Community pharmacy surpasses 250,000 Covid-19 vaccination milestone as booster service continues at pace

(L-R) Community pharmacist, Ryan McKinstry; pharmacy team member, Claire McQuade; Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene; pharmacy team member, Marjorie McCowan; and community pharmacist, Liam Grimley.

Northern Ireland’s community pharmacies have administered 250,000 COVID-19 vaccinations as the professional teams continue to push ahead with the expanding vaccination service.

The 250,000-vaccine milestone encompasses the primary and booster vaccinations administered since the sector’s inclusion in the vaccination programme in March 2021.

Community pharmacy is now the main provider of first and second COVID-19 vaccination doses as well as delivering the booster vaccination to those eligible through community pharmacy (currently those aged over 30 and three months on from their second vaccine dose).

Currently, over 250 community pharmacies are providing the Moderna booster vaccination for all those who are eligible.

(L-R) Community pharmacists Ryan McKinstry, Liam Grimley and the Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene.

Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:

“Reaching this significant milestone is a credit to the work and dedication of our community pharmacy teams. The network joined the vaccination programme back in March and since then has been working incredibly hard to maximise the levels of protection against COVID-19 across our communities. Administering 250,000 vaccines in nine months shows the value of accessible and convenient community pharmacy locations and community pharmacy teams have played a significant role in getting overall numbers to where they are today. During the recent Community Pharmacy ‘Big Jab Weekend’ over sixty local pharmacies vaccinated over 11,000 people with their COVID-19 vaccine or booster, which is a tremendous achievement.

“As we approach some of the busiest weeks in the year for community pharmacy, our pharmacy teams will be working hard to dispense the medicines patients will need for the Christmas and new year holiday periods. I would ask the public to be patient as this may affect the availability of the COVID-19 vaccination service at some community pharmacies in the lead up to and over the festive season.”

Sean Grimley, community pharmacist at Pharmacy Plus said:

“As a community pharmacist, I’ve seen daily the benefit of providing the COVID-19 vaccine to those living locally in the community. Community pharmacy is the first choice for many in our neighborhoods, including the elderly and those unable to travel, due to our convenient location and the fact that patients trust us. It has been really encouraging to be able to provide primary and booster jabs to our patients and support them throughout this period.

“Working in the community, we are live to the concerns from patients in relation to increased COVID-19 transmissibility and ease of access to vaccines which is why it is so important that we continue to provide all doses required to give the maximum protection possible and allay the concerns patients might have.”

To find your nearest participating community pharmacy: http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/booster-covid19-vaccination/

NI Charities join DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal with a million children at risk of dying this winter

Habib* is screened for malnutrition at a health clinic supported by DEC charity International Rescue Committee in Afghanistan. In a country where eight million people are on the brink of famine and a million children under the age of five are at risk of dying over the next three months, children like Habib urgently need help to stay alive. *Name changed

A number of charities in Northern Ireland have joined a major DEC fundraising appeal as a catastrophic rise in hunger sweeps Afghanistan.

Supported locally by the British Red Cross, Tearfund, Save the Children and Concern Worldwide, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Afghanistan Crisis Appeal will launch on Wednesday 15 December to raise funds for urgent humanitarian response in Afghanistan.

The appeal comes as conflict and economic collapse, coupled with the worst drought in 27 years and the Covid-19 pandemic, bring the situation in Afghanistan to a tipping point.

DEC charities, including those operating locally, say that urgent action to scale up operations is needed to prevent many lives being lost as more than 22 million people – 55% of the population – don't have enough to eat.

More than eight million people are on the brink of famine, with a million children under the age of five at risk of dying over the next three months. Acting quickly is essential before the freezing winter sets in, with temperatures falling as low as -12 degrees centigrade.

Three million children under five are expected to suffer acute malnutrition over the winter as families are unable to grow or pay for food. DEC charities are reporting that hospitals are already struggling to treat shockingly malnourished mothers and children due to a lack of medicines and supplies.

A pharmacist from one of Afghan Red Crescent's mobile health teams provides much-needed medicines during a community visit.

