EVENT

ILLUMINATE – Shaping Tomorrow: AI’s Role in Transforming Business, Government & Society

Join us at ILLUMINATE 2025 where we will dive into the impact of AI on business, Government and society in the company of Simon Greenman, a Former Global Innovator and Member of the Global AI Council at the World Economic Forum and Ken Sutherland PhD FREng FRSE.

EVENT DETAILS

AI’s Role in Transforming Business, Government & Society

Date: Thursday 6th November 2025

Time: 9am – 12:30pm

Location: The Hoxton Hotel, 5 - 21, Grosvenor Street, Haymarket, Edinburgh, EH12 5EF, United Kingdom

Shaping Tomorrow: AI’s Role in Transforming Business, Government & Society

In 2018, the McKinsey Global Institute predicted that AI could surpass the productivity impact of historical technologies like the steam engine¹. It left us wondering if AI already outpaced the steam engine?

Today, with 75%² of organisations using AI in at least one business function, leaders are navigating a fast-spinning roundabout of choices. Each exit represents a different strategy. Each turn demands a plan. The challenge is momentum - knowing when to move, how to boost productivity and efficiency, and which path best aligns with the organisation’s vision.

Join us for this year's ILLUMINATE event, where we will explore how AI is redefining the way we live, work, and lead. We’re delighted to be joined by thought-our guest speakers - Simon Greenman, a Former Global Innovator and Member of the Global AI Council at the World Economic Forum and Ken Sutherland PhD FREng FRSE, Managing Director of Canon Medical Research Europe and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh as well as the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

AGENDA

9:00 - Registration and refreshments

9:30 - Introduction

9:40 - The future of AI & Its impact on Business, Government and Society with Simon Greenman

11:00 – Break & Networking

11:20 – Tools, talent and transformation: Canon’s AI journey so far with Alex Thurgood.

12:00 – Q&A Panel with Ken Sutherland PhD FREng FRSE, Simon Greenman and Alex Thurgood.

12:30 - Close and networking lunch

Introducing Our Guest Speakers

Simon Greenman

Simon is a co-founder of MapQuest and Partner at Best Practice AI. With over 25 years in AI and digital innovation, he has advised global organizations, served on the World Economic Forum’s Global AI Council, and led major digital transformations. Simon holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in AI from the University of Sussex.

Alex Thurgood

Alex holds a BSc in Management Science and CIM qualifications in Marketing and AI. With 20+ years’ experience across strategic, marketing, sales, and digital roles, he leads Canon Europe’s Digital Operations team, driving pan-EMEA digital strategies and governance. He also sets long-term AI and tech roadmaps, budgets, and investment plans for Corporate Communications, Marketing & Sustainability.

Ken Sutherland PhD FREng FRSE

Ken is Managing Director of Canon Medical Research Europe and Assistant to the Chief Technology Executive at Canon Medical Systems in Japan. A passionate advocate for the safe and effective use of AI and automation in healthcare, he advises both the UK and Scottish Governments on this topic. Ken is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, with a background in medical image analysis and leadership in global imaging R&D.