Brighton CTO October Fireside Chat

⌖ Brighton · Ironworks Theatre

Hosted by Kanban Coaching Exchange

Lean Agile Brighton brings agile practitioners to Brighton for a single-track day exploring AI, continuous delivery, product flow and human-centred teamwork. Taking place on Wednesday 21 October 2026, from 9:00am to 5:30pm BST, this in-person conference features a hand-selected programme of industry experts. It is designed for agile practitioners, coaches, product and delivery professionals, technology leaders, and anyone interested in improving how teams collaborate and deliver value. Talks and themes The programme combines technical and organisational perspectives, examining how modern teams can make effective use of AI while strengthening the distinctly human capabilities behind resilient delivery: - Stuart Young, encouraging human skills in an AI world - Sarah Wells, keeping systems up to date in an ever-changing landscape - Nicola Sedgwick, why humility sits at the centre of team confidence - Thierry de Pauw, what Continuous Delivery is actually about - Sam Carpenter, using visual thinking to unlock collaboration and leadership - Nicolas Brown, using AI to scale product and flow expertise - Masha Gaganova, building a resilient career The single-track format means attendees share the same talks and ideas throughout the day, creating common ground for conversations about product flow, software delivery, leadership and team dynamics. Rather than splitting attention across parallel sessions, the event offers one focused programme spanning practical technology concerns and the interpersonal skills required to navigate change. Venue and community The conference is organised by the team behind the Brighton Lean Agile Meetup Group. It is a non-profit event celebrating the latest thinking in collaboration, delivery and technology, and has raised more than £50,000 for charity since it began in 2018. Ironworks Theatre is located at 30 Cheapside, Brighton, BN1 4GD, in the North Laine creative quarter. The venue is approximately five minutes’ walk from Brighton station and ten minutes from the seafront. Members of the Kanban Coaching Exchange can receive a 20% discount by using the code EXCHANGE20. Further conference information is available from Lean Agile Brighton. View the event and registration details

⌖ Brighton

Hosted by AI in Media Institute

FLIRT 2026 brings a practical blueprint for responsible, AI-native organisations to Brighton on 2–3 November, spanning media, marketing and operations. Taking over West Street and satellite venues across Brighton, this two-day, in-person festival-conference examines how organisations can implement AI in the real world,not simply discuss its potential. The programme explores how to operationalise AI across teams, prepare people for changing roles and workflows, and build systems that can last. Organised by the AI in Media Institute, FLIRT expands on the sold-out 2025 AIMI Conference, which brought together 600 attendees and 40 speakers across two stages. Its 2026 edition widens the focus beyond creative AI to cover the complete structure of an AI-native organisation: culture, creativity, infrastructure, governance, talent and execution. What to expect FLIRT combines conference content with practical exploration and city-wide experiences: - The Main Stage hosts keynotes, major ideas and perspectives intended to shape the industry agenda. - The Future Stage tackles the workforce conversation, including what is changing, what is breaking and how organisations are responding. - The Startup Village presents early-stage AI companies through live pitches, investor access and direct industry exposure. - Specialist satellite zones feature live demonstrations of frontier technology, including robotics and real-time generative AI. - Hands-on workshops, immersive experiences and debates create space to test ideas rather than passively consume them. - Flirt After-hours extends the programme into Brighton and makes networking and conversation part of the wider festival experience. Who should attend? The event is designed for anyone whose work is being reshaped by AI. That includes founders, CEOs, CMOs, brand and agency leaders, creative directors, producers, publishers, journalists, broadcasters, musicians, artists, content creators and game developers. Product leaders, engineers, XR builders, startup founders and CTOs will be represented alongside operations, finance, legal, IP, risk, governance, HR, People and L&D professionals.… Register for this event

⌖ Brighton · Brighton Dome

UX Brighton 2026 is a one-day conference on emerging UX methods, taking place at Brighton Dome in Brighton on Friday 6 November 2026. The fundamentals remain familiar,understand what people need, design solutions, test them and build them,but the methods available to UX teams are rapidly multiplying. This conference is designed to help attendees separate genuinely useful developments from noise, understand which techniques translate effectively into UX practice and identify established approaches that new technology has finally made practical. What to expect The programme brings together practitioners working at the edges of UX research, design and product development. Rather than focusing on novelty for its own sake, the day will explore what is actually working across new research techniques, design tools, testing methods and ways of working. Confirmed speakers include: - Vivek Gopinath, Lead User Researcher at IBM, whose mixed-method practice spans qualitative and quantitative research, machine learning, heuristic analysis, eye tracking, behavioural studies, cognitive psychology and predictive UX. His work examines how AI-driven personalisation can anticipate user needs while maintaining a deep, empathetic understanding of behaviour. - Prama Ayalasomayajula, a research leader at HubSpot with experience in service design, small-business products, Zalando sellers and Meta Shops. Her work investigates why discovery breaks down, how scalable UX processes hold together and what service blueprints can reveal beyond standalone insights. - Chiara Scarabotti, UX Lead at Springer Nature, specialising in complex publishing flows and multi-persona journeys. She focuses on problem framing, information architecture and turning messy systems into transparent, actionable practices for cross-disciplinary teams. - Kathy Neuss, Head of Research at Mercator Digital, with more than 25 years of experience across government, corporate and agency settings. She combines qualitative depth with quantitative rigour and has influenced major HMRC services through research, behavioural groupings, mental models and journey mapping. - Max Borodin, Senior Product Manager at Simple, who explores behavioural design, gamification, conversational coaching and AI in products intended to support long-term behaviour change. He also experiments with using AI to accelerate… Register for this event

