On September 20th and 21st, CIONET Italy hosted its highly anticipated CXOsummit 2024: Leading the AI revolution, bringing together more than 100 of the most influential leaders from top Italian companies. Held in the stunning location of Sorrento, this two-day event offered an unforgettable mix of professional insight and authentic Italian experiences.
The summit opened with a captivating day of discussions and networking at the Hilton Palace, where attendees were greeted by a panoramic view of Mount Vesuvius. The first day was structured around keynote speeches, thought-provoking panel discussions, and interactive workshops led by the esteemed members of CIONET Italy's Advisory Board. The engaging sessions touched on the latest trends and challenges in technology and leadership, setting the stage for rich dialogue among Italy's top executives.
Day 1: A Summit of Minds
The first day of the summit kicked off with a thought-provoking conference held at the Hilton Palace. As attendees gazed out at the breathtaking views of Mount Vesuvius, they were treated to a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions brilliantly moderated by Dario Donato, Journalist at TGCOM24, and interactive workshops led by esteemed members of our Advisory Board.
Leading the AI revolution:
The event kicked off with presentations on the state of AI adoption in Italy, featuring market analysis by EY and insights from ISTAT, followed by a keynote from Google Cloud on AI advancements. Panel discussions addressed critical themes such as Generative AI, the AI Act, responsible AI governance, and the role of open-source technology in innovation. Industry leaders contributed their perspectives on how companies can navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and leverage AI responsibly.
Luca Grivet Foiaia, Partner Technology Consulting Leader at EY, and Massimo Fedeli, Director of the Department for the Development of Methods and Technologies for the Production and Dissemination of Statistical Information at ISTAT, shared the latest insights into AI adoption in Italy. Data from ISTAT's research, complemented by a market analysis from EY, laid the groundwork for a live, real-time survey conducted with Slido, allowing the audience to engage directly with the topic.
Raffaele Gigantino, Country Manager Italy at Google Cloud, opened the keynote, setting the stage for a dynamic discussion on Google’s role in AI and cloud technology. Paolo Spreafico, Country Director Customer Engineering Italy at Google Cloud, continued the presentation, offering insights into Google's cloud services and innovations. The session provided a detailed exploration of how AI and cloud technologies are transforming industries and business models.
GEN AI & Innovation
This panel explored how Europe is addressing AI through regulations like the AI Act, and what practical steps companies should take to prepare for these new rules. Panellists included:
Responsible AI
This discussion examined the AI Act in the broader context of the need for AI regulation, its strengths, and weaknesses. Industry leaders such as Germana Lo Sapio, Administrative Judge, Carmine Artone, Chief Information Officer at Hera Group, Fabio Pascali, Regional VP Italy, Greece & Cyprus at Cloudera, and Ciro Milite, Director of Serve & Assure at Eutelsat shared case studies on responsible AI usage and the challenges of integrating data from diverse sources.
Change Management & Leadership Approach
Daniele Marco Minoia, IT Global Head at Leonardo & Communication, EssilorLuxottica, explored the challenges and future role of AI within Leonardo’s platform. Through a keynote enriched with slides and video, Daniele Minoia illustrated how AI is supporting and will continue to support their long-term strategies.
Followed by panel discussion focusing on AI's impact on Leadership and Change Management, with leaders such as:
Sustainability:
This panel brought together industry leaders such as Barbara Lucini from Generali Italia and Bart Kerkhofs, VP IT & Chief Information Officer at Bridgestone EMEA, to discuss the role of technology and innovation in driving sustainability. The conversation also featured Giorgio Girelli, CEO, Aruba PEC & General Manager at Aruba, who highlighted the balance between digital transformation and environmental impact.
Cybersecurity & AI Governance:
Speakers like Ettore Guarnaccia, Cybersecurity Manager at the important Italian bank and Andrea Licciardi, Cybersecurity Manager at Tecnimont examined the intersection of cybersecurity and AI, including the role of AI in incident management and the emerging model of SOC-less security centers.
Paolo Fabbri Augelloni, Sales Director Italy at Transmit Security discussed the complexities of customer service architectures, emphasizing the need for simplifying user experience, enhancing security, and integrating Generative AI to meet future challenges. Marco Urciuoli, Country Manager Italy & Malta at F5 focused on the increasing complexity of AI-driven hybrid infrastructures and the sophisticated nature of cyberattacks, stressing the importance of developing scalable, personalized security strategies throughout the AI lifecycle. Giovanni Natalino, Country Manager Italia at Okta highlighted the critical role of Identity Access Management (IAM), particularly Customer Identity Access Management (CIAM), in today’s business environment, explaining its growing significance in the Italian market.
Giovanni D’Amato, Sales Engineering Manager at Bitdefender, alongside Domenico Ciervo, Responsabile Governance IT & Cybersecurity at Aeroporti di Napoli Gesac, shared insights into the evolving cybersecurity landscape, focusing on critical infrastructure protection and how AI plays a key role in this area.
Data & AI Governance:
Panellists, including Marcello Savarese, Chief Data Analytics Officer at Windtre, Andrea Zinno, Data Evangelist at Denodo and Giuseppe Castiello, Partner - Cloud & System Engineering, Deloitte explored the challenges and opportunities of data governance in an AI-driven world, offering practical examples of how organizations are adapting their strategies to meet the demands of Generative AI.
To facilitate in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing, the participants were divided into 10 roundtables, each focused on a specific AI-related topic. The first workshop focused on the current state within the organisations, whereas the second workshop was a dive into 2030 to identify the enabling factors that will guide organisations towards a conscious future. These roundtables were moderated by members of the Advisory Board, who provided guidance and facilitated discussions.
During the workshops, attendees had the opportunity to:
A unique aspect of the workshops was the creation of a large puzzle, where each roundtable contributed their own pieces. Participants were asked to write their vision for the future of AI in their respective fields, as well as two key enablers that would make this vision a reality.
These puzzle pieces were then assembled to form a comprehensive picture of the collective vision for AI. This collaborative approach not only generated valuable insights but also fostered a sense of unity and shared purpose among the participants.
The day concluded with a final wrap-up, as each workshop moderator shared the output of their discussions. A final keynote from Giorgio Agrifoglio, Dirigente ICT at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, set the stage for what’s next in AI regulations in Italy.
Moment of Cheers:
Massimo Rosso, Chief Procurement Officer at RAI and President of the CIONET Advisory Board, delivered closing remarks, summarizing the day's insights and officially handing over the role to the incoming President Davide Gindro, Group CIO & CDO at SOL Group with a celebratory toast to mark the occasion.
The evening closed with a glamorous dinner at the Grand Hotel Europa, where the spectacular views and the delightful sound of a live band "That's Amore" on the terrace created a truly memorable atmosphere. The setting encouraged participants to unwind, network, and enjoy the beauty of Sorrento.
On the second day, the summit participants embarked on a journey to Fattoria Terranova, a charming farm nestled in the hills of Sorrento. Here, they had the opportunity to observe the cooking classes, learning the secrets of traditional Italian cuisine. The day culminated in a delightful lunch featuring locally sourced ingredients, accompanied by the lively sounds of a local band.
The CXOsummit 2024 was more than just a conference; it was an unforgettable experience that combined intellectual stimulation with cultural immersion. The event provided a platform for top executives to connect, share ideas, and gain valuable insights into the future of business. We are grateful to all the Participants, Speakers, and Business Partners who made this event a resounding success!
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