Data. AI. Progress.
Speed of change is a leadership decision.
A Meet the Boss community in partnership with AWS
Forward Circle: Leading with passion and purpose through education and knowledge sharing.
“No data, no AI, no progress.”
Dr. Werner Vogels, CTO, Amazon
Progress is a leadership decision.
Today, cloud is more than a platform; data is the driving force behind business reinvention. AI is both a cultural transformation and a competitive advantage.
Speed of change is a leadership decision.
Welcome to Forward Circle, a community of leaders and innovators dedicated to exchanging ideas, achieving business excellence, growing markets, and unlocking the full potential of AI and digital transformation.
Our community pillars:
We don’t just want to keep up,
we want to get ahead.
Forward Circle is dedicated to exploring opportunities through the growth of data, automation, and demand for AI-powered applications.
We seek valuable information and practical insights.
Forward Circle exists to share the knowledge of proven experts and the latest thinking on GenAI innovation, integration, business models, and markets.
We recognize that trust is crucial to our competitive edge.
Forward Circle addresses the challenge head-on. How do we win and keep trust in an era of unrelenting cyber-attacks, data security concerns, and regulatory compliance?
Forward Circle includes some of the world’s leading and most dynamic businesses and business leaders.
We connect quarterly, around shared topics of interest, to build relationships while exploring challenges.
Our deep partnership with AWS provides case studies and platform expertise, ensuring early access to upcoming innovations and enabling our community to stay ahead of industry trends.
Curated bi-weekly information sharing unlocks practical insights with measurable outcomes.
See the bigger picture.
Change the game.
Inspirational speakers, sharp perspectives and valuable discussions. A dynamic mix of collaborative sessions, unique access, and visionary keynotes.
The hottest topics in 90 minutes. Join five peers and our community moderator for a deep dive. Provocative, challenging, and incredibly valuable.
Deep insight from our community, exclusive interviews, opinion and analysis. Powerful information you will not find anywhere else.
Forward Circle Upcoming Community Events
First Circle Gala Dinner, Royal Exchange, London
Thursday 23rd October
In-Person
First Circle, The Ned, London
Friday 24th October
In-Person
Virtual Roundtables
Online Event
AWS re:Invent
December 1st-5th
In-Person
Past Community Events
Second Circle, Berlin
Axel Springer SE | Berlin
12 February 2026
In-Person
Virtual roundtables 1-6
Take a digital deep dive into the hottest topics for our community. Over 90 minutes, join five peers for one provocative, challenging, and incredibly valuable conversation.
AWS re:Invent
Every re:Invent marks a milestone of innovation, and this year’s global gathering is no different.
Second Circle
Dec 2026 | Berlin
Three days of inspirational speakers, sharp perspectives, and valuable discussions. A dynamic mix of collaborative sessions, unique access, and visionary keynotes.
The challenges your business is facing are complex.
Our agenda is not.
The first meeting of Forward Circle will do two things:
Connect
With product leaders and innovators from some of the world’s leading and most dynamic organizations.
Get ahead
With a dynamic mix of collaborative sessions, unique access, and visionary keynotes.
Stay ahead
With deep community insight and powerful information you won't find anywhere else.
Introduce the community.
Explore how businesses are using GenAI to stand out, unlock new revenue streams, and deliver on customer demands.
GenAI: one technology, one million opportunities.
Our first circle will discuss the tension between innovation and profitability, as well as the need for differentiation in an increasingly “everything + AI” marketplace.
We’ll examine trust, compliance, and ethics as key business enablers, explore the realities of AI resources and talent, and uncover the power of ecosystems and partnerships in scaling impact.
This is how we lead with passion and purpose.
Theme 1:
Leading with passion and purpose.
Theme 2:
Business models, strategies, and products: innovation and differentiation.
Theme 3:
Trust, compliance and responsible AI.
Speakers
Lorna Leck
Strategic Initiatives EMEA, Amazon Web Services
Lajos Lange
Enterprise Technologist EMEA Lead, Amazon Web Services
Alison Kay
Managing Director UK, Amazon Web Services
Phil Le-Brun
Director, Enterprise Strategy, Amazon Web Services
Yianni Papadopoulos
International General Manager, Shopping AI, Amazon
Ahmed Raafat
Senior Manager, AI/ML Specialist SA, Amazon Web Services
Alex Harvey
Chief Engineering Officer, Ocado Technology
Jamil Qureshi
TEDx Speaker, Performance Coach, Entrepreneur, Author
Duncan Stewart
General Manager for Retail & Consumer Goods, UK&I, Amazon Web Services
Gala Dinner
23rd October 2025
Royal Exchange, London
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Arrive at the Royal Exchange and begin the evening with a cocktail reception.
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Lajos Lange – Enterprise Technologist EMEA Lead, Amazon Web Services
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Lorna Leck – Strategic Initiatives EMEA, Amazon Web Services
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Agenda
Timings in BST
First Circle
24th October 2025
The Ned, London
Agenda
Timings in BST
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Building a Faster Future: GenAI and the Foundations for Accelerated Growth
Alison Kay – Managing Director UK, Amazon Web Services
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Leading an efficiency revolution
Duncan Stewart – General Manager for Retail & Consumer Goods, UK&I, Amazon Web ServicesAlex Harvey – Chief Engineering Officer at Ocado Technology
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Phil Le-Brun – Director, Enterprise Strategy, Amazon Web Services
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Yianni Papadopoulos – International General Manager, Shopping AI, Amazon
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Facilitators:
Ahmed Raafat – Senior Manager, AI/ML Specialist SA, Amazon Web Services
Lajos Lange – Enterprise Technologist EMEA Lead, Amazon Web Services
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Lajos Lange – Enterprise Technologist EMEA Lead, Amazon Web Services
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“The rush to adopt GenAI risks creating fundamental gaps.”
Source: Forrester Consulting
