Impact of Automation on 500,000 Jobs in Northern Ireland tackled at Belfast Summit
28 February 2018
There is no reason why Northern Ireland could not be a significant economic global player but the question we must ask is not how many jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence and robotics, it is how can we get ahead of the rest of the world by changing work to get the best out of our people and automation?
That was the message from two of the world’s leading experts in automation to an audience of 250 business leaders, policy makers and educationalists at the Catalyst Inc Future of Work Solutions Summit, in association with Bank of Ireland UK, in Belfast today.
The Solutions Summit was organised by Catalyst Inc as a follow up to their Knowledge Economy Report last month which contained specific research on the impact of automation on half a million jobs in Northern Ireland.
Steve Orr, Director of Connect at Catalyst Inc said it was not enough to simply sound the alarm bells.
“We had to provide a substantial opportunity for our business community and our educationalists to have a real say not just in identifying the threats, but in making very real suggestions as to how we tackle this global issue.”
Ravin Jesuthasan, a contributor to the World Economic Forum and MD & Global Practice Leader at Willis Towers Watson in Chicago was the keynote speaker and his message to Northern Ireland was, “It’s time to move beyond alarmist rhetoric about workplace automation and consider how human-machine collaboration can deliver a higher level of productivity.”
That sentiment was echoed by NI based companies Coca Cola Hellenic, Willowbrook Foods Ltd, AuditComply and Liberty IT, who gave their experiences of implementing automation as an essential move to maintain their competitiveness.
Jonathan Downing from Northern Ireland, another keynote speaker and researcher at Oxford Martin School, Oxford University, is part of a world leading team that has produced the most globally recognised information on the impact of automation on jobs by 2030.
“Whatever job you do if you invest in developing the right skills you can leave yourself in a better place to benefit from the opportunities of the future,” he said.
As the event Sponsor, Ian Sheppard, Bank of Ireland UK MD in Northern Ireland said: “Investing to grow the Knowledge Economy is fundamental to the sustainable success of Northern Ireland. We have a heritage of invention and innovation but collectively we need to think differently. New thinking combined with robust planning and key policy changes, will ensure businesses and communities are well equipped to learn, compete and thrive.”
The Future of Work Solutions Summit has also driven a significant business coalition including CBI, IOD, Manufacturing NI, FSB, CIPD and Women in Business, who have lobbied their members on this issue.
“Today was just the start of business leaders sharing what they know about how we can thrive in the age of automation. Going forward, we will work to build a coalition of business, acadamia, elected and civic leaders to work together to ensure that Northern Ireland business and citizens are best positioned for a challenging economic future,” promised Steve Orr.
World leading speakers at Future of Work Summit: Jonathan Downing, Ravin Jesuthasan with Elaine Smyth of Catalyst Inc and Gavin Kennedy, Bank of Ireland.
World leading speakers at Future of Work Summit Jonathan Downing, Ravin Jesuthasan with Elaine Smyth of Catalyst Inc and Gavin Kennedy, Bank of Ireland.
For further information contact Sheila Davidson 07785793672 or sheila@emerituscommunications.com
Notes to editors:
The Future of Work Solutions Summit will be held at the Waterfront on 28 March 2018.
Both keynote speakers will be in NI tomorrow and will be happy to do advance interviews
The event will start at 9am and finish at 4.30pm
All case study panellists are happy to be interviewed
We have broadcast quality videos of the case studies if required.
Keynote speakers
Ravin Jesuthasan
MD & Global Practice Leader, Willis Towers Watson Chicago, USA
Ravin Jesuthasan is a global expert on the future of work and the impact of automation on working people. Ravin’s views are sought throughout the world as a media commentator for CNN, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, CNBC, Fortune, FT, Human Capital (China), Business Times (Malaysia), South China Morning Post, Dubai One TV and The Australian. In his capacity as an advisor to the World Economic Forum, he has presented at Davos and Dalian and his presence in Northern Ireland will give our business community a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain an insight into the solutions being employed by world leading brands and what action we need to take to be globally competitive.
Jonathan Downing
Oxford University Published Future of Skill: Employment in 2030 (September 2017)
Jonathan Downing from Northern Ireland, is currently a leading researcher at Oxford Martin School, Oxford University and is part of the world leading team that has produced the most globally recognised information on the impact of automation on jobs by 2030.
With his particular insight into Northern Ireland, Jonathan will share his research and help us explore the impact of automation on a small island economy.
Steve Orr
As the co-founder and Director of Connect at Catalyst Inc, Steve is responsible for developing the support ecosystem for entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland, to create and scale innovative companies. Steve spent 10 years prior to this in California where he co-founded Kineticom Inc, a San Diego, California-based technical talent firm in 2000. The firm ranked #33 on the Inc 500 list of the fastest-growing, privately-held US companies in 2006. Steve graduated from University of Northumbria with a degree in Business Information Technology.
Case Studies:
- Coca Cola Hellenic: Milan Topolic Business Systems and Solutions Country Manager
- Willowbrook Foods: John McCann, Managing Director;
- AuditComply: Susan Fitzsimmons, Chief Operating Officer;
- Liberty IT: Gillian McCann, Lead Software Architect;
- Deloitte: Kieran O’Neill, Head of Talent
- Bank of Ireland UK: Garvan Callan, Director of Strategy Digital and Innovation
- Bangor Grammar: Elizabeth Huddleson, Principal