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Belgium 01-10-2026 Squad Only Virtual english
Low-code, no-code, and AI tools are giving business teams more ability to build solutions themselves. The challenge is setting the right boundaries before fast local solutions become important operational assets. Three pressure points need attention. - Boundaries must be clear: teams need to know what they can build alone and what requires IT, security, or architecture review. - Supportability matters when a quick solution becomes business-critical. - Risk control remains necessary around data access, compliance, security, process dependency, and maintenance. The working question is simple: how do we enable business-led development while keeping security, ownership, and support under control? If you are trying to enable this safely, let’s compare approaches with others facing the same balance.
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Belgium 06-10-2026 All Members Physical english
As enterprise AI transitions from experimental Proofs of Concept (POCs) into real implementations, digital leaders are encountering a shared challenge: consumption-based public cloud token billing models do not fit neatly into traditional IT budgeting. Daily token consumption can rise unexpectedly, pushing expenses through the roof while arbitrary caps quickly kill momentum for innovation. For many CIOs, this raises an open strategic question: How do we keep costs under control while further stimulating innovation? During this interactive CIONET roundtable, we will explore among peers how to navigate AI tokenomics. Rather than treating public cloud LLMs as the default path, we will investigate how different execution environments, ranging from hybrid cloud setups and targeted on-premise models to specialised edge hardware, can help balance cost with performance. This session is intentionally designed as an open peer-to-peer exchange; a space to compare notes, challenge current ways of working and architectural setups, and discuss practical approaches to building predictable, scalable AI models.
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Belgium 08-10-2026 All Members Physical english
Every large organisation has been through a major transformation, and most through several. The word transformation is misleading because it suggests a beginning and an end. But organisations that do well are the ones that have given up on the idea of arriving and realise that constant change has become the new norm, and missing a single cycle leaves you permanently behind. This evening, two leaders will share how they think about this, coming from opposite directions. John Porter led Telenet through a sustained period of reinvention spanning the pandemic, a full reorganisation into tribes, M&A, and a shift to a performance driven culture. Along the way, the IT department was dissolved and technology was embedded inside autonomous tribes that run as small businesses. There is no CIO at Telenet. It is Telenet Group’s purpose to become a digital-first, customer-centric organisation. To deliver on this ambition, it has embarked on a transformation journey built on three pillars: (i) the implementation of a scaled-agile operating model (organisation), (ii) the acceleration of digitisation and automation underpinned by optimised IT systems, platforms, and strategic technology partnerships (digitisation), and (iii) a performance leadership culture focused on accountability, ownership, and a change mindset (culture). Kris Vervaet, on the other hand, has just become CIO at KBC, the bank whose mobile app has been ranked best in the world three times and whose AI assistant Kate now handles 70% of customer queries on its own. But Kris is no ordinary CIO: he ran DPG Media Belgium as CEO, and KBC went looking for someone who has led transformation rather than someone who manages technology. So while one organisation got rid of the CIO role, the other reinvented it, and both are thriving. The conversation will range across organisational and IT redesign, the rise of digital-first customer experience, the impact of AI on how every business is run, and the harder questions of culture, talent and leadership. The question for every leader in the room is what that tells you about your own role, your own operating model, and the pace at which you are prepared to keep evolving.
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CIONET Trailblazer: CISO: The Shift from Prevention to Resilience: Turning Visibility into Execution
Published on: January 28, 2026 @ 9:48 AM
CIONET Trailblazer: AI Transformation: Bridging the Cultural Divide to Achieve Competitive Advantage
Published on: December 17, 2025 @ 9:16 AM
Helping Nationwide guard against changing security threats
Creating a security risk framework that makes banking safer.
Overview
Mobile and online banking are growing. Fast. But so are threats to IT and network security. With members using more digital services along with traditional channels, Nationwide wanted to take a fresh look at threat management and Operational resilience.
Looking for expertise, Nationwide’s IT Operations & Service Delivery team turned to us. Based on a long foundation of trust, and our solid track record, we joined forces. Together, we’re protecting Nationwide – now and in the future. Because keeping Nationwide’s members and their information assets secure is as important as ever.
