Tim Flagg, CEO and co-founder, UKAI

Tim Flagg is CEO and co-founder of UKAI, the UK’s trade body for AI businesses. With 25+ years’ experience at BBC, NBC-Universal, Hutchison-3G and Zipcar, he’s founded several AI and ed-tech firms. A champion of AI for economic and social progress, he advises tech companies, serves as a NED, is a regular speaker and hosts The Business of AI podcast.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future promise for financial services - it is already reshaping products, operations, regulation and competition. The real question for leaders now is not whether to adopt AI, but how to move from ambition to effective implementation.

This 30 minute podcast featuring Tim Flagg & Maurice Button explores what it truly takes to translate data and AI strategy into delivery across the financial services sector. It will examine how the industry has evolved over the past decade, what has changed in the maturity of data capabilities, and how organisations are responding to rapid advances in machine learning, generative AI and increasingly autonomous systems.

We are delighted to be supporting City & Financial Global’s Data, AI and the Future of Financial Services Summit, taking place in London on 16th March 2026.

Isabel Simpson, Partner, Technology, Data & Outsourcing, Clyde & Co LLP

Isabel is a Partner in our Technology, Data and Outsourcing team based in London. Isabel's practice focusses on data protection and freedom of information, data ethics, artificial intelligence and online safety compliance, governance and controls. She advises clients on global digital transformation and compliance programmes across different sectors including advising insurance market participants, financial services, public bodies and multinationals on legal compliance in EU, UK and Middle East.

Rose is a Partner in our London office specialising in cyber risk, data protection and privacy. She is also active in assisting clients on addressing issues with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and cyber security issues. Rose also specialises in high-value complex insurance and reinsurance disputes and international arbitration proceedings, including the Bermuda Form.

Ed McNicholas, Data, Privacy & Cyber Security Practice Leader, Ropes & Gray

Edward McNicholas leads Ropes & Gray’s global data, privacy & cybersecurity practice. He represents technologically sophisticated clients facing complex data, privacy and cybersecurity issues in litigation, investigative and counseling matters. His clients include financial institutions, technology companies, insurance companies, branded pharma companies, healthcare providers, data brokers and e-commerce retailers.

Ed has significant experience with investigations and class action litigation related to cybersecurity incidents, as well as enforcement actions by the FTC, state Attorneys General, the SEC, OCR, Data Protection Authorities outside of the U.S., and other government agencies. He leads internal investigation and litigation matters that frequently involve complex, multi-jurisdictional, and multi-national litigation issues, particularly federal court jurisdictional and constitutional concerns related to the First and Fourth Amendments. Ed has experience dealing with internet and information law matters involving data breaches, ransomware, internet governance, and national security issues.

Chris Huggett, Chief Commercial Officer, Aker Systems

Aker Systems designs, builds, and operates advanced, AI-ready data infrastructure and solutions, so organisations become truly data-driven with speed, certainty, and scale.

Aker helps enterprises tackle critical, data-intensive challenges that traditional system integrators cannot solve.

We modernise how organisations manage and secure their data - unlocking agility, resilience, and long-term value. Our approach accelerates deployment, reduces risk, and enables outcomes at enterprise scale.