Blockchain is changing the nature of financial and other types of transactions. As such, it has the potential to unleash countless new applications and as-yet unrealised capabilities that could transform everything in the next 25 years.
Blockchain technology carries with it processing overheads that may make its use impractical in many scenarios though, and it brings many uncertainties in terms of scalability, integration, cultural adoption, data privacy, security and regulatory status.
IT leaders will be tasked with determining whether Blockchain offers their companies cost savings, productivity efficiencies or competitive advantage. Answering those questions will require, at the very least, a thorough understanding of how the technology works, proposals of where the technology might be used and then a discerning eye toward whether Blockchain is the right technology, or whether something simpler would suffice - This event will aim to answer some of those questions for you...
Stefan Haase will begin the presentations by providing a descriptive overview of Blockchain technology and the current landscape. He will then explain how Blockchain will impact different sectors and provide us with some case studies of how Blockchain is being used across various sectors.
Andy Jones will then cover the implications of smart contracts & Oracles and the pros and cons. Andy will also discuss differences between public and private Blockchains.
Gerald Dunn and Colin Paterson will close the event by giving practical guide to assess whether an organisation should be using or experimenting with Blockchain in the first place?...And if so, how exactly should they go about it?
- 1.45pm Doors open - Refreshments & Networking
- 2.15pm Stefan Haase - What is Blockchain? And why do we care?
- 3.00pm Refreshments & Networking
- 3.30pm Andy Jones - Public v Private Blockchain
- 4.15pm Gerald Dunn & Colin Paterson - Getting started with Blockchain
- 5:00pm Close
About the speakers:
Stefan Haase is a Technology strategy specialist with over 20 years in senior roles specialising in Digital Transformation, Strategy, product & marketing and International expansion strategy. Recent client projects include: VocaLink, Unisys, Manchester Met University, Science Museum Group. Years of public speaking at events such as CBI conferences or networking with ministers, MPs and business leaders at Parliamentary ICT Forum strategy sessions have not only added to Stefan’s experience but have allowed him to share and understand the pressures of board directors in today’s fast moving market place.
Andy has 20 years’ experience at a senior level in investment banking technology, principally focusing on derivatives and eFX. He also worked on the buy-side of finance managing fund of hedge funds technology for BGI/Blackrock. After leaving the city he held CIO positions within the National Health Service. Over the last 6 years he has cultivated a strong interest in distributed ledger technologies and now currently working with start-ups in a CTO capacity designing and developing solutions. As part of his Blockchain/dlt evangelism he co-manages the Leeds Blockchain Meetup community that runs regular events such as talks, training and hackathons to help spread knowledge.
Gerald Dunn is COO/CFO at Quant Network, a technology company building products to simplify the adoption of Blockchain and address challenges of inter-operability. Prior to Quant he had a 20 year career in management consulting working in NZ, UK and the US primarily in the areas of IT strategy and back office transformation with firms such as Deloitte and Andersen advising diverse enterprise clients including Disney, T-mobile and DHL. Gerald is also a Chartered Accountant and received his MBA from Warwick Business School.
Colin is a technology innovator with a background in Information, Cybersecurity and AI. He calls on his years of cross sector experience in; Health, Defence, Finance and Utilities combined with his passion for new and emergent technologies to solve real world problems. Working to democratise Blockchain development he is seeking along with the other founders of Quant to help developers unchain the full potential of ledger technologies.
To reserve your place, please email sam.devonshire@4itrecruitment.co.uk or call 0113 205 4033
