There are 25 tickets available for this event via Eventbrite - if the event is sold out on Eventbrite you can register via The Data Lab Community!

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The financial sector is undergoing a profound transformation. As data, AI, and machine learning become deeply embedded across everything from risk management and compliance to trading strategies and customer service, the skills required to thrive in finance are changing.

At this event we’ll bring together experts and leaders from across the sector to discuss the impacts of these technologies on current and future workforces. Not only are the tools we use changing, but the skills and talent we need to progress and innovate are also evolving. But what are they, and how do we ensure people are given the opportunity to develop and prepare themselves for the changing landscape?

What does it mean to be data-fluent in finance? How do we ensure teams are prepared for an AI-powered future? And how does this shift in how we work affect the employee experience?

If you are interested in the interplay between technology, skills, talent and how this relates to finance, then this event is for you. Join us to connect with peers and come armed with questions for the speakers!

Agenda:

17:30-18:00 – networking – light refreshments will be provided
18:00-19:00 – panel and audience Q&A
19:00-19:30 - networking

Speakers:

Damian Grech - Senior Director, Asset & Wealth Management Data Platform Engineering, JPMorganChase
Louise Fraser - Vice President, JPMorganChase
Scott Mackay - Senior Consultant, Talan Data x AI
Sarah Burne James - Client Adoption Specialist - Z Software, IBM
Anna Ashton-Scott - Head of Skills, The Data Lab (Host)

Speaker bios:

Damian Grech - Senior Director, Asset & Wealth Management Data Platform Engineering

Technology leader with deep expertise in data and software engineering. Previously held senior leadership roles at FanDuel and Skyscanner, specialising in data platform engineering, metadata management, data quality and modern data architecture. Currently also serving on The DataLab Education Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors for High School of Dundee, helping education institutions make better use of data and AI technologies.

Sarah Burne James – Client Adoption Specialist – Z Software, IBM

Sarah is a Solution Architect and AI Engineer at IBM. In her current role she helps clients leverage AI technologies including watsonx Assistant for Z. This brings critical AI capabilities to the mainframe environments that run 70% of the world’s transactional workloads, and are the core platform for 45 of the top 50 banks. Sarah has extensive previous experience helping organisations adopt cutting-edge technology. Sarah is also an active advocate for inclusivity, mental health and neurodiversity action. Outside work she is learning British Sign Language, and volunteers for Girlguiding UK.

Scott Mackay – Senior Consultant, Talan Data x AI

Scott is a SAS-accredited data expert with over 20 years of experience delivering data-driven solutions across the financial services industry. Specialising in the end-to-end data lifecycle - from data engineering and management to BI, reporting, and advanced analytics - he has led complex cloud migration and data transformation projects for Tier 1 banks, particularly in fraud and financial crime. As a senior member of the Talan team, he operates at a strategic level, shaping and delivering high-impact data initiatives. He also brings cross-sector experience, including demand forecasting in retail.

Anna Ashton-Scott - Head of Skills, The Data Lab

Anna Ashton-Scott is the Head of Skills at The Data Lab, with responsibility for education and training strategies aligned to the vision and purpose of Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data & AI.

Anna leads The Data Lab’s data and AI skills programme which supports organisations and individuals to embrace the potential of data & AI, collaborating with higher and further education to ensure graduates are industry ready, and companies can access and retain talent in today’s rapidly changing world of work.

With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Anna has held roles in external relations, knowledge exchange, researcher development, and has led the implementation of national industry-focused postgraduate internship and placement programmes.

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Please note that pre-registration for this event is essential, only guests who have registered for the event will be allowed to enter.

JPMorganChase requires that all attendees bring a government-issued ID. Please ensure that the name on your ID matches the name provided during event registration. We will not be able to grant entry to those not registered or without photo identification.

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Re-thinking Data & AI Skills in Finance: Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce