iO Associates

We’re excited to share the speaker line-up for Practically AI Lightning Talks, a fast-paced evening of short, practical sessions from engineers applying AI in real workflows, hosted by Matillion and supported by iO Meetups. This is a community-led, no-fluff event focused on real demos, honest lessons, and actionable takeaways you can use straight away, followed by plenty of time to connect with speakers and peers. Confirmed speakers: 👉 Samia Durrani: Using AI to detect and prevent cyberattacks 👉 Chinaza Chukwunweike: How AI agents learn, decide and act 👉 Charles Anthony Proctor-Browne: Cost-effective AI automation with AWS Bedrock 👉 Saeed Esmaeelinejad: Building stateful AI in .NET applications 👉Mia McMillan: How Claude Code transformed a PM workflow 🗓 Agenda 18:30 Doors open, pizza & drinks 19:00 Lightning Talks 20:30 Social & networking To sign up to the event, please click on the link below in the comments. 👇 #PracticallyAI #AILightningTalks #TechEvents #DeveloperCommunity

Kick off 2026 with our next Philly Data & AI Happy Hour 🎉 The January Philly Data & AI Happy Hour is the perfect way to start the year. A relaxed evening for professionals in data, AI, engineering, product, design, and the wider Philadelphia tech community to connect, share ideas, and catch up after the holidays. No presentations, no speakers, just great conversation, familiar faces, and new connections in a welcoming, community-focused setting. Event Details: 📅 Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Venue: Con Murphy’s Irish Pub, Philadelphia Sign up today by clicking on the link below in the comments. 👇 #PhillyDataAndAI #DataCommunity #AICommunity #PhiladelphiaTech #Networking #iOAssociates

Did you miss our latest Defence Series conversation? Catch up now on this energising episode, where Joe Field sits down with James Morgan, Co-Founder and CEO of Logiq, for a honest and insightful discussion on what it really takes to build a successful career after military service. Drawing on James’s own journey from RAF engineering to leading a 170-strong technology consultancy, the conversation highlights practical strategies for service leavers, alongside what organisations can do to unlock the full potential of veteran talent. In this episode, they cover: 👉 What truly shapes a veteran’s career path, and how to translate military skills and leadership into civilian roles 👉 How forward-thinking organisations such as Logiq support veterans through tailored hiring, mentoring, and the removal of barriers 👉 An inside look at military leadership, and why adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving make veterans such a valuable asset …and much more. Whether you are a service leaver planning your next step, a hiring manager looking to strengthen and diversify your team, or simply keen to better support those transitioning from the forces, this is an episode not to miss. Would you like to find out more? Watch the full conversation via the link in the comments. 👇 #VeteranCareers #Leadership #DefenceIndustry #CareerTransition #DiversityAndInclusion #HiringVeterans #MilitaryToCivilian

🖥️🎉 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐎 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 🖥️🎉 We’re excited to share the launch of the refreshed iO Associates website. Built around our global communities, the new site makes it easier to explore the markets we specialise in, the solutions we deliver, and the expertise behind our work. We’re proud of the long-term relationships we’ve built with clients, candidates and partners across the UK, US and Europe. With in-depth industry knowledge and an extensive network, we deliver tailored, partnership-led solutions designed around your needs. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰? 👉 A cleaner, more intuitive experience 👉 Clearer visibility of our specialist markets and solutions 👉 Easier access to events, industry knowledge, and career opportunities Take a look and let us know what you think via the link in the comments 👇 #WebsiteLaunch #iOAssociates #GlobalTalent #TalentSolutions

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐀𝐈? 💡 At our latest Tech Leaders Collective South West meetup, we were joined by Nick Darby, Transformation & AI Strategy Specialist, for a refreshingly honest conversation about what really happens after the GenAI hype fades. Rather than shiny tools or big promises, the discussion focused on reality: 🖊️ Why have many organisations invested in GenAI but are still struggling to see value 🖊️ How AI amplifies what already exists, clarity or confusion 🖊️ The importance of fixing data, process and culture before scaling AI 🖊️ Using AI to challenge assumptions, support better decisions, and free people to do higher-value work This session was part of our broader Tech Leaders Collective series, bringing together senior tech leaders to exchange real-world experiences and cut through the noise on emerging technologies. To read the full website story and find out more about the Tech Leaders Collective, click on the link below in the comments. 👇 #TechLeadersCollective #GenAI #AILeadership #BusinessTransformation #TechnologyLeadership #DigitalStrategy

