Start-up nation

About

Even for well-funded b2b start-ups, the pathway to scale and scope is often linked to their ability to penetrate the enterprise marketplace. One global contract with a FTSE100 company can lead a start-up to success. Frequently, start-ups will target the IT organisation as the natural entry point for such relationships. CIOs are often keen to promote such innovative companies into the organisations however many obstacles exist.

Our first event of 2025 examines how such engagements can deliver growth and innovation for all parties. Issues to be covered include:

Where is the best entry point for a start-up within large and complex enterprises?
What is the role of the CIO and IT organisation in fostering such relationships?
In practice, what obstacles, such as speed and funding, need to be overcome?
How could the UK benefit if the government supported such initiatives?

Join us in London on the 29^th of January for a critical debate on this vital element of Digital Britain.

Speakers and Panellists

Find out more about the speakers and our panellists

Craig Walker

Chairman | Moderator

CIONET UK

Craig graduated in the summer of 1981 from the University of Surrey with a BSc.

Hons in Chemical Engineering. He joined Shell as an IT programmer in London.

Over the next 17 years, his career in IT management progressed and saw him spend

10 years as an expatriate in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.

In 1998, he moved to KPMG as an Associates Partner to learn about other

industries, cultures, and ways of working. In 2005, after what he describes as the

best 6-year training course Shell let him go on, he returned in 2005 to Shell as CIO

for the African Downstream businesses based in Cape Town. After 3 years he

became Global CIO of Shell Trading and Shipping based in Houston, Texas and

then, in 2014, became Global CIO of Shell Downstream based in London.

He is a high energy leader who has spent most of his career leading large-scale

digital transformations. As Global CIO of Shell Downstream business, his team

delivered billions of dollars of savings and value, created new ways of working,

enabled faster business strategy realisation and ultimately reduced the IT budget by

45%, creating more reliable and secure solutions, and delivering the next generation

of transformative technology. While these global transformations were technology

driven, they were highly business focused. His success can be attributed to

recognising the complexities of large-scale change and including all the key

stakeholders in business and IT to ensure a level of buy-in and energy such that they

were able to fundamentally transform the businesses.

He retired from Shell in 2020, and joined Salesforce as an SVP, Strategic Advisor to

the office of the CEO, where he worked with c-suite to help them refine and deliver

their business strategy. He advised hundreds of customers, building strong

relationships and helping drive transformational change through bringing technology and people together.

He has now retired for a second time and is now busier than ever having teamed up

with five ex-KPMG colleagues, who have a lifetime of experience, knowledge and a

track record of success, to create Veles Consulting which has the tag line “Our

Experience, Your Success”. There are delivering a range of services including

Strategic Business Advice, NED/Virtual Board Services, Company Review,

Leadership Development and Transformational programmes. He is enjoying working again with old friends and colleagues.

He also chairs the Institute of Coding, which is dedicated to delivering free technical

skills learning to disadvantaged people in the UK, as well as participating on several

advisory and executive boards.

He has a passion for business, developing people, enjoying his family, travelling,

good food and wine, and life.

Explore the program

Program

Registrations for this event will close on 15th January.

Bankside Hotel

           
          18:00 
        
                Arrival with drinks, canapes & bowl food
        
          19:00 
        
                Warm Welcome
        
          19:05 
        
                Keynote
        
          19:30 
        
                Break 
        
          19:45 
        
                Panel discussion with distinguished leaders and Q&A
        
          20:45 
        
                Drinks reception, desert & cheese
        
          21:30 
        
                Carriages

Venue

Hosted at Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection.

Bankside Hotel

Digital Britain

Start-up nation –

how large enterprises can nurture entrepreneurial growth

About

Speakers and Panellists

Program

Venue

CIONET UK: Community Events 2024

Partners

Not a CIONET member yet?

Follow us

Start-up nation –

how large enterprises can nurture entrepreneurial growth

About

Speakers and Panellists

Craig Walker

Craig Walker

Tarun Kohli

Tarun Kohli

Nicola Owen

Breno Gentil

Program

Venue

CIONET UK: Community Events 2024

Partners

Not a CIONET member yet?

Follow us