The IT Pro Panel

They say experience is the best teacher, and nowhere is this more true than in the trenches of business IT. While analysts, academics and experts can offer valuable perspectives on the various issues facing IT teams, there's no substitute for the wisdom gained by working at the coalface.

That's why we created the IT Pro Panel - a network of top CIOs, CTOs and technology leaders who unite to share their hard-earned insights on the challenges, trends and opportunities facing modern IT departments.

Organisations of all stripes are represented, including charities, schools, startups, enterprises and more. Every month, we'll be asking our panellists about the topics that really matter to modern IT professionals, such as cloud migration, digital transformation and cyber security.

How to join the IT Pro Panel

To apply to join the IT Pro Panel, please click here to enter your details. Please note that we are not accepting applications from technology vendors at this time.

Latest IT Pro Panel Discussion - Why IT leaders need soft skills

Technical skills are an essential requirement for any IT leader, but this doesn't mean that so-called 'soft skills' should be overlooked. In fact, communication, empathy and listening ability are arguably more important for CIOs and CTOs than technological proficiency, and mastering them can provide huge benefits. In this month's IT Pro Panel feature, we speak to our panellists to find out which non-technical skills they're most proud of, and how they pass these abilities on to their teams.

Featuring:

Ritam Gandhi, Studio Graphene founder and CEO
Manila McLean, Newcastle Building Society CIO
Paul Watts, Kantar CISO
Jon Smart, RoosterMoney CTO
Marc Pell, TempCover CTO

Panellists

Liam Quinn

Director of IT - Richmond Events

For more than a decade, Liam has managed IT systems for Richmond Events. Over his tenure he has led a number of projects, including migrating from multiple on-premise data centres to a DaaS solution, implementing a GDPR-compliant email marketing system and designing and developing a bespoke CRM solution.

Paul Watts

Chief Information Security Officer - Kantar

After two years in the CISO chair for Domino's UK & Ireland, Paul has now left the famous pizza chain to join data and research specilists Kantar, helping to protect the company's 30,000 global employees and the vast troves of consumer data that they analyse and process.

Manila McLean

Chief Information Officer - Newcastle Building Society

In the high-stakes world of financial services, IT excellence is more important than ever, as traditional institutions compete with digitally-native new challengers. As CIO for one of the north's biggest building societies, Manila McLean is responsible for ensuring that Newcastle Building Society is delivering the experiences that its customers demand.

Ritam Gandhi

Founder - Studio Graphene

As founder of digital design agency Studio Graphene, Ritam is responsible for leading a diverse team of developers, designers, engineers and creatives. The firm helps build apps and other digital products for the likes of Heineken, Mars and Coca Cola, so staying on the cutting edge of digital development is crucial for him and his team.

Marc Pell

Chief Technology Officer - TempCover

Part of Marc Pell's role when he joined TempCover as a lead developer was to redesign its platform to support more agility. Fast-forward to today, and he's leading the company's technology strategy as CTO, helping institute policies like remote working, agile development and a cloud-first mentality.

Killian Faughnan

Group Chief Information Security Officer - William Hill

Protecting one of the country's largest betting and gaming companies from attackers is no easy task, but it's a challenge that William Hill Group CISO Killian Faughnan relishes. With operations in multiple countries and a huge number of customers and partners to defend, it's a job that ensures Killian's never going to be bored.

Peter Donlon

Chief Technology Officer - Moonpig

A personalised gift is always going to be more meaningful, and Moonpig has made a name for itself as the go-to source for customised cards and gifts. Developing and maintaining the infrastructure behind that service, however, takes some work - and that job falls to CTO Peter Donlon and his team of developers and engineers.

Patricio Colombo

Founder & Director - CIO On Demand

After almost 15 years heading up the IT departments of HELLO! Magazine and the Jamie Oliver Group, Patricio has struck out on his own, offering his services to organisations as a freelance CIO-for-hire. The fluid nature of this role has given him a wide range of experience across world-class brands like the European Tour.

Peter O'Rourke

Former director of IT - University of Suffolk

A long-time industry veteran with over 30 years' experience, Peter led the University of Suffolk's IT team in supporting the University's 5,000-plus students and teachers, as well as helping shape the education sector's attitude to technology through his role on the executive committee of UCISA.

Graeme McDermott

Chief Data Officer - TempCover

After spending four years at Addison Lee shaping its data strategy, Graeme has now joined insurance company TempCover, working alongside CTO and fellow panellist Marc Pell to drive its continuing growth. Graeme is responsible for working with the board to set strategy around data protection, CRM, analytics, optimisation, and more.

Gavin Scruby

Chief Information Officer - SmartDebit

A raft of compliance regulations and high levels of customer expectations means that fintech is always a challenging space to work in, but SmartDebit CIO and director Gavin Scruby meets that challenge ably, navigating the complexities of both technology infrastructure and financial technology.

Alison Davis

Chief Information Officer - Natural History Museum

With a background in research chemistry and years of experience working the dreaded IT helpdesk, working at the Natural History Museum was a dream come true for Alison Davis. Not only does she get to lead a truly IT strategy for a truly dynamic and engaging organisation, but she also helps it fulfill its vital goal of research and conservation.

Craig York

Chief Technology Officer - MKUH NHS Foundation Trust

As CTO of Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Craig York has one of the most simultaneously challenging and rewarding roles an IT professional could ask for: helping to support and safeguard the trust's staff, clinicians in their vital work caring for patients. Craig has been serving the trust for almost two decades, seeing it through countless technological changes.

Jon Smart

Chief Technology Officer - RoosterMoney

Building a fintech company from the ground up is challenging enough as it is, but when it's a fintech aimed specifically at helping kids manage their money, the task becomes even trickier. RoosterMoney CTO Jon Smart has faced these challenges head on, building out the company's infrastructure to support a debit card and real-time transaction processing.

Gerard McGovern

Chief Information Officer - The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

As the CIO of a leading UK charity helping train and allocate service dogs for blind and partially sighted people, Gerard McGovern is using IT to deliver some truly transformational benefits to people. In particular, he's been exploring the many ways in which data can be leveraged to help make the charity more efficient and effective.

Chris Madden

IT and operations director - Kreston Reeves

As well as looking after the IT strategy for accountancy and financial advice firm Kreston Reeves, Chris Madden is also in charge of operations. This includes things like physical building upkeep, logistics and more, ensuring that he's got plenty to keep him busy.

José María Labernia

EMEA CISO - LafargeHolcim

Created by the merger of two major industrial manufacturing giants, LafargeHolcim has offices, staff and projects all over the world. José María Labernia is responsible for cyber security within the EMEA region, and is charged with protecting those employees and sites. As part of that, he has to deal with some challenging factors, including distributed workforces, a constantly-changing attack landscape and the confluence of IT and OT.

Roderick Simons

Chief Technology Officer - Yolt

Managing IT in the fintech sector is a tricky task, but it's especially difficult when you're expanding at the rate Yolt is. As CTO, Roderick Simons is the man in charge of this technology, and it's his job to ensure Yolt's customers remain safe, secure, and supported by the company's services.

Tash Norris

Head of cyber security - Moonpig

Working alongside fellow panellist Peter Donlon, Tash Norris is responsible for securing the personal and financial details of Moonpig's customers as they make meaningful connections with friends and family. In pursuit of this goal, she has turned her talents towards accelerating the adoption of AppSec, threat modelling and security automation.