AI Ecosystems & Cyber Resilience

Talk 1: Chronicles from the AI Ecosystem, by Adrian Quayle, a Partner at pliXos & Quantaleap
Abstract
We are all on an AI journey which is in the process of profoundly re-shaping all aspects of our Society. Manchester, the birthplace of both the Industrial revolution and computing, is also widely regarded as the UK’s second city for AI. Over the past 20 months our Speaker Adrian Quayle has been chronicling the Manchester AI Ecosystem. He will share the rapid changes he has observed, highlight a range of initiatives, and draw conclusions about what is - and is not, but should be - happening across and around the Greater Manchester Region.
Biography
Adrian Quayle is a Partner at pliXos & Quantaleap and a Distinguished Fellow at Avasant.
Following a career in international business and technology management consulting he has recently been focusing on AI and innovation management. He chaired
the ISO committee which developed the international standard on outsourcing and sits on two BSI management systems standard committees. He is currently chronicling the Greater Manchester and North West UK AI ecosystem. Following his involvement in the AI Study Group he is also a member of the Manchester Statistical Society.
Talk 2: AI: Friend or Foe? by Jennifer Williams, Managing Director at Secarma Ltd
Abstract
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the security landscape faster than most organisations can keep up. This session explores the explosive growth of AI, how attackers are already using it to scale and sharpen their techniques, and how defenders can harness the same tools to stay ahead. Through a real‑world inspired attack scenario and a breakdown of how AI assisted both offence and defence, we’ll cut through the hype and look at what AI actually means for penetration testing, security teams, and the future of cyber resilience. Is AI our greatest tool or our biggest threat? Let’s find out.