AI Unleashed: Navigating AI and how best to use it to benefit your business
Sligo Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Chartered Accountants Ireland North West Society and Sligo Local Enterprise Office kindly hosted by Beyond Inc.
Thursday 23rd January
8am – 9.30am
Beyond Inc Offices
Key Speaker – Alastair McDermott – Author & Podcast Host – The AI Powered Business Leader
Alastair McDermott is an AI consultant, author, and host of The AI-Powered Business Leader podcast. He helps leaders integrate AI to automate tasks, boost productivity, and drive innovation. Author of An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Using AI, Alastair helps businesses implement ethical, human-first AI adoption to transform operations, drive innovation, and build a more engaging work environment. Find him online at AIpowered.biz
Followed by an interactive panel discussion from key industries leaders
- Niall Fitzgerald – Head of Ethic’s and Governance – Chartered Accountants Ireland
- Aidan McCormack, Tourism Officer – Sligo County Council
- Pedro Liano, Chief Data Officer – Beyond Inc.
Venue: Beyond Inc, Westgate, Finisklin Business Park, Sligo F91 HF66
Starts 8am with Presentations and Panel Discussion followed by Continental Breakfast served at 8.50am
Níall Fitzgerald FCA, Head of Ethics and Governance, Chartered Accountants Ireland. Experienced Non-Executive Director, Trustee, and Advisory Committee Member. Níall’s expertise extends across business ethics, corporate governance, sustainability, compliance, reporting, and risk, and he explores the impact of Artificial Intelligence, amongst other matters, in this context. He leads advocacy and engagement on governance and business/professional ethics in Ireland and globally with regulators, standard setters, and policy makers. He is co-founder of Chapter Zero Ireland, which is part of the World Economic Forums Climate Governance Initiative, a Judge in the Irish Good Governance Awards, has authored several expert guides and articles, and regularly advises public and private sector organisations.
Aidan McCormack is the Tourism Officer with Sligo County Council. This role is responsible for the promotion of Sligo as a visitor destination and for the development of the tourism industry within the county. His background is within tourism in the private sector in Belfast where he was a Director of Belfast City Sightseeing which operated hop on / hop off bus tours of the city along with coach tours, walking tours and river tours.
His focus on digital marketing, e commerce and business development allowed him to subsequently work in diverse sectors such as healthcare and mobility along with construction and building supplies. He has used digital technology throughout his career including the development of an AI based itinerary tool for potential visitors to Sligo which is due for release in 2025.
Pedro Liano is a Senior Director Data Intelligence at Beyond, Inc. With a significant career focused on Data and AI technologies, including production-ready GenAI and Blockchain for Enterprise implementations, I’ve refined my skills in executive and senior management roles. Leveraging my technical knowledge and strategic insight, I’ve developed and executed strategies that drive value and growth. I’ve aligned technology with business goals to enhance operational efficiency and deliver market-responsive solutions, exceeding customer expectations.
His leadership style is characterized by his ability to manage change in complex global business environments. I’ve led multicultural, geographically dispersed teams, fostering collaborative and flexible work environments. By adopting Agile methodologies, he’s enhanced team resilience and expedited value delivery, leading to iterative progress and successful outcomes.
Beyond metrics, He advocate for a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and customer focus, driving business success, employee satisfaction, and stakeholder trust. Passionate about digital transformation, He aims to address critical business challenges using technology, helping businesses leverage Data and AI for sustainable value creation.