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Belgium 27-8-26 AB Members Physical english

Summer Festival: Advisory Board

CIO agendas are crowded: cost pressure, cyber, regulation, talent, data, AI, vendor dependency, business expectations. Most organisations are trying to do too much at once, and the “must-do” work often blocks the strategic work. CIONET only creates value if its agenda matches what CIOs truly need, in the right format, at the right time. The challenge Pick the few priorities that matter most for 2027, then translate them into a clear CIONET agenda. Outcome we leave with A ranked CIO agenda for 2027, and a directly aligned CIONET programme outline (themes, formats, cadence), with a shortlist of speaker and case targets.

Belgium 27-8-26 Country Members Physical english

Summerfest: From Story to Habit

How to align people, shift routines, and prove value Technology transformations often fail not because the tools don’t work, but because people don’t change their work habits. Boards want proof of value, executives want business outcomes, IT wants clarity, and employees want ease. Between these expectations, the CIO’s role is no longer just to deliver platforms; it is to tell the story that motivates people and turn that story into daily habits. This session will explore: The narrative: how to craft a simple, repeatable story that explains the “why” behind change for every stakeholder. From story to routine: practical ways to embed new behaviours through manager rituals, team incentives, and visible leadership. Reskilling and new expectations: preparing teams for evolving roles, from cross-department collaboration to AI-enhanced workflows. Measuring what matters: showing progress in speed, quality, and resilience — not just in licences bought or trainings completed. The aim is to equip CIOs with a leadership toolkit: a story that unites, habits that endure, and proof that convinces even the toughest boardroom.

Belgium 8-9-26 Invitation Only Virtual english

What an AI Architect Actually Does in Practice; Skills, responsibilities, interfaces, and career moves behind one of the most misunderstood emerging roles.

The AI architect role is becoming more visible, and the scope varies across organisations. The challenge is defining what the role owns, where it sits, and how it works with existing architecture, data, security, risk, and business teams. Three pressure points need clarity. - Role definition matters because the position can span solution architecture, data architecture, governance, integration, security, vendor selection, and business process design. - Interfaces matter because the role must connect teams while respecting existing responsibilities. - Skills matter because technical depth needs to be combined with judgement around controls, delivery choices, and operational boundaries. The working question is simple: how do we define the AI architect role so it becomes useful, credible, and connected to delivery? If this role is emerging in your organisation, let’s compare how others are defining it and where they are placing it.

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Sparkling new ideas for Kärcher’s digital transformation

How we transformed this cleaning manufacturer's operations with cloud-based connectivity.

Overview
Kärcher has always been one step ahead. The world’s largest cleaning equipment manufacturer invented Europe’s first hot-water pressure washer in 1950. Today, Kärcher is working on everything from robotics to eco-friendly cleaning tools that use less energy and are more recyclable. The company also launched 150 new products in 2019 – more than it had ever achieved before within a single year.

When the company needed to upgrade its network, it wanted a partner that valued innovation as much as them. That’s why Kärcher came to us.

The challenge
Kärcher’s existing network was under a lot of pressure. To create an agile working environment, team members were increasingly connecting in the cloud. While the manufacturer was also offering new online services built on its ‘cleaning on demand’ platform, to appeal to customers' high-tech tastes.

This growing digital demand was affecting the network’s performance. This made it harder for Kärcher to expand at the speed it wanted and risked impacting customers experience online. While sending its IT maintenance costs spiralling.

Kärcher needed a digital transformation that would clean up its operations. Making its network smarter, faster, more secure and more reliable. So the company could work the way it wanted to.

We now have a network that can flex for what’s next.”

Leonard KerscherDirector. IT & Digital Transformation, Kärcher

The solution
To help Kärcher adapt, we created a custom networking solution that was built on three cornerstones: growth, security and innovation. This started with improving its infrastructure. To handle the increased traffic flow, we added intelligent connectivity that can automatically prioritise business-critical apps, while added control makes it easier for Kärcher to scale its systems as it expands.

Moving to the cloud opens businesses up to increased cyber-threats. So we added several layers of protection to keep Kärcher’s data safe. This included a new firewall to defend the company’s entire network, plus endpoint protection to detect and respond to threats on individual devices faster.

To make sure Kärcher’s global network is always up to date, we added a service wrap. While the company remains in control of its security policies, our experts routinely check its infrastructure for vulnerabilities and maintain its firewall. While another team makes sure all its Cisco hardware and software stays compliant.

The result
Kärcher now has a network that can flex for what’s next. The automatic traffic prioritisation means customers always get the best experience when using its online services. And deploying applications at scale is simple, so team members always have the tools they need.

Next-level security means the cleaning manufacturer can stay protected. It remains in control of policies, so can still work the way they want. But our managed support also means Kärcher get up-to-the-minute reports on their system’s health. So it can block threats before they reach its network, reducing risk.
This all means it’s easier for the company to expand, embrace new technologies and keep pace with the ever-changing business landscape.

Partners

CIONET Business Circles

Cyber Circle

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.

Telenet Business Leadership Circle

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.

Les Rencontres

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 !

Female Leadership Circle

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.