Kevin McCaughan, Senior Institutional Programme Funding Officer at the British Red Cross in Northern Ireland said:

“There is no doubt that things have reached a crisis point in Afghanistan. The conflict of recent months is in addition to existing chronic poverty, the worst drought the country has seen in almost three decades and a pandemic that led to mass population displacement. We know, through existing work in the country, that the situation has been dire for many years, but it is now clear that a coordinated joined-up approach is necessary.”

“In Northern Ireland, the generosity of our people knows no limits and we have a chance to support millions of people, an overwhelming amount of whom are woman and children, from famine. As Afghanistan enters the winter months, we are appealing for people to urgently donate whatever they can to support those who desperately need it.”

Saleh Saeed, DEC Chief Executive, said:

“The situation in Afghanistan is now beyond horrific. A million children are at risk of dying this winter. We can’t just sit back and let that happen. We must act fast to reach them with the food they so badly need.”

“Our members are on the ground and already helping but we urgently need to scale this work up to reach many more in need. People are starving – eight million are on the brink of famine.”

“We're urging people to donate to help families feed their children, protect themselves against freezing temperatures and to provide vital medical supplies to deal with malnutrition, hypothermia and acute respiratory infections, otherwise many young children will simply not survive the coming months. Thanks to the UK Government, donations from the public will be doubled up to £10 million.”

How to donate:  
Online: dec.org.uk 

Phone: 0370 60 60 610

SMS: To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70150. Texts cost £10 and the whole £10 goes to the DEC AFGHANISTAN CRISIS APPEAL. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to www.dec.org.uk 

Or donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque by post to Post: DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA. 

‘Levelling Up Secretary’ addresses NILGA all-party Executive meeting

NILGA President Cllr Robert Burgess

Local councillors in Northern Ireland have called on the UK Government to fully recognise and prioritise Northern Ireland as part of its levelling up commitments as Michael Gove attended a NILGA Executive meeting this morning.

Mr Gove, who was appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities back in September, addressed the all-party Executive meeting in Mossley Mill, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to outline his commitments and plans for levelling up across the United Kingdom.  Mr Gove’s appearance at the Executive meeting comes as the UK Government prepares to publish its white paper on levelling up, a key priority and milestone of the current administration.

The attendance by Secretary Gove is an important end of year investment and engagement signal for NILGA and its 11 member councils, as well as for Northern Ireland more widely. The attendance was also one of his first engagements in his other role as Minister for Intergovernmental Relations.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove MP

Speaking after the Executive meeting, Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said:

“Today’s meeting underlined our shared commitment to build back better from the pandemic and level up communities across the whole United Kingdom.

“From funding skills training for business start-ups in Derry/Londonderry and Strabane, to regenerating green cycleways in Ards and North Down, we’re backing locally-led projects that will make a real difference to communities in Northern Ireland.

“I look forward to building a close relationship with NILGA and working together to ensure that every individual, whatever their background, has the chance to succeed and realise their true potential.”

NILGA President Cllr Robert Burgess added:

“NILGA welcomed the engagement today with Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP. The Government has made levelling up across the United Kingdom the centrepiece of their administration and we look forward to the publication of the white paper on levelling up in the coming weeks.

“We are keen that Northern Ireland gets its rightful place in the levelling up agenda. Councils are at the forefront of communities across Northern Ireland and it is crucial, therefore, that we are at the forefront of levelling up. With multi-billion, multi-annual budgets for community renewal, enterprise, new skills, technology, and infrastructure, NILGA has spearheaded engagement to ensure our 11 member councils navigate and benefit from this hugely significant levelling up programme.

“NILGA’s policy and actions remain crystal clear – councils should receive every single financial and strategic incentive possible to lead place-shaped investment, social cohesion, a modern and radical approach to enterprise, and to environmental management. We welcomed today’s engagement with the Secretary of State and we look forward to continuing to engage on an official level going into the new year.”  

Tech director elected new President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce

Aidan O’Kane, Londonderry Chamber President

Aidan O’Kane has been appointed the 79th President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.

Aidan, a Director at Northern Ireland’s largest IT company, Allstate NI, was appointed at the AGM on Thursday 9 September, taking over the reins from outgoing President, Dawn McLaughlin. Aidan has also been one of the Co-Chairs of the Cross Border Workers Coalition since summer 2020.

