techUK's Inaugural AI Adoption Coalition Forum: Exploring AI in action in the digital and technology sector
1pm – 5.30pm22 September 2026
techUK, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD
techUK has brought together trade associations representing business across the eight Industrial Strategy sectors to form a new coalition with a shared purpose: to work together to help accelerate meaningful and responsible AI adoption across the UK economy. The coalition was launched at London Tech Week during the Government’s AI Adoption Summit, and you can read more about it here.
Joining techUK are the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), ADS, Creative UK, Energy UK, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Make UK, and TheCityUK.
The coalition is built around three core aims:
Share knowledge and good practice. By sharing insights, case studies and lessons the coalition aims to help build business confidence that can accelerate the uptake of AI technologies and drive cross sector sharing and collaboration.
Surface common barriers and find solutions. Develop practical, scalable answers to the blockers that must be solved across sectors, while also spotlighting the sector-specific issues that need fixing.
Engage government and support delivery. Support delivery of the sectoral AI Champion’s AI Adoption Plans, and look to identify the additional levers that can drive adoption and remove barriers to uptake.
The AI Adoption Coalition is launching its work with a new series of sector-focused Forums, bringing together businesses from across the Industrial Strategy sectors alongside key stakeholders involved in delivering the Government's AI Adoption initiatives. Each Forum will explore what AI adoption looks like today in that sector, share real-life examples and case studies of AI in action, and examine the outcomes and impact being achieved.
Across the half-day event, panel discussions and presentations will showcase current examples of best practice and share lessons learned directly from industry leaders adopting AI today. Attendees will also hear updates from the Government's sectoral AI Champions on their delivery plans, and take part in a facilitated open discussion with peers from across sectors on the barriers holding back AI adoption at scale — and how to solve them.
On 14 September, techUK is hosting the first event in the series, focused on the Digital and Technology sector. The event will feature real examples from tech sector organisations that have successfully deployed AI tools and technologies, as well as case studies from digital and tech leaders on how they're helping organisations in other Industrial Strategy sectors adopt, deploy, and use AI. A facilitated discussion will also explore the common challenges slowing adoption and how to shape solutions to them.
This is the first of eight sector-led events running across 2026 and 2027, with each one focused on a specific Industrial Strategy sector in turn.
Why should you attend?
Hear how AI is being adopted in practice, in a keynote or fireside with the sector's AI Champion and a series of sharp, real-world case studies.
Help surface the barriers that are holding adoption back, and shape practical solutions, in an open townhall-style session.
Meet your peers from across the economy and leave with practical ideas you can act on straight away.
Agenda
1:00 to 1:30 | Registration, lunch and networking
1:30 to 1:40 | Welcome and scene-setting from techUK
Welcome from Sue Daley OBE, Director of Technology and Innovation, techUK
1:40 to 2:00 | Keynote with Katie Gallagher OBE, the Digital and Technology AI Sector Champion
2:00 to 2:45 | AI adoption in the digital and tech sector: sharing experiences and lessons learnt (panel)
2:45 to 3:30 | AI in action across sectors and industries (panel)
3:30 to 3:45 | Coffee break
3:45 to 4:50 | Facilitated forum discussion on the common barriers to AI adoption
4:50 to 5:00 | Close and next steps
5:00 | Networking drinks
Who should attend
Senior leaders nominated by coalition members, responsible for AI adoption in their organisations, including transformation, operations, digital and technology roles.
Practitioners from coalition member organisations who are delivering adoption on the ground.
techUK members from the digital and technology sector
How to register
Please complete the booking form to secure your spot. Places are limited to one representative per organisation and registrations are managed by techUK.
techUK will confirm in-person places and share a calendar invite. The Forum will also be livestreamed, and virtual registration will open once in-person places have been confirmed.
To find out more about the AI Adoption Coalition, or how your organisation can get involved, please get in touch with the techUK team.
To find out more about the AI Adoption Coalition, or how your organisation can get involved, please get in touch with the techUK team.
Sue Daley OBE
Director, Technology and Innovation
Sue Daley OBE
Director, Technology and Innovation
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work. This includes work programmes on AI, Cloud, Data, Quantum, Semiconductors, Digital ID and Digital ethics as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List. She has also been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the tech agenda in the UK, in December 2025 Sue was appointed to the UK Government’s Women in Tech Taskforce by the Technology Secretary of State. She also sits on the UK Government’s Smart Data Council, Satellite Applications Catapult Advisory Group, Bank of England’s AI Consortium and BSI’s Digital Strategic Advisory Group. Previously, Sue was a member of the Independent Future of Compute Review and co-chaired the National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries in 2020, Sue has been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and has been a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI, the UK Tech 50 and annual UK Cloud Awards. She is a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015, Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. Before that, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
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Contact the team
Kir Nuthi
Head of AI and Data, techUK
Kir Nuthi
Head of AI and Data, techUK
Kir Nuthi is the Head of AI and Data at techUK.
She holds over seven years of Government Affairs and Tech Policy experience in the US and UK. Kir previously headed up the regulatory portfolio at a UK advocacy group for tech startups and held various public affairs in US tech policy. All involved policy research and campaigns on competition, artificial intelligence, access to data, and pro-innovation regulation.
Kir has an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA in both Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from the University of California San Diego.
Outside of techUK, you are likely to find her attempting studies at art galleries, attempting an elusive headstand at yoga, mending and binding books, or chasing her dog Maya around South London's many parks.
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work. This includes work programmes on AI, Cloud, Data, Quantum, Semiconductors, Digital ID and Digital ethics as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List. She has also been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the tech agenda in the UK, in December 2025 Sue was appointed to the UK Government’s Women in Tech Taskforce by the Technology Secretary of State. She also sits on the UK Government’s Smart Data Council, Satellite Applications Catapult Advisory Group, Bank of England’s AI Consortium and BSI’s Digital Strategic Advisory Group. Previously, Sue was a member of the Independent Future of Compute Review and co-chaired the National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries in 2020, Sue has been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and has been a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI, the UK Tech 50 and annual UK Cloud Awards. She is a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015, Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. Before that, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
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