Ctrl Alt Lead

Siobhan Wilson, Oracle: AI agents rely on trust, not tech

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Tom Allen, Siobhan Wilson) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Recorded at Oracle’s AI World Tour in London, UK country leader Siobhan Wilson tells us what AI actually means for IT leaders right now. She unpacks Oracle’s push to embed agentic AI across infrastructure, data platforms and applications, arguing that the real shift is from chasing AI hype to delivering measurable outcomes at speed.

We also covers major UK‑specific investments, including sovereign cloud and clinical AI, before closing on a critical question for IT leaders: how to balance trust, security and accountability as more responsibility is handed over to AI agents.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Peter Brown: How is Lloyds Keeping AI Honest?

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Tom Allen, Peter Brown) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 09:38:30 +0000

Lloyds Banking Group is one of the UK's biggest financial services companies, with an estimated one in two British citizens acting as customers.

In this episode Tom speaks to Peter Brown, engineering lead at Lloyds, about how the bank has applied AI at massive scale across retail banking, complaints and internal operations.

Peter explains how AI tools support colleagues and how they were built with not just an outcome, but the bank's core purpose in mind. He also gives a clear account of agent-based systems, how Lloyds defines and governs them, and why language matters when talking about AI with senior stakeholders.

We also cover the skills shift AI demands from leaders and teams, and Peter's own reflections on leadership, inclusion and the value of clarity and trust at scale

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Kara Flook: Dancing Towards a Workforce Revolution

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Tom Allen, Kara Flook) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Demands on technology professionals are changing constantly, but hiring hasn't kept up: people still look for coding ninjas rather than recruiting the skills that will really make a difference in the AI age, says E.ON's emerging technology lead Kara Flook.

In this episode, Tom and Kara discuss her journey from a dance background to a career in technology, as well as the growing importance of soft skills; the need to challenge stereotypes; and the significance of diversifying the tech workforce.

Kara emphasises the role of education in shaping perceptions of tech careers, and offers insights into how companies can redesign their recruitment processes to be more inclusive.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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ING Debbie Janeczek: Cyber resilience at scale

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Debbie Janeczek, Penny Horwood) — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, host Penny Horwood is joined by Debbie Janeczek, Global CISO at ING, to explore what cyber resilience really means for a global financial institution operating in an increasingly volatile threat landscape.

Drawing on her background in military intelligence and financial services, Debbie discusses how ING is moving beyond compliance to embed resilience into the way technology is designed, built and operated. The conversation covers the impact of major regulations such as DORA, the shift from reactive defence to proactive resilience, and the challenges of simplifying complex security stacks without increasing risk.

Debbie also shares how automation, threat intelligence and AI are reshaping security operations, why third-party risk has become one of the biggest exposure points for global banks, and how ING is preparing for emerging threats such as post-quantum cryptography. Beyond the technology, the discussion highlights the growing role of the CISO as a business enabler and value creator, rather than a blocker.

The episode concludes with a candid look at leadership under constant pressure, strategies for avoiding burnout in “always-on” security roles, and how the industry can do more to attract and support diverse talent in cybersecurity.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Kiran Mahil: Digitising trust in retail banking at Nationwide

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Penny Horwood is joined by Kiran Mahil, CIO of Retail Products at Nationwide Building Society, to explore how digitisation and automation are reshaping retail banking while preserving trust, fairness and accessibility.

Kiran explains her role overseeing Nationwide’s core banking platforms, retail products and technology strategy, and outlines how the mutual’s values influence its approach to digital transformation. Rather than focusing solely on online channels, Nationwide is pursuing a multi-channel strategy that combines modern cloud-based platforms with continued investment in branches, ensuring no customers are left behind as services evolve.

Automation is being used to reduce costs, streamline routine tasks and improve resilience, enabling frontline staff to focus on complex customer needs. Kiran also discusses what “good digitisation” looks like in financial services, emphasising seamless customer journeys, strong security, effective use of data and AI, and technology ecosystems that are easier and more efficient to run.

Kiran shares insights into the scale and complexity of integrating Virgin Money into the Nationwide brand and platforms, from aligning technology and partners to maintaining resilience, momentum and staff engagement.

