Future of Work and People Strategy
Gulf Financial Services Community: From Hype to Reality: What AI Means for People Leaders
AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to everyday use inside organisations. This session, hosted in partnership with AcuityX, explores what is actually happening with AI today, how mature the technology really is, and what this means for leaders responsible for people, culture and capability in Banking and Financial Services in the UAE.
Session focus:
- Practical lessons from real organisational deployments of AI
- How good the technology really is — what works well today, and where limits still exist
- How organisations are actually using AI in practice, beyond pilots and hype
- The risks leaders should understand as AI enters day-to-day work
- The opportunities AI creates for productivity, quality, and decision-making
- What AI means for work, roles and skills — and what remains uncertain
Venue
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl
West Corniche, Corniche Road
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Speaker
Mike Elgin
Partner – Head of People and Performance, AcuityX
Mike is a senior human capital leader with over 25 years of global experience driving organisational transformation and talent excellence across Banking, Investment and Financial Services. As Head of the People and Performance Practice at AcuityX, he partners with organisations across the GCC to design and deliver world-class people strategies. Previously, he led Human Capital at Lunate, playing a pivotal role in the successful integration of ADQ, ADG and Chimera. His career spans HR roles at institutions including ADIA, ADQ, Russell Investments and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He brings deep expertise in succession planning, performance, reward and leadership development, combining global insight with local execution to unlock human potential and drive sustainable growth.
Ewan MacLeod
Partner – Technology and Transformation, AcuityX
Ewan is a strategic technology and transformation leader in Financial Services, with deep experience as CIO, CTO and CDO. He works with banks to deliver group-wide digital and generative AI transformation programmes and is external faculty at the London Institute of Banking & Finance and Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance, delivering executive education on AI, FinTech and Open Banking. Formerly Group Chief Transformation Officer at Sohar International Bank and Group Chief Digital Officer at Nordea, he has led large-scale digital, technology and cultural change across the UK, Europe and the Middle East, with a strong background in software engineering, start-ups and venture investment.
Michael Whelan
Director, CRF and Strategic Dimensions
Michael Whelan is a Director at Corporate Research Forum (CRF), leading the organisation in the GCC region, based in the UAE. He supports the organisation’s global network of more than 270 organisations build the capability of their HR functions through evidence-based research, technology-enabled learning and development, expert events, and peer exchange.
Michael is also a Director at leading HR search and advisory firm Strategic Dimensions – CRF’s sister organisation – having started his career in Executive Search. His experience extends across industry and geographical sectors including the largest firms in the Gulf region.
About the Gulf Financial Services Community
CRF’s Financial Services HR Community is an exclusive network for senior HR leaders working across the UAE’s banking, insurance, asset management, investment and fintech sectors. This forum recognises the unique opportunities and challenges facing HR in one of the region’s most dynamic and heavily regulated industries.
Through a mix of CRF research insights, expert guest speakers, and peer-led discussions, the Community provides a platform to explore issues ranging from workforce transformation and leadership capability to regulatory change and talent mobility. Sessions are designed to encourage frank conversation, shared problem-solving, and the exchange of practical solutions.
For HR leaders in financial services, this is a rare chance to learn from peers navigating similar challenges, connect with trusted experts, and contribute to raising the standard of HR across the sector in the UAE.
If you are a senior HR leader working in this sector, based in the Middle East and are interested in joining this community, please contact Michael Whelan.