In his address to members, Aidan spoke of the economic recovery, rebuild and revitalisation required over the next 12 months, and the need for elected representatives to prioritise the North West ahead of May’s Assembly Election.

Aidan will be supported in his role by Selina Horshi, Managing Director at the White Horse Hotel, who will be the Chamber’s Vice-President for 2022.

Selina Horshi, Londonderry Chamber Vice President, and Aidan O’Kane, Londonderry Chamber President

Speaking to members at the AGM in the Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Aidan O’Kane said:

“I am very proud to have been elected President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and I would like to thank the membership for trusting me with this position. In the coming 12 months, I promise to work unwaveringly for our members and for businesses here in the North West.

“Dawn has worked exceptionally hard for Chamber members this year, representing our interests with distinction, and I would like to thank her on behalf of all our members for her dedication in 2021.

“Looking ahead to 2022, recovery, rebuild and revitalisation are the watchwords for the next 12 months. It goes without saying that the pandemic has had a significant and severe impact on businesses and the economy. While 2020 appeared bleak and unclear, the emergence and roll-out of the vaccines in 2021 has given us the opportunity to fully bounce back in 2022.

“Our region is on the cusp of something special. There’s an energy and optimism among colleagues, among key stakeholders, and among businesses to lift up the North West. We are fast approaching the next Assembly election, and it’s crucial that our local elected representatives, new ministers, and the incoming NI Executive recognise this and commit to doing all they can to positively develop our region during the next mandate.

“I am excited to get to grips with my new role and I will be working extremely hard over the next year to help make sure that local businesses succeed in a successful North West.”

Outgoing President Dawn McLaughlin also said:

“It has been an honour and a professional and personal privilege to have served as President of the Chamber. Leading Chamber, I have worked diligently to have the voice of North West business heard at all levels of government, North, South, and beyond our island, working constructively to find solutions and secure support for our members.

“Despite the challenges of both Brexit and Covid-19, this year has seen great successes, with high points being the sign-off of the City Deal, the long-awaited opening of the Graduate Entry Medical School at Magee and the announcement of the £70m Health Hub at Fort George. We have welcomed new companies to the North West and FDI is strengthening in our region.

“When things have been at their toughest, we have often been at our best, and the sense of community, camaraderie, and support among members has been genuinely inspiring to see. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our members recognising the lengths they have gone to in protecting their people and their businesses, and I commend them for all they have done for our community during the pandemic.

“I would like to thank the Chamber team and directors for their support and wish Aidan and Selina the best of luck for 2022. I am certain that they will represent our region with strong, committed, and dynamic leadership.”

Retail NI launches first-of-its-kind Wellbeing Plan for shopworkers

(L-R) Retail NI President, Peter McBride; Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA; Northern Ireland Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill; Retail NI CEO Glyn Roberts

Retail NI has launched the first ever local Wellbeing Plan which aims at supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Northern Ireland’s retail workers at an event in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings on Monday 6 December.

The first-of-its-kind Wellbeing Plan seeks to offer employers practical solutions to the growing wellbeing and mental health issues posed by the pandemic. It was produced under the guidance of mental health experts including Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill, Inspire Wellbeing, and the Association of Convenience Stores.

A new Minister of Wellbeing in the Executive is one of five recommendations included within the Plan which seeks to promote an economic and wellbeing recovery in Northern Ireland post-pandemic. It seeks to increase involvement of the private sector in the next 10-year Mental Health Strategy and calls on the 2021 Programme for Government to have wellbeing at its heart.

Sponsored by Pivotal, the event featured a keynote address from Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA. Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts, Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill, and Economy Committee Chair Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA also spoke at the event.

Minister for the Economy, Gordon Lyons MLA said:

“Our local retailers have been among those hardest hit by the effects of the pandemic and as we begin to rebuild our economy the wellbeing of staff is now more important than ever. The Retail NI Wellbeing Plan is a very welcome resource for the sector, and I am pleased to see key stakeholders coming together to establish a resource that can be used for all employees and businesses in Northern Ireland. 

“Our journey to recovery is gathering momentum and I have been told by businesses, chambers of commerce and trade representatives from all parts of Northern Ireland how important Spend Local has been in helping them recover from the severest impacts of the pandemic.

