Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Kate Colleary, Director - Pembroke Privacy, Country Leader Ireland – IAPP

Understanding AI: What It Is & Why It Matters

Speaker: Lee Bristow, CEO, Dawn Horizon Ltd

• What AI is - and what it’s not
• Key types: Narrow AI, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing
• AI tools you already use without realising it (Microsoft 365, Gmail, social media feeds)
• Debunking the myths: AI isn’t about replacing people - it’s about enabling better work

AI in the Irish Workplace Today: Risks, Gaps & Opportunities

Speaker: Seán Fahey, Founder/Digital Communications Specialist at Fahey Media

• Key insights from Microsoft Ireland & Trinity College’s Workplace AI Report
• The rise of “Shadow AI” – how unregulated staff use is putting companies at risk
• Who’s adopting AI well – and what others can learn
• The opportunity for SMEs and public bodies to leapfrog with smart, low-cost tools

From Confusion to Confidence: Making Copilot for Microsoft 365 Work for Your Organisation

Speaker: Fiona Walsh, Microsoft Master Trainer, Empower Presentations

• Demystifying Copilot
• Live Demos
• Summarising meetings
• Drafting presentations
• Drafting emails
• Generating reports
• Common Pitfalls

AI Ethics & Responsible Use: What Every Organisation Needs to Know

Speaker: Siobhán O’Leary, Founder of SOL Learning

• AI bias and fairness: What the risks are and how to manage them
• Transparency and explainability: Why it matters for public trust and decision-making
• Surveillance concerns and human oversight
• Building a culture of responsibility in your organisation

The EU AI Act 2025: What It Means for SMEs & Public Bodies

Speaker: David O’Sullivan, Director, Privacy and Data Protection Team, Forvis Mazars

• A breakdown of AI risk categories: Unacceptable, High, Limited, Minimal
• What qualifies as high-risk AI and what your obligations are
• Drafting your Corporate AI Policy – templates, best practice, and legal context
• GDPR meets AI: Understanding the compliance crossover

AI in Action: Real Use Cases from Irish SMEs & Public Services

Speaker: Paul Byrne, Founder, StratiaAI

The People Side of AI: Upskilling, Strategy & Change Management

Speaker: Patrick Shields, Experienced Leader, PhD Researcher - Generative AI

• Creating an AI-ready workforce: key skills, roles and mindsets
• How to identify internal AI champions
• Bridging the gap: helping non-technical teams engage with generative AI
• Understanding resistance: what behavioural science teaches us about AI adoption

Prompt Engineering: The Skill That Unlocks AI’s Full Potential

Speaker: David Lane, Solicitor, McGroddy Brennan Solicitors

• What is prompt engineering – and why it matters in every business function
• The anatomy of a good prompt: clarity, context, and specificity
• Examples of effective vs poor prompts in real workplace scenarios
• How to guide AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to generate useful, accurate results