The episode closes with a discussion on widening digital access and preparing the future workforce.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Rolf Krolke: Surviving Scale at Access Group

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Rolf Krolke, Tom Allen) — Mon, 5 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Access Group runs a vast, acquisition-led IT estate while supporting mission-critical services such as NHS payroll. Tom speaks with regional technology director Rolf Krolke about how the organisation designed a scalable reference architecture that delivers resilience, flexibility and near-zero downtime across private and public cloud environments.

Rolf unpacks the practical realities of active-active design, modular infrastructure and operating at global scale, alongside the mistakes IT leaders make when modernising complex estates. Listen now to learn more about designing for failure, managing technical debt and keeping transformation aligned with real business risk.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Alexandra Ebert: The AI Workslop Problem

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Alexandra Ebert, Tom Allen) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Alexandra Ebert, advisor to regulators like the FCA and IEEE, as well as chief AI and democratisation officer at Mostly AI, joins Tom to discuss the modern AI landscape. She warns that too many organisations are rushing to “get more GenAI” without doing the groundwork, arguing that AI needs to be a strategic capability rooted in solid data foundations and alignment between technology and business rather than a shiny add on. She also highlights the pitfalls of “AI workslop," where employees lean too heavily on generative tools, producing more work with less originality, and urges CIOs to rethink governance and training around AI-augmented workflows.

We also touch on the economics of Big Tech, with Alex suggesting that hyperscalers’ massive infrastructure spending is driving AI hype to justify their ROI.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Katia Gil Guzman: Why OpenAI's EU Dev Lead Says ‘No’ to Vibe Coding

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Katia Gil Guzman, Tom Allen) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In this bonus episode Tom Allen sits down with Katia Gil Guzman, a founding member of OpenAI’s Developer Experience team, to explore how AI coding is evolving beyond the hype. Katia explains why OpenAI actively discourages “vibe coding” for anything beyond small experiments, arguing that enterprise-ready AI tools should behave more like software engineers - producing pull requests, following project rules and aligning to established guardrails.

She also discusses how companies can improve the trustworthiness of AI-generated code; why you probably don't need multi-agent orchestration; and what the next 12-24 months hold for the AI space.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com.

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Leading without losing it: CISOs Don Gibson & Bronwyn Boyle on protecting mental health in cyber

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Don Gibson, Bronwyn Boyle) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Cyber attacks and crisis response are daily realities for security professionals, but the demands of defending critical systems and services from cyber attack can exert a heavy toll on cybersecurity practitioners at all levels. A combination of the "always on" nature of cybersecurity, the urgency of the task and some of the personality traits often found in cyber teams mean that difficulties are often masked. Practitioners are often reluctant to seek help and can get stuck in their own personal doom loop.

In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, Kinly CISO Don Gibson and PPRO CISO Bronwyn Boyle talk to Computing Associate Editor Penny Horwood about instant-response pressure, the mismatch between responsibility and control and what these do to the brain. The pair open up about their personal experiences with burnout and recovery, explain why it pays for IT leaders to look after their cybersecurity teams and share practical, compassionate ways leaders can protect their teams from the mental burdens of constant vigilance. The pair also share some ways that cybersecurity professionals can look after themselves.

Don shares his experience leading through a global ransomware crisis and how it led to a life-changing health event and Bronwyn reflects on her own work-induced crisis, and how empathy, openness, and community support can transform how teams cope with the relentless demands of cybersecurity. Bronwyn is an ambassador for https://cybermindz.org/ - a community service, not-for-profit providing services and support to those who earn their living trying to protect their organisations and employees from cybercriminals.

Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

Are you an IT leader with a story to tell? Get in touch by emailing tomallen@thechannelcompany.com.

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John Seabourn: Growing Tomorrow’s Talent at APEM Group

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (John Seabourn, Tom Allen) — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

When John Seabourn asked his team how AI made them feel, the answers ranged from "excited" to "concerned," but the word that stood out most was "efficient". In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, John - CDIO of global environmental consultancy APEM Group - joins Tom to unpack what that word really means in a world where technology can accelerate renewable energy projects, yet consumes vast amounts of power to do so. John explains how APEM is using tech to speed up impact assessments and bring sustainable infrastructure online sooner, without losing sight of the ethical and ecological cost.