“As the 14 December deadline to spend the card approaches, I would urge everyone who has yet to do so to activate and use their Spend Local card. It is important that every card holder spends every penny in order to maximise the benefit. Spend it now, spend it all and spend it local.”

Northern Ireland Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill said:

“It is vital that all employers support positive mental health and wellbeing in their workforce and ensure that their employees feel valued and protected. 

“Employers should create working environments where people feel safe and able to express their feelings. I would encourage retail employers and workers to have more open discussions about how together they can protect and improve the wellbeing of everyone working in retail.

“The Wellbeing Plan is a welcome stepping-stone in starting these conversations and helping people get the support that they need. This guide is very timely, the Department of Health’s 10-Year Mental Health Strategy is currently being implemented, it is a strong plan to transform services, and to focus on early intervention and the prevention of mental illness. I am calling for the political parties in the Executive to commit to providing the 34% increase in funding for mental health services so that the Strategy can be delivered in full and on schedule.”

Retail NI Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts said:

“We are proud to be the first local business organisation to launch a plan supporting the wellbeing of retail workers. Retail is the largest sector in Northern Ireland’s private sector economy; therefore, it is essential the retail workforce is supported appropriately.

“The wellbeing of staff is vital in the workplace and research continues to show that businesses benefit when their staff are happy at work. By placing more of an emphasis on employees’ wellbeing, businesses create a better relationship with their workforce.

“We have not seen the true impact of the pandemic on the population’s mental health; however, statistics have shown 91% of managers noticed an increase in wellbeing concerns among colleagues during the pandemic. This is a shocking figure and highlights the need for the Executive to carefully consider the recommendations in the Wellbeing Plan and recognise their role in providing resources for increased workforce wellbeing.”

The Wellbeing Plan can be found at www.retailni.com

Why the ‘People Factor’ will be key to corporate climate action - by Lisa Bryson, Partner - Employment, Eversheds Sutherland

As originally appeared in the Irish News, 7 December

Lisa Bryson, Partner - Employment, Eversheds Sutherland

As the curtain fell on COP26 last month, many were left speculating what the conference meant for them. The Glasgow Climate Pact, while making advances in the phasing out of fossil fuels and the limiting of deforestation, perhaps fell short of what many had envisioned. Irrespective of what was agreed, the climate summit was a further reminder to not only political but business leaders of the urgent action needed if we are to meet our net-zero ambitions.

Northern Ireland is the only part of these islands without its own climate change legislation. Two alternative Climate Change Bills are passing through the Assembly, and despite negotiations between the two Bill sponsors to combine them, it seems both will progress simultaneously in what is an unprecedented situation. For many employers here, the absence of any legally mandated climate change target is concerning and, if no target is introduced soon, this will present significant challenges to corporate long-term planning.

In recent years, our research has shown that the reality of climate change awareness has permeated boardrooms across the globe. Mitigating emissions is now a priority issue which has both significant implications for companies’ business models and a vast impact on their stakeholders. From appointing climate change experts to their boards, to reskilling and retraining existing staff, business leaders around the world are recognising the policies and provisions they must implement to reduce their environmental impact.

The conversation around these issues has often focused on having the right policies, investment, and technologies. These are critical, of course, but what about the human element? After all, it is the people within organisations that are expected to play a decisive role in the ability to meet ambitious global targets. By incentivising employees to achieve the implementation of solutions, or by investing in their human capital, our business leaders can unlock the ideas, innovation, and skills that will likely be needed in the race to net-zero.

Coinciding with COP26, Eversheds Sutherland and KPMG recently published a report entitled ‘Climate Change & the People Factor’. Guided by a survey of 1,095 C-suite leaders across some of the world’s leading companies, the report finds that workforce engagement will be critical to any corporate climate mitigation efforts. Performance objectives, individual or team KPIs, and renumeration incentives tied to decarbonization goals, will all be critical if companies are to engage their wider workforce in reducing emissions.

Known as the ’People Factor’, this is a recognition that policies or targets themselves will not achieve results. For companies, though, this does not just include your employees. Understanding the broader community in which your business operates, recognising that there is an opportunity for cooperation among companies, training providers, and governments, will be key to ensuring not only global businesses but Northern Ireland businesses confront climate risk head-on. It is only through a strategic, joined-up approach, can we expect results.

