As we reach the end of another fast-moving year, we hope these final weeks of December offer you a well-deserved pause. May you find a moment to slow down, reflect and truly recharge. Coming back refreshed is essential. 2026 will be a year that demands clarity, control and confident leadership from all of us in the digital world.

At CIONET, we share your digital optimism. Every day, we see technology reshape businesses in powerful ways. But optimism at the executive level can only thrive when it is grounded in strategy and control. That is why our 2026 Community Events Programme is designed to help you not just keep up with the future, but actively shape it.

We begin on January 20 with “The CIO as Investor”.
Today’s CIO is no longer just a technology leader. You are, in many ways, a portfolio manager. You must demonstrate ROI, carefully manage costs and at the same time place bold bets on emerging technologies that will secure tomorrow’s competitive advantage. This opening session will help you reframe IT spend as a strategic investment, build trust with the business and navigate budget pressures while driving both efficiency and growth.

Security remains the essential counterbalance to innovation. With cyber risk at an all-time high, we are expanding our commitment to security leaders through the launch of the CIONET Cyber Circle, an exclusive three-event series dedicated to cyber security. The first session of this programme, on February 5, “AI for Security, Security for AI”, will cut through the hype and give a clear view of what AI can and cannot do for cyber defence today. It will also explore how you must secure AI systems against new threats such as prompt injection, data poisoning and adversarial inputs. Expect practical, actionable priorities for the next 12 to 24 months.

Throughout the year, we will also dive deeper into architectural resilience, beginning with “The Composable Enterprise” on March 10, followed by CIOFEST on April 23, which will explore “Leadership in the agentic era”, where autonomous AI is beginning to reshape customer behaviour, operational models and decision-making.

“The Sovereignty Play” on June 23 will focus on sourcing for autonomy, resilience and long-term control. And as summer begins, “From Story to Habit” on August 27 will focus on the human side of transformation and how to turn new narratives into daily routines, measurable behavioural change and visible impact.

We will also bring our community together on October 20 for CyberFest: “Geopolitics and Cyber Security”. This event explores how global tensions and state-driven threats are reshaping cyber risk and how digital leaders can build resilience in an unstable world. CyberFest is part of the new Cyber Circle, recognising that geopolitical cyber exposure is now a strategic concern for every digital organisation.

Later in the year, on December 8, “Architecting for Change” will address one of the most complex realities CIOs face, offering practical guidance on separation, integration and business continuity under pressure.

We are truly honoured to be your platform for these vital conversations.

Wishing you a peaceful and restorative holiday season and a New Year filled with clarity, confidence and strategic success.