ALARM AI seminar

Alix Bedford

Risk Proposition Manager, Zurich Municipal

A strategic risk professional with over 18 years' experience working both with and within the public sector, Alix is passionate about the value of risk management and its role in driving improved resilience of organisations and communities. Her current role involves looking at the key emerging and evolving areas of risk impacting the public sector now and in the future, and leading Zurich Municipal's response to these. Alix is also leading on the sustainability agenda for Zurich Municipal, looking at climate, workforce, and data risks areas particularly.

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Sean Brown

Senior Information Security Consultant, Waterstons

Sean Brown is an Information Security leader and consultant at Waterstons who helps organisations make confident decisions about risk, resilience, and digital change. He works closely with senior leaders to put clear, practical security in place; protecting services, data, and customers without slowing the business down. Increasingly, Sean supports organisations adopting AI by helping them set sensible governance: defining how AI should be used, who is accountable, and how risks such as privacy, bias, and security are identified and managed so innovation can happen safely and responsibly

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Stephen Flounders

Executive Director of Regulatory and Business Services, Gentoo

Stephen is the Executive Director of Regulatory and Business Services at Gentoo Group, where he oversees Gentoo’s approach to risk and assurance, governance, health and safety, fire and building safety, and IT. Stephen has developed and implemented Gentoo’s risk and assurance frameworks, both of which have recently been reviewed to ensure Gentoo is able to seek out opportunities presented by AI whilst ensuring high standards of governance and risk. Stephen was Gentoo’s executive lead during its routine planned inspection with the regulator of social housing, which took place over the spring and summer of 2024. Stephen is an independent member of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s Audit and Risk Committee.

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Catherine Goodman

Kennedys

No bio provided

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Emma Hartley

Head of Planning and Performance, University of Sheffield

No bio provided

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Stan Neal

Sector Specialist - Education, Waterstons

Stan Neal has wide-ranging experience of the higher education sector in both academic and strategic roles at different institutions. Most recently, Stan worked in the Strategic Planning and Insight Team at Durham University and now uses his experience within the higher education sector to help institutions use technology to realise goals, efficiencies and innovations. With a background in data analysis, strategic planning and insight, he has worked alongside senior teams to understand challenges, and drive change.

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Chris Walker

Head of Risk Management, Durham University

Chris has experience of working in housing, private sector insurance and is currently the Head of Risk Management at Durham University. With nine years under his belt as an ALARM Director, Chris currently serves as the organisation's Finance Director and has oversight of ALARM's finances. He also leads the ALARM Higher & Further Education Group and the Regions & Sectors portfolio.

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