Support among business leaders for the transition to a global, low-carbon economy has never been higher. But to transfer this goodwill into good results, and to bring about the climate action we seek, the People Factor must not be ignored.

Political and Civic Leaders graduate from prestigious Fellowship programme

(L – R) John Healy, Managing Director at Allstate NI and Chair of the Fellowship Advisory Board; Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston, Centre for Democracy and Peace Building Fellow; Dominic O’Reilly, Centre for Democracy and Peace Building Fellow; Karise Hutchinson, Professor of Leadership at Ulster University and Vice-Chair of the Fellowship Advisory Board

Fellows attended sessions online and in Belfast, Dublin, and Oxford as part of the programme backed by prominent Northern Irish business leaders

Leaders in civic society, business, and politics in Northern Ireland have graduated from the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building’s prestigious new Fellowship programme at a ceremony held at Hillsborough Castle.

The Fellowship aims to support, develop, and build the capacity of Northern Ireland’s political and civic leaders, with its first programme concluding at the Hillsborough Castle graduation ceremony. Through collaboration across the political, local government, business and civic society realms, the Fellowship seeks to spark new conversations that realise Northern Ireland’s potential for progress and innovation.

This year’s Fellowship gave 22 mid-career leaders the opportunity to engage with leading policymakers, business leaders, and public figures, and sought to develop their understanding of how to tackle pressing social, political, and economic issues here. The programme’s Advisory Board, which includes prominent Northern Irish business leaders, curated sessions seeking to re-imagine leadership in Northern Ireland, with Fellows also attending sessions at the internationally renowned Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford and the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin.

Featuring a video address from Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney TD, the graduation ceremony gathered esteemed business and political leaders from the UK & Ireland to mark the end of the first Fellowship programme. Attendees also heard from John Healy, Fellowship Advisory Board Chair and Vice President of Allstate NI, Professor Karise Hutchinson, Advisory Board Vice Chair and Professor at Ulster University, and others including Fellow Dominic O’Reilly.

The Fellowship is delivered by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building (CDPB), working with key stakeholders and facilitators from the business sector and leading academic institutions. The programme is supported by Allstate NI, Devenish, FinTrU, Fujitsu NI, Ulster Carpets, the Irish American Partnership, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, said:

“Congratulations to the Fellows who have graduated from this programme. The pandemic has continued to create uncertainty for all of us, and it is a great achievement to have brought it to this milestone.”

“The Fellowship has provided participants with opportunities to talk about key issues that are important to their communities and the space to think about the kind of leadership that’s needed to work through them. I am glad that my department’s Reconciliation Fund has been able to support this important work.”

“At times, it’s so easy to focus entirely on differences and divergence. When we spend time with each other, we can recognise the greater agenda of things where we’re all working to the same goals. I would like to thank both the Fellows and the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building for their extraordinary work in these challenging circumstances.”

John Healy, Managing Director at Allstate NI and Chair of the Fellowship Advisory Board, said:

“I was thrilled to speak at the Fellowship graduation ceremony in what was a special ceremony held at Hillsborough Castle. This event celebrated the success of the first Fellowship programme which we hope will give our mid-career political and civic leaders the knowledge, skills, and relationships they require to lead Northern Ireland into the next decade.”

“This year’s Fellows have been a credit to themselves and their organisation throughout the programme. Their open-mindedness, diligence and determination led to invigorating conversations on the collective challenges we face in Northern Ireland and beyond. On behalf of the Advisory Board, I would like to thank them for their hard work over the course of this year’s Fellowship, and I look forward to seeing what each Fellow is set to achieve as their career progresses.”

Karise Hutchinson, Professor of Leadership at Ulster University and Vice-Chair of the Fellowship Advisory Board, said:

“It has been both an honour and a privilege to serve as Vice Chair of the Advisory Board for this year’s Fellowship programme. When we set out in this journey, we wanted to start a new conversation in Northern Ireland, one that explores the Spirit of Possibility and the new, innovative method of thinking we need to meet the challenges of today. With thought-provoking discussions throughout, each Fellowship filled me with optimism that Northern Ireland’s future leaders can navigate us through the complexity we are facing in the years to come.”

“I was very proud to congratulate this year’s Fellows at the graduation ceremony, and I wish them all the very best as they continue to work for their organisation or community.”

