University brings business leaders together as AI shift accelerates

Business leaders from across the region are invited to come together next month to explore how organisations can respond to the rapidly accelerating impact of artificial intelligence. 

The University of Bradford will host a one-day forum on 18 June, bringing together senior figures from industry, the public sector and academia to explore how AI is reshaping leadership, governance and the future of work. 

The event, Sustainable by Design: AI for a Better Tomorrow, will focus on the practical challenges organisations face as AI moves from emerging technology to everyday reality. 

Craig Johnson, Associate Professor at the University, said the forum had been designed to help organisations move beyond discussion and begin actively preparing for change. 

“AI is no longer something on the horizon, it is already starting to reshape how organisations operate,” he said. “The question is whether we are actively shaping how it is used or simply reacting to it.” 

The event will explore how AI is affecting different sectors, from business operations to the labour market, with particular focus on the growing impact on knowledge-based roles. 

“Much of the conversation around automation has historically focused on manual work,” Johnson said. “What we are now seeing is a shift towards white-collar roles, particularly in areas such as administration and analysis, where AI can already deliver significant efficiencies.” 

The forum will feature keynote speaker Phil Le Brun of Amazon Web Services, a University of Bradford alumnus, alongside a range of speakers from industry and the public sector. 

Sessions will cover AI leadership, governance and workforce development, reflecting what organisers describe as the need to better connect technical understanding with the wider economic and societal implications. 

Dr Johnson added that while the scale of change remains uncertain, preparing for it is essential. 

“We do not yet know the full extent of AI’s impact,” he said. “But we do know that it will be significant, and that organisations need to start thinking now about the skills, structures and decisions that will shape the future. That’s why sessions like this are important, because they allow companies to be part of the debate and to be as prepared as they can be for future change.” 

The AI Forum will take place on 18 June from 9am to 4.30pm at University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford. Bookings available here.