Brazen Summit 2026, Day 1: Technology Leadership in a Changing World

A morning of keynotes and panels on technology leadership, legacy modernisation and resilience at St Nicholas Church, Bristol. The opening morning of the Brazen Summit brings senior technology and business leaders together at St Nicholas Church to take stock of technology leadership heading into 2027. Across four sessions, CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, founders and board members will examine where technology investment is delivering value, where it is falling short, and what it now takes to lead with confidence. The programme opens with the launch of Ghyston's State of Tech Leadership Report 2027, giving attendees an early look at new data on the priorities, pressures and investment decisions shaping UK technology leadership. Ric Hill and Emily Hill present the findings before a panel chaired by Sam Deacon, with Sue Turner OBE, Richard Potter and Tom Heath, tests them against real-world experience. The second half of the morning turns to execution. A fireside chat with Ric Hill and Mike Whitehead looks at how organisations can modernise legacy systems without disrupting the business. Liam Maxwell, formerly the UK government's first Chief Technology Officer, then closes with a keynote on risk, regulation and resilience, offering practical lessons for leaders operating in an increasingly uncertain environment. With breaks between sessions, the morning is also an opportunity to meet peers facing the same decisions, compare approaches and build connections across the South West's technology leadership community. Who should attend: CTOs, CIOs, founders, senior leaders and anyone responsible for technology strategy or investment. The Summit runs each weekday morning from Monday 9 to Friday 13 November as part of Brazen, Bristol's festival of technology, creativity and culture. Sessions begin at 09:30.