⌖ Cardiff · Hays Recruitment Agency - Cardiff

Hosted by Zena's Coaching

Women in tech can explore authentic leadership, career development and new connections in Cardiff on 14 October 2026 at this in-person event. Lead as yourself and strengthen your network Women in Tech: Leading as Yourself brings together women from across South Wales for a focused morning of inspiring speakers, honest discussion and meaningful networking. Celebrating Women in Tech Week 2026, the event creates space to consider how you can lead as yourself, develop your career and build the support network that women do not always find within the technology sector. The programme connects industry, academia and personal development in one room. Rather than limiting “tech” to a single profession, it welcomes women working or interested in software, hardware, AI, cyber security, design, web, data, analytics, IT and the many other disciplines under the technology umbrella. What to expect This is a 2.5-hour, in-person speaker and networking event featuring: - Speaker sessions designed to inspire reflection and career growth - Open, honest discussion about experiences in technology - Dedicated networking time with women from across the South Wales tech community - Opportunities to connect across different disciplines, organisations and career stages The emphasis is on real conversation and useful relationships,not simply exchanging contact details. Attendees can meet peers who understand the challenges of building a career in an industry that does not always recognise or celebrate women’s success. Who should attend? The event is exclusively for women already working in technology or interested in entering the industry. It is designed to be relevant whether you are: - An experienced leader or team lead - Building momentum in a mid-career role - A graduate or student - Working in academic research - Feeling stuck and considering your next step - Exploring a move into tech from another field No single level of experience or technical specialism is required. The breadth of the audience is a central part of the format, helping women at different stages learn from one another and form connections beyond their usual professional circles. Organised by Zena’s Coaching, the event is proudly partnered with WeAreTechWomen and Women in TECH-Connect Wales.… Register for this event

Sponsors: WeAreTechWomen · Women in TECH-Connect Wales

⌖ Edinburgh · The Slug and Lettuce George Street

Hosted by ⭐ Edinburgh Tech Network (ETN) ⭐

Meet Edinburgh’s tech community over informal drinks on Wednesday 14 October 2026, from 7–10pm BST, at The Slug and Lettuce George Street. Hosted by Edinburgh Tech Network and OkGather, this relaxed networking evening is built around useful conversations rather than presentations. There are no PowerPoints, speeches, structured introductions or organised activities: simply grab a drink, find the Edinburgh Tech Network table and meet people working across Edinburgh’s technology scene. The gathering is aimed at: - Software engineers and developers - Product managers - Data and AI professionals - Designers and UX practitioners - Startup founders and operators - People building products, projects or careers in tech Attendees can exchange ideas, learn from peers and make connections that may lead to collaborations or career opportunities. The event is generally self-hosted, with no designated host leading the evening; venue staff will direct you to the group’s reserved table. Venue: The Slug and Lettuce George Street, 113–115 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JN. Places are limited. Attendance requires an OkGather membership, priced at £2.99 per month. Members can show their OkGather profile at the bar to receive 20% off food and drinks. RSVP for the event on Meetup

⌖ Nottingham · Canalhouse

Hosted by Nottingham Programmers Meetup Group

Meet programmers and tech enthusiasts in Nottingham for an informal evening of conversation and community at Canalhouse on 14 October 2026. Hosted by Rob W. and the Nottingham Programmers Meetup Group, this relaxed social meetup offers a low-pressure way to connect with people who share an interest in software and technology. There are no scheduled talks, presentations or workshops: the focus is simply on meeting people, exchanging ideas and enjoying good conversation. Who should attend? The meetup is intentionally open to everyone, regardless of experience. It is suitable for: - Seasoned software developers looking to meet others in the local technology community - Weekend tinkerers working on personal projects - Absolute beginners taking their first steps into programming - People who are curious about technology but do not yet consider themselves programmers - Tech enthusiasts from Nottingham and beyond who want to expand their local network You do not need to bring a laptop or prepare anything in advance. The group describes itself as very informal, so attendees can simply arrive, say hello and take conversations in whichever direction interests them. That makes this a particularly approachable event for anyone who prefers social connection over a rigid programme. Event format and venue The meetup runs from 7:00pm to 9:00pm BST on Wednesday, 14 October 2026 at Canalhouse, 48–52 Canal Street, Nottingham. Expect an unstructured evening built around networking and conversation rather than an agenda. You might discuss programming, current projects, learning experiences or the wider technology landscape, but there are no fixed topics attendees must follow. This October gathering takes place on a Wednesday as an exception. Notts Progs is normally held on the third Thursday of each month, but the date has been moved because of the half-term holidays; the usual schedule is expected to resume in November. Whether you already work in software, code in your spare time or simply want to meet friendly people involved in technology, this meetup provides an accessible way to become part of Nottingham’s programming community. Register for the Nottingham Programmers Meetup