Digital Ireland Forum to focus on next-generation technologies that will transform business


2 Apr 2013

Delegates at the September 2013 Digital Ireland Forum

The next generation of technologies being deployed in communications, media, finance and software will have a profound impact on the competitiveness and growth of our businesses in Ireland – large and small. The Digital Ireland Forum on 19 April 2013 will examine these technologies and the impact they will have on markets, business, consumers and society in Ireland.

This is the fifth Digital Ireland Forum to be hosted by Silicon Republic and confirmed keynote speakers include Emer Coleman, founder of Disruption Ltd and until recently deputy director of Digital Engagement at Government Digital Services in the UK, (Cabinet Office), and described by O’Reilly Media CEO Tim O’Reilly as “one of the best teams working in digital government in the world”. Wired magazine named Coleman in its Top 100 Digital Power Influencers List 2011. She has worked extensively with local, regional and central government variously as director of strategy, assistant chief executive and director of digital projects (City Hall London). She is the architect of the London Datastore.

Paolo Malinverno, research VP at Gartner, will also offer a keynote that will look forward to the applications we can expect to see in 2020. Malinverno is a 30-year IT veteran, and his experience ranges across a variety of technology platforms. Prior to joining Gartner, Malinverno was director of product management and principal consultant with messaging and directory technology provider ISOCOR, where he was instrumental in developing strategic directions for diverse environments, with many new and emerging technologies. Today, he covers a broad set of application governance areas, and offers a European perspective on various cloud trends and multi-enterprise B2B issues, including cloud services brokerages, integration brokerages, e-invoicing, B2B integration outsourcing, and application integration in the cloud.

While keynotes offer a global view of the trends in technology and communications that will shape how businesses compete in the years to come, our local experts and leaders will take part in mediated panel discussions, and invited delegates will participate in question-and-answer sessions, in order to encourage a lively and thoughtful discussion on this crucial topic for business. Leaders include: Dana Strong, CEO, UPC Ireland; Tony Hanway, chief executive, Telefónica Ireland; Maurice Mortell, managing director, Ireland, TelecityGroup; Joan Mulvihill, CEO, Irish Internet Association; and Niall Harbison, founder, Simply Zesty, with more names to be added in coming days.

The Digital Ireland Forum will tackle several themes:

  • Next-generation communications (such as 4G and broadband)
  • Tomorrow’s technologies
  • Harnessing technology for business excellence
  • BYOD and new ways of working
  • The social organisation
  • Online financial services
  • Online retail
  • Security issues for business
  • Repurposing business models to the digital age

The Digital Ireland Forum takes place in Dublin’s Convention Centre at 8am on Friday, 19 April. For further information or to book your place, visit the event site.