But efficiency isn’t just about systems; it’s about people. Seabourn warns that automating too much, too soon could hollow out the talent pipeline, drawing lessons from the oil and gas industry’s “Great Retirement." He argues for hybrid careers that blend scientific expertise with digital fluency, and a leadership approach that prizes curiosity and critical thinking over short-term savings.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / John Seabourn

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Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Rachel Bence: Sustainable Computing, Human Leadership

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Penny Horwood, Rachel Bence) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Queen Mary University of London CIO Rachel Bence joins Computing’s Penny Horwood to discuss how the university is embedding sustainability into its IT strategy — from using waste heat from high-performance computing to warm student halls, to running datacentres powered by recycled energy. Rachel shares how a focus on sustainability aligns with Queen Mary’s mission of inclusivity and social mobility, and how these values drive innovation across academic and operational IT environments.

The conversation also explores the realities of leading digital transformation in higher education — managing technical debt, supporting a diverse student body, and balancing research freedom with cyber security. Rachel reflects on the opportunities and risks of AI, why universities can’t afford to ignore it, and how leadership built on communication, transparency, and gratitude helps her team thrive through rapid change.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Penny Horwood / Rachel Bence

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Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Rana Bhattacharya: Why Cynergy Banks on Flutter

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Rana Bhattacharya, Tom Allen) — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Banking is known for its monolithic, legacy IT systems, but new challenger banks have a different approach. Cynergy Bank's CDIO Rana Bhattacharya joins Tom to explain how the bank is blending the latest tech with a modern mindset.

By adopting Flutter and a microservices architecture, Cynergy has been able to build once and deploy across iOS, Android and the web, improving productivity while streamlining its mobile and online banking channels.

Rana also dives into the bank’s decision to go beyond infrastructure hosting and leverage Google Cloud’s platform services to ensure resilience and scalability. And with AI beginning to play a role, Cynergy is focusing on “supercharging humans” rather than replacing them, using AI to handle paperwork, speed up research and give SMEs access to insights once reserved for large enterprises.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Rana Bhattacharya

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Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Steve Capper: From Construction to Carnival Cruises

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Steven Capper, Tom Allen) — Mon, 1 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Tom speaks with Steve Capper, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Carnival UK, whose brands include Cunard and P&O Cruises. Formerly a multi-award-winning leader in the engineering and construction world, Capper explains how the leap into the cruise industry revealed unexpected parallels, from large-scale refits to complex logistics, but with one major difference: everything moves.

Steve lifts the lid on the tech that powers modern cruise ships, including on-board datacentres, satellite-enabled upgrades, AI-enhanced customer experience and sustainability efforts like water generation at sea. He also talks leadership, resilience and why running IT in a 24/7 global business means “two of everything," just like Noah’s Ark.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Steve Capper

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Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Paul Smith: Fighting for Rights, not Revenue

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Paul Smith, Tom Allen) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Paul Smith, CIO of Amnesty International, offers a rare glimpse into what it means to lead technology in one of the world’s largest and most complex nonprofit organisations. With operations in over 150 countries, Paul’s role goes far beyond the usual CIO remit: from safeguarding whistleblowers in war zones to supporting campaigners in politically sensitive regions, all while working under tight budgetary constraints. He explains how Amnesty prioritises ethical, value-driven investments that support frontline human rights work, and why standard ROI metrics often fall short in a mission-led environment.

Paul also reflects on the unique challenges of managing technology across a global, federated structure where each entity has different needs, tools and levels of digital maturity. He shares how his team is tackling this with shared platforms, a strong architectural backbone and a focus on inclusive design.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Paul Smith

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Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

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Matt Sharp: Building digital, brick by brick

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Tom Allen, Matt Sharp) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Technology still plays second fiddle to steel and scaffolding in many people’s view of construction, but that image belies the truth behind the industry's impressive digital progress.

In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead Matt Sharp, CDO at RLB, talks about how he launched his IT team as a separate digital consultancy to serve clients beyond construction, how it became revenue generating in the first year, and why construction’s digital transformation is now accelerating - and what still holds it back.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Matt Sharp

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Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

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Joanna Drake: How THG Fixed its Frankenstack

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Caleb Owen) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, Tom speaks with Joanna Drake, CIO and now also CTO at THG (The Hut Group), about the company’s radical IT modernisation journey.