In the world of retail banking, more people than ever are turning to mobile and online apps to manage their money. That gave Nationwide an opportunity to give customers more personalised services on the move. And now, with BT we continue to provide robust and secure services ”. - Daryl BrookesIT Ops & Service Delivery Director
The challenge
The security and protection of customer data is at the heart of Nationwide’s digital strategy. “With more of our services available digitally, it’s really crucial that we help members protect their data. For a while now at Nationwide, our executive board has had an intense focus on this area.”
It’s not only banks who are trying to tackle the threat landscape. The UK government is also trying to coordinate intelligence sharing in the industry. But on the front line, it’s banks that have the ultimate responsibility. The danger is real, and it’s changing and getting more intense all the time.
To cope with a shifting threat landscape, Nationwide needed an approach that wasn’t just rigorous. It had to be agile, too.
The solution
Nationwide awarded us a six‐year contract. It covers significant aspects of IT and network security, combining tried and tested methods with a new, dynamic way of working. Together, we discuss every security development – in the bank, the industry and worldwide – to see if it calls for a change in process. Nothing is too small.
Our service covers substantial aspect of Nationwide's security – from design and implementation to 24-hour proactive and reactive monitoring. We brought together products and services from lots of leading providers to make sure security's covered at every level.
The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority are testing security controls and technologies together. As Nationwide’s security partner, we have to satisfy both our own quality criteria and industry standards – like ISO 20000 service management accreditation and PCI DSS conformance – while developing and maintaining comprehensive ITIL based services.
Nationwide and BT have a long relationship. A solid cultural fit and strong mutual trust mean the Nationwide executive board feels confident that we have the skills and resources needed. “We’re reassured by the deep expertise BT shows in securing its own global network and those of other large organisations and government agencies,” says Daryl.
The world’s largest building society teams up with BT to protect its assets from the threat landscape.
The result
For the first time, our operational teams are permanently based in Nationwide’s Enterprise Command Centre. Nationwide has focused its security strategy to deal with the changing nature of threats facing the retail banking industry, and IT organisations in general. And we’re supporting this, having created an environment that will stay ahead of today’s would‐be attackers – and be ready for whatever happens in the future.
Nationwide's security strategy and operational model is designed to grow and evolve rapidly. This allows it to be flexible and responsive in delivering more secure and better digital services to its customers.
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CIONET’s Cyber Circle: a new three-event programme exclusively focusing on the most urgent, complex, and high-impact challenges in cybersecurity today. Launched in 2026, this initiative brings together CISOs, CIOs, and senior IT executives with a strong interest in cybersecurity for three curated gatherings each year. As part of CIONET’s trusted executive community, the Cyber Circle provides a confidential, peer-driven environment to exchange insights, share real-world experiences, and address evolving cyber threats. Each session is designed to foster strategic dialogue, strengthen resilience, and elevate cybersecurity as a core driver of business value.
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The Telenet Business Leadership Circle powered by CIONET, offers a platform where IT executives and thought leaders can meet to inspire each other and share best practices. We want to be a facilitator who helps you optimise the performance of your IT function and your business by embracing the endless opportunities that digital change brings.
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Découvrez la dynamique du leadership numérique aux Rencontres de CIONET, le programme francophone exclusif de CIONET pour les leaders numériques en Belgique, rendu possible grâce au soutien et à l'engagement de nos partenaires de programme : Deloitte, Denodo et Red Hat. Rejoignez trois événements inspirants par an à Liège, Namur et en Brabant Wallon, où des CIOs et des experts numériques francophones de premier plan partagent leurs perspectives et expériences sur des thèmes d'affaires et de IT actuels. Laissez-vous inspirer et apprenez des meilleurs du secteur lors de sessions captivantes conçues spécialement pour soutenir et enrichir votre rôle en tant que CIO pair. Ne manquez pas cette opportunité de faire partie d'un réseau exceptionnel d'innovateurs numériques !
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CIONET is committed to highlighting and celebrating female role models in IT, Tech & Digital, creating a leadership programme that empowers and elevates women within the tech industry. This initiative is dedicated to showcasing the achievements and successes of leading women, fostering an environment where female role models are recognised, and their contributions can ignite progress and inspire the next generation of women in IT. Our mission is to shine the spotlight a little brighter on female role models in IT, Tech & Digital, and to empower each other through this inner network community.
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