🎙️ The next episode of the Defence Series is out now on LinkedIn! Service to success and supporting career transitions after the military 🎙️ We’re excited to announce the latest episode in our Defence Series a honest and practical exploration of the military-to-civilian career journey, designed for veterans, employers, and those supporting meaningful career transitions. Host Joe Field is joined by James Morgan, Co-Founder & CEO of Logiq, RAF veteran, and champion of veteran integration in tech and defence. Together they discuss the reality of leaving military service, the transferable skills veterans bring, and what industry and individuals can do to build bridges that work. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫: ✅ James's personal journey from RAF engineering to successful tech entrepreneurship ✅ Honest talk about the emotional side of military transition, including the common “roller coaster” and career uncertainty ✅ How to “translate” military experience for industry CVs and why face-to-face is still the best way …and much more. If you’re thinking about your next step after the military, hiring veterans, or kicking off a new strategy for inclusive, resilient teams, this episode is packed with actionable tips, and discussion on the future of defence talent. Listen to the full episode now via the link in the comments. 👇 #VeteranCareers #DefenceSeries #MilitaryTransition #Leadership #TechTalent #InclusiveWorkplace #CareerAdvice

🎄✨ Merry Christmas & Happy New Year ✨🎄 From all of us at iO Associates, thank you for being part of our journey this year. We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year 🎊 #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear #iOAssociates #ThankYou

Coming soon in our next Defence Series interview! Joe Field sits down with James Morgan, Co-Founder & CEO of Logiq, for an inspiring conversation on transitioning from military service to civilian careers. They discuss the challenges and opportunities veterans face, and how businesses can build inclusive cultures that truly value veteran talent. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫: 👉 Hard won advice for veterans making the leap to civilian careers: from re-thinking your “next step” to translating your unique skills for new industries 👉 How leading organisations can go beyond the tick-box creating cultures and recruitment practices where service leavers thrive 👉 Expert insight into why veterans often make exceptional leaders and problem-solvers (and how their experience strengthens teams far beyond defence) and plenty more. Whether you’re a veteran exploring your path, a hiring manager keen to welcome fresh talent, or simply passionate about supporting those who’ve served, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Keep an eye out for the release, and get ready to join the journey with the link in the comments! #VeteranCareers #Leadership #DefenceIndustry #CareerTransition #DiversityandInclusion #HiringVeterans #MilitaryToCivilian #TeamLogic

🚨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 – 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰! After the hype and disappointment of GenAI, how do we move forward and create real business value from AI? Join us tomorrow for the latest Tech Leaders Collective – South West Meetup, hosted by iO Associates, where Nick Darby, Head of Advisory and AI Inspiration at TrueBird.ai, will explore how organisations can cut through the noise and use AI to deliver genuine impact, innovation, and performance.💡 📅 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Tuesday 9th December 🕓 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: Arrival from 4pm | Talk from 4:30pm 📍 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: iO Associates, Bristol This exclusive session, held under Chatham House Rules, will bring together CTOs, CIOs, Founders, and Tech Leaders from across the South West for open discussion and collaboration. 🎥 Check out the video below for highlights from our previous Tech Leaders Collective events, where conversations have spanned everything from AI adoption and data strategy to scaling tech teams and leadership in the digital age. Spaces are limited - register now via the link in the comments below! 👇 #TechLeadersCollective #AI #GenAI #ArtificialIntelligence #TechLeadership #iOAssociates #Innovation #SouthWestTech

𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡! 👏 As always, it was brilliant to support the community alongside our Manchester Director, Michael Collins, Adam Robinson and the Practically AI team. Tibor Bicskei kicked things off with a talk on what it really takes to build agentic systems using the OpenAI Agents SDK. His walkthrough of Logfire, how it traces errors, highlights what works (and what doesn’t), and why a single-prompt approach collapses quickly was exactly the kind of practical insight this group was built for. A clear takeaway: use agents where they add value, not where simple automation will do the job. We then heard from Lewis Murphy, who delivered a standout look at how BNY is rolling out AI at a remarkable scale. 99% of the organisation trained, true democratisation of agentic capability, and non-technical teams empowered to build and deploy. It’s one of the most comprehensive adoption programmes we’ve seen, and it’ll be fascinating to watch where they take it next. Huge thanks to everyone who joined us on the night. We run these sessions monthly, with strong speakers and hands-on topics coming up, so keep an eye out and make sure you grab a spot for the next one by clicking on the link in the comments. 👇 Phil Whittaker Philip Simpson Michael Collins Adam Robinson #Manchester #AI #AgenticAI #SoftwareEngineering #OpenAI #AgentsSDK #TechCommunity