Dominic O’Reilly, Centre for Democracy and Peace Building Fellow, said:

“Since the start of the Fellowship programme in September, I have found myself developing and growing in ways which I had not anticipated, learning and unlearning, challenging, and validating. While each Fellow comes from a diverse background, we all share a common goal and purpose: to make this place we each call home better, for everyone.”

Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston, Centre for Democracy and Peace Building Fellow, said:

“I am very proud to be a graduate of the first Fellowship programme. I have formed what would be unlikely friendships and have grown to value difference. Each event, speaker, and discussion throughout this year’s Fellowship has continually shown the value of collaboration to address the challenges we face in Northern Ireland.”

AI Con platforms the opportunities for Northern Ireland to lead in AI

Peter Campbell, Kainos; Nuala Kilmartin, Innovate UK; Tim Brundle, Ulster University; and Courtney Lewis, Datactics

AI Con, the leading conference on artificial intelligence, returns to face-to-face business today with a hybrid event at Titanic Belfast.

In its third year, the event will unite world-leading technology professionals and business leaders to examine how artificial intelligence is changing our world and the opportunities and challenges it presents.

The conference takes place as the Global AI Index places the UK as the third best country for excelling in investment, innovation and implementation of Artificial Intelligence by Tortoise Media.

Designed for a general, tech and business audience, AI Con follows the themes of Applied AI, AI Next and the Business of AI. It will examine everything from how AI can add value to organisations, to the next generation of AI and what startups in the space should know.

Supported by Innovate UK, Invest NI and Belfast City Council, the conference featured some of the top figures in the field, with other leading professionals, including from Microsoft and AWS, streaming in from across the globe.

AI Con is also supported by Kainos, Ulster University, Matrix, Allstate Northern Ireland, Digital Catapult NI and Datactics.

Speaking at AI Con, Director of Innovation at Kainos Tom Gray said:

“The importance of AI as a tool for improving how we do things in both business and wider society is still emerging. It is welcome that the United Kingdom has been recognised as the third best country for their application of AI in the latest update of the Global AI Index. But much needs to be done, especially in Northern Ireland.”

“The UK has an ambitious AI strategy that gives Northern Ireland both the permission to be ambitious and the opportunity to be seen to lead in the application of AI. Northern Ireland needs to do more. We heard from both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland on how they have created Centres for Applied AI. Northern Ireland has failed to deliver this for the third year running.”

“AI Con has been an opportunity to showcase new developments in AI that can support societal and economic recovery. With Belfast now being a recognised tech hub, and with more and more businesses choosing Northern Ireland, AI Con platformed debate to ignite discussion and the sharing of ideas with a bigger audience.”

Dr Kathryn Harkin, Senior Manager at Allstate Northern Ireland commented:

“We are thrilled to have been involved in this year’s AI Con following hugely successful events over the last three years. A key challenge for business is understanding the benefits of deploying AI. That is why conversations between technology and business leaders are needed now more than ever to open more opportunities for businesses as the focus turns to economic recovery.”

Artificial Intelligence can help businesses thrive

As originally appeared on Sync NI, Thursday 2 December

Fiona Browne, Head of Software Development and ML at Datactics

The coronavirus pandemic produced challenges not one of us could have expected. While some sense of normality is returning, many businesses still face an uphill battle to recover. Artificial Intelligence Technology, however, presents a solution for firms hoping to thrive once again. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used for predictive tasks from fraud detection through to medical analytics. A key component of AI is the underlying data. Data impacts predictions, scalability and fairness of AI systems. As we move towards data-centric AI, having good quality, fair, representative, reliable and complete data will provide firms with a strong foundation to undertake tasks such as decision making and knowledge to strengthen their competitive position. In fact, AI solutions can be used to improve data quality when applied to tasks such as data labelling, accuracy, consistency, and completeness of data.

AI can help businesses not only improve and integrate data, but it will help their business grow through cost reduction and profit enhancement by reducing annual tasks. It has been predicted by Gartner that the business value created by AI will reach $3.9 trillion in 2022.

Businesses thrive with AI. It can automate financial forecasting, giving them greater visibility of their future finances and in turn empowering business owners to make better decisions and take actions to achieve their ultimate goals.