Facing rapid growth, fragmented storage, and escalating demands for AI and machine learning, Jo led a transformation of THG’s global infrastructure with zero downtime. She discusses the strategic decision to partner with Pure Storage, the unexpected stress test that cemented that relationship, and the results that followed - including 80% power savings and a 90% fraud reduction thanks to THG's self-built Detect platform.

Jo also shares her unconventional approach to vendor selection, the value of cultural alignment, and advice for IT leaders building strategic partnerships.

Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Joanna Drake

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Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Penny Horwood

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Alex Rutter: Transparency? Google’s Got It Covered

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Caleb Owen) — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Every tech vendor is trying to crack AI, but does that match up to how it's being adopted on the ground? In this episode Tom and Alex Rutter of Google Cloud talk about the difference in approach from IT leaders - focusing on governance, compliance and integration - and business leaders - eager to move quickly and pushing for quick, transformative wins. Alex outlines how Google's prioritisation of 'consumable' AI, practical tools that solve problems today, is trying to satisfy both groups.

We also explore the role of open models like Gemma, the importance of transparency in AI systems, and how agentic AI could shape the next wave of enterprise innovation.

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LinkedIn: @computing-- / Tom Allen / Alex Rutter

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Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

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Leon Butler: What’s Bubbling in IBM’s Beaker?

cowen@thechannelcompany.com (Tom Allen, Leon Butler) — Mon, 19 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Leon Butler, IBM’s UK and Ireland CEO, explains why most generative AI models aren't fit for enterprise use and stresses the need for transparent, trusted systems. He also discusses how recent acquisitions - including HashiCorp and DataStax - support IBM’s push to automate enterprise IT.

Leon talks about other key IT areas, like data sovereignty and regulation; agentic AI; and quantum security. He argues that this is the time to work on preparing for quantum threats, even if adoption feels distant.

Become a member of Computing today at www.computing.co.uk

Ctrl Alt Lead

Siobhan Wilson, Oracle: AI agents rely on trust, not tech

Peter Brown: How is Lloyds Keeping AI Honest?

Kara Flook: Dancing Towards a Workforce Revolution

ING Debbie Janeczek: Cyber resilience at scale

Kiran Mahil: Digitising trust in retail banking at Nationwide

Rolf Krolke: Surviving Scale at Access Group

Alexandra Ebert: The AI Workslop Problem

Katia Gil Guzman: Why OpenAI's EU Dev Lead Says ‘No’ to Vibe Coding

Leading without losing it: CISOs Don Gibson & Bronwyn Boyle on protecting mental health in cyber

John Seabourn: Growing Tomorrow’s Talent at APEM Group

Rachel Bence: Sustainable Computing, Human Leadership

Rana Bhattacharya: Why Cynergy Banks on Flutter

Steve Capper: From Construction to Carnival Cruises

Paul Smith: Fighting for Rights, not Revenue

Matt Sharp: Building digital, brick by brick

Joanna Drake: How THG Fixed its Frankenstack

Alex Rutter: Transparency? Google’s Got It Covered

Leon Butler: What’s Bubbling in IBM’s Beaker?

Chris Betz: Why AWS Doesn’t Let AI Run the Show (Yet)

Siobhan Wilson: Oracle's DIY AI

Martin Woodward: How Coding can Git Good

Javed Iqbal: Big Tobacco Meets Big Tech

Perran Pengelly: A Shot to the Arm for the NHS

Karen Byer: The RISE of BRGs

Mattie Toia: Black Friday and Beyond

Jonathan Armstrong: DORA the Enforcer

Paul Williamson: Is Big AI Losing its Edge?

Richard Richison: RIP, MFA

Mark Ridley & Andrew MacLaren: Return to office or return to sender?

US Election Special, with Grant Neeley

Tom Clark: Behind the Buyout

Clare Schramm: BT's power play

Pankaj Kane: Build Upon an Engineering Star

David Green: Sensor and Sensibility

Jeremy Cooper: Beating Burnout

Bruna Pellicci: From Code to Counsel

Sarah Milton-Hunt: Ready for Renewables (And AI)

Election Special with Mark Ridley

Matt Grest: AI, Fast Followers and Shadow IT

Lesley Salmon: Spinning Up, Spinning Out