On 26 February 2026, ~300 guests and expert speakers gathered in London, UK, for the inaugural NashTech Connect Conference. The central theme of the event was around unravelling the game-changing potential of AI and the art of differentiation through custom software. Against a backdrop of anticipation and excitement, technology leaders mingled, exchanged insights, and left with actionable strategies to drive their organisations forward (along with a little bit of magic!).
The atmosphere was electric as NashTech’s CEO, John O’Brien, took to the stage for the opening remarks. In a stirring address, he underscored the vital importance of quality in software development, highlighting the need for rigorous standards in innovation and differentiation.
A highlight of the morning was the unveiling of NashTech’s latest survey report, ‘Differentiating through custom software’. Director of Advisory George Lynch and Senior Technology Consultant Chris Weston revealed exclusive findings from the perspectives of 1,000 global technology leaders. Their dynamic session not only captivated the audience but also offered practical, ‘so what’ takeaways for delegates to apply in their own businesses. The energy was palpable, as delegates were urged to rethink how AI and bespoke solutions could open the door to new competitive advantages.
The excitement continued with a keynote from world-renowned technology analyst Benedict Evans. In his fast-paced and entertaining session, ‘AI eats the world’, Benedict blended deep expertise with captivating storytelling, taking delegates on a journey through the evolving technology landscape. With decades spent dissecting the trends shaping technology, his insights illuminated the possibilities and challenges that lie ahead, leaving the audience buzzing with fresh perspectives.
A lively panel, expertly moderated by Bryan Glick, Editor in Chief of Computer Weekly, brought together industry heavyweights for a candid discussion on operationalising AI. The panel, including George Lynch (NashTech), Nigel Phillips (CEO, CDL Software), Michelle Ripley (IT Director, Third Space), and Azhar Sadique (Head of AI Enablement, Abion), discussed AI adoption, data governance, and validation.
Michelle Ripley, IT Director at Third Space, highlighted the importance of speed and adaptability in AI adoption. Michelle pointed to opportunities for accelerated delivery, such as rearchitecting legacy systems, which can unlock faster implementation and greater flexibility. However, she emphasised that the true challenge lies in selecting the right business problems to address. Building small, targeted proof-of-concept projects was recommended as an effective way to demonstrate the value of AI initiatives, enabling organisations to validate solutions before wider rollout.
Nigel Phillips, CEO of CDL Software, emphasised that, over time, there can be a significant disconnect between what executive management believes is occurring within a project and the changes that actually take place as development progresses. This evolving landscape often leads to misaligned expectations at the leadership level.
Nigel also highlighted the potential of AI to address this challenge by accelerating development processes and reducing project timelines. He suggested that strategic investment in AI technologies could help bridge the gap between executive perceptions and real-world outcomes, ultimately ensuring that management expectations remain closely aligned with the actual progress of software initiatives.
During the panel, Azhar Sadique was asked about the central role of governance and compliance in AI. He emphasised that while traceability and maintaining an audit trail are essential when deploying AI solutions, it is equally important to recognise and manage the trade-offs involved in these processes.
Azhar illustrated his point with an analogy, comparing the subjectivity of the “back of the hand test” to the objectivity of a thermometer. While a thermometer delivers an indisputable reading, the back of the hand test is inherently subjective and varies from person to person. This highlights the challenge of balancing human judgment with automated decision-making in AI governance.
Azhar said, “Suppose an AI system flags an expense as exceeding the policy limit, say, a dinner that costs £x more than allowed with a potential new client. While, by the letter of the policy, the AI would mark this as incorrect, context matters. If that dinner was with the CEO of a major client, senior leadership might consider the expense not only justified but perhaps even insufficient.”
This underscores that compliance frameworks need to accommodate nuance and context, ensuring that automated systems support, rather than override, informed human decision-making.
Nigel ended the panel with a quip that soon, the phrase ROI (return on investment) will disappear, and in its place, it’ll be ELE – extinction level event, as it’s not about ‘return’ its about ‘survival’.
Phil Went (Global Transformation Director) and Leon Doherty (Head of Client Onboarding) from NashTech sparked further excitement as they unpacked strategies for accelerating AI adoption in custom software development. They described the transition from reactive copilots to autonomous, goal-driven agents, signalling a bold leap forward as vendors embed agentic AI across the development lifecycle. The message was, ultimately, AI is no longer just emerging; it’s growing at breakneck speed.
George Lynch returned to introduce the concept of AI maximalism. He challenged delegates to consider AI not as a bolt-on, but as the central engine propelling business operations. This session inspired attendees to imagine a future where AI drives every facet of work, unlocking new levels of efficiency and innovation.
The intrigue deepened in breakout sessions. Chris Weston and Tia Cheang explored the delicate balance between predictable and probabilistic AI, navigating the labyrinth of regulatory approaches across the EU, US, UK and China. Recent developments in AI liability, hallucinations and automated decision-making were dissected, with ethical considerations prompting delegates to reflect on their own corporate stance. Meanwhile, David Thorley guided participants through the practical steps to prevent AI project failures, offering real-world solutions to common pitfalls.
Adding a touch of wonder, actor, magician and illusion designer John Bulleid delivered an electrifying performance, blurring the lines between technology and magic. Delegates were enthralled, left pondering the mysteries they had heard about and the parallels between illusion and AI innovation.
The final session spotlighted Pennies, with CEO Alison Hutchinson sharing the organisation’s remarkable technology journey. As a NashTech client, Pennies empowers the charity sector through micro-donation services, helping businesses and charities boost support for good causes. Her inspiring story closed the event on a high note.
NashTech thanks everyone who attended NashTech Connect 2026 and looks forward to seeing delegates at upcoming events throughout the year and at NashTech Connect 2027.
To download the groundbreaking survey report ‘Differentiating through custom software’, follow the link below.