A key challenge for organisations is understanding the business objectives of deploying AI solutions. Therefore, moving away from using AI for technology sake towards awareness of what is feasible and how AI can be harnessed to address these objectives. This is a significant stumbling block for businesses to understand the benefits it can bring to their organisation.

The perceived lack of access to technology and need for copious amounts of data to train machine learning models are other stumbling blocks. We must bust the myth that AI is hard to access, for instance open source projects such as TensorFlow through to Microsoft Azure ML and Amazon Sage Maker are simplifying the process of building, deploying and monitoring machine learning models in production. Most companies don’t know this or how to take advantage of AI cost effective nature.

Even though accessing the technology is easy, using it is less so. Vendors are investing heavily in making the technology more accessible to non-expert users and have overall made great strides in making AI accessible.

That is why the upcoming AI Con Conference on 3 December at Titanic Belfast is so important. It gives us the perfect opportunity to discuss the benefits of AI for local firms.

Bringing together business leaders with world-leading technology professionals, AI Con will examine how artificial intelligence is changing our world and the opportunities and challenges it presents.

The themes for this year’s conference, which hosted 450 attendees in its first year and 800 in a virtual format last year, include Applied AI, AI Next and the Business of AI. These are designed for a general audience, tech audience and business audience respectively, and encompass everything from how AI can add value to organisations to what start-ups in the space should know.

The importance of AI cannot be disputed. AI Con will provide us with an opportunity to showcase the very best of AI. With Belfast now being a recognised tech hub, AI Con provides the perfect opportunity to foster debate and discussion around the benefits AI provides for business. Engagement with key business leaders and organisations is an essential part of that.

To find out more information about this year’s AI Con visit, www.aicon2021.com.

A regional strategy is needed for a strong and sustainable artificial intelligence future

As originally appeared on the News Letter website, Wednesday 1 December

Dr Kathryn Harkin, Senior Manager at Allstate Northern Ireland

Across all sectors, we are seeing how digital technologies can completely reimagine the business landscape. With new developments and opportunities for the future constantly emerging, the scope to which technology can enhance our world appears limitless. While not always clear at first glance, the area of artificial intelligence (AI) is integral to much of this.

We see evidence of that today, where things that seemed impossible a decade ago are now taken for granted. This dynamic environment provides new challenges and risks, as well as opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship to create value and positive impact.

But, to take advantage of our new dynamic environment, we need a regional strategy that is clear and financially supported to build a strong and sustainable AI future.

The UK has a clear and reasonable strategy which recognises the power of AI to increase resilience, productivity, growth, and innovation across the private and public sectors. This must act as a foundation for the development of a regional strategy that is responsive and reflective of AI needs in Northern Ireland.

One section of this strategy must be a commitment to skills development. As a member of the Economic Advisory Group advising on the Skills Agenda for the Northern Ireland Economy, I know the challenge in front of us.

Northern Ireland has a high proportion of people with low-level qualifications. By 2030, it is estimated we will have the fourth highest proportion of low qualified people of the sixteen Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries.

To grow the AI sector further, we must invest in the skills of our people to secure the next generation of talent. While our Further Education Colleges and two main Universities are the engines to which investment must be made, AI does not just rest on technical skills, but a full spectrum of skills from ethical to legal to commercial. This must be reflected in any proposed strategy.

This year’s AI Con will be the perfect opportunity to discuss, with technologists in the sector, what will be required.  

Set to return on 3 December with a hybrid format at Titanic Belfast, the event will bring together world-leading technology professionals and business leaders to examine how artificial intelligence is changing our world and the opportunities and challenges it presents.

The themes for this year’s conference, which hosted 450 attendees in its first year and 800 in a virtual format last year, include Applied AI, AI Next and the Business of AI. These are designed for a general audience, tech audience and business audience respectively, and encompass everything from how AI can add value to organisations, to what start-ups in the space should focus on.

The importance of AI can no longer be disputed. AI Con will provide us with an opportunity to showcase the very best of AI. With Belfast now being a recognised tech hub, it provides the perfect opportunity to foster debate and discussion. Engagement with key business leaders and organisations is an essential part of that.

To find out more information about this year’s AI Con visit, www.aicon2021.com.