful road safety campaign to change driver behaviour in terms of texting and driving. Prior to CATAGEN, she worked at Catalyst (Northern Ireland Science Park) with early-stage innovative companies to help them validate and build concepts, through to building a network of companies at scaling and growth stage.