May 19, 2026 | 9:00–10:30 AM EST | 2:00–3:30 PM BST

Talent Intelligence in an AI-driven World

AI is no longer a future consideration for HR.
It is already reshaping how people are assessed, hired, developed, and led.

  • Can AI be trusted in talent decisions?

  • How do we reskill and redeploy people fast enough to keep pace with change?

  • What talent data do we need — and can we trust it?

  • What does effective leadership look like in an AI-first world?

As generative and agentic AI accelerate, HR leaders are facing urgent, high-stakes questions:

This Virtual Summit explores Talent Intelligence as the foundation for confident, defensible decision-making in an AI-accelerated world. We’ll focus on the real challenges organisations are grappling with today - from assessment integrity and future skills planning to leadership readiness and workforce transformation - and how Talent Intelligence turns fragmented data into coherent action.

Drawing on real-world examples and SHL’s approach to transparent, responsible, and scalable AI, we’ll examine how organisations can connect and reuse talent data across the lifecycle - from acquisition to management, combining internal and third-party insights to build a trusted, future-ready view of skills, potential, and risk.

We’re delighted to be joined by Gartner, sharing their latest insights on what’s keeping CHROs awake in 2026.

Agenda

  • Ben Thompson, Host, GDS Group

  • Title:
    Scene Setting: The Human + AI Reality for HR

    Speaker:
    Sara Gutierrez,
    Chief Science Officer at SHL

  • Title:
    The Key Questions Keeping CHROs Awake in 2026

    Speaker:

    LJ Justice
    Director, Research, Gartner

  • Title:
    The Journey to Talent Intelligence in an AI World

    Speakers:
    Lucy Beaumont,
    Global SVP of Product and Design at SHL

    Ceri Connolly,
    Group culture, Leadership & Talent Director at Lloyds Banking Group

    Josh Cotton,
    Director of Talent Assessments & AI, Honeywell 

    Stacy Davies,
    Global Head of Workforce Insights, General Mills

  • Title:
    From Fragmented Data to Defensible Decisions

    Speakers:
    Lucy Beaumont,
    Global SVP of Product and Design at SHL

    Sara Gutierrez,
    Chief Science Officer at SHL

    David R. Blackburn,
    Chief People Consultant at GambleAware and Managing Director of David R. Blackburn Consulting

  • Title:
    Key Takeaways & Q&A: What Leaders Should Do Next

    Speaker & Moderator:
    Ben Thompson,
    Host, GDS Group

    Lucy Beaumont,
    Global SVP of Product and Design at SHL

  • Moderator:
    Ben Thompson, Host, GDS Group

Speakers

Stacy Davies

Global Head of Workforce Insights, General Mills

  • Stacy Davies is a recognized leader at the intersection of data, technology, and talent. As Global Head of Workforce Insights at General Mills she leads a multidisciplinary organization spanning data science, productized people analytics, insights consulting, employee and candidate listening, and talent assessments. With a 15-year career building and scaling people analytics teams at organizations like Korn Ferry, Stacy has a proven track record of driving innovation. At General Mills, she and her team advance productivity, engagement, and workforce readiness at scale. Stacy also serves on the company’s enterprise AI council, guiding the responsible adoption of AI. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Sara Gutierrez

Chief Science Officer at SHL

  • Sara Gutierrez is the Chief Science Officer at SHL, where she spearheads a diverse team of research and data scientists in shaping the future of talent assessment. Under her leadership, SHL delivers innovative solutions that range from traditional psychometrics to cutting-edge AI-based assessments.

Lucy Beaumont

Global SVP of Product and Design at SHL

  • Lucy Beaumont is Global SVP of Product and Design at SHL and a Chartered Occupational Psychologist with over 10 years of experience shaping leadership and workforce strategy. She is a sought-after speaker at events hosted by CIPD, Gartner, and HR.com, and a published voice in HRTech Cube and other leading industry platforms. Lucy is passionate about using people science to unlock human potential and create fair, inclusive talent practices.

David R. Blackburn

Chief People Consultant at GambleAware and Managing Director of David R. Blackburn Consulting

  • David R. Blackburn is Chief People Consultant at GambleAware and Managing Director of David R. Blackburn Consulting. With nearly 30 years of global HR leadership experience, he advises organisations including FSCS, Amnesty International UK, Mencap and the Bank of England. David is a Chartered Companion of both the CIPD and CMI and is passionate about advancing equity, leadership development, and better hiring practices.

Ceri Connolly

Group culture, Leadership & Talent Director at Lloyds Banking Group

  • Ceri Connolly is Group Culture, Leadership & Talent Director at Lloyds Banking Group, where she leads strategy across leadership development, culture, and talent. She joined the organisation in 2017 after 18 years at Aviva, where she held several senior HR and transformation roles.

    Ceri brings deep expertise in organisational change, leadership, and large-scale people transformation, including supporting complex M&A activity. She also contributes to the wider HR profession as a judge for the Business Culture Awards and the Personnel Today Awards, and is a strong advocate for inclusive workplace cultures.

LJ Justice

Director, Research
Gartner

  • LJ Justice is a Director Analyst at Gartner, specializing in AI’s transformative impact on the workforce and the future of work. With deep expertise in advising
    C-suite executives, including CHROs, CIOs, and HR leaders, LJ is a trusted
    authority on how artificial intelligence is reshaping organizational structures,
    talent strategies, and the very nature of work. Their guidance empowers senior
    leaders to navigate the complexities of responsible AI adoption, ethics,
    governance, HR-led AI strategy, and operating model transformation, ensuring
    organizations remain agile and competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
    LJ excels at facilitating high-level conversations with executive teams. They help
    leaders make informed decisions about work design, culture, and accountability,
    fostering environments where innovation and ethical leadership thrive.
    With over 11 years of experience in research and advisory roles, LJ has
    partnered with top executives across industries to address critical questions at
    the intersection of human behavior, leadership, and digital transformation. Their
    approach combines rigorous data analysis, cutting-edge research, and
    compelling storytelling, enabling clients to solve their most pressing workforce
    challenges and drive sustainable change.
    Prior to Gartner, LJ’s diverse background includes work as a bioarchaeologist—
    conducting field research in Mexico and Alaska and archival research at the
    American Museum of Natural History, as well as experience as a research
    analyst on Wall Street. This unique perspective enriches their advisory work,
    equipping them to help organizations better understand how people, systems,
    and institutions adapt to constant change.

Joshua D. Cotton

Director of Talent Assessments & AI, Honeywell

  • Joshua D. Cotton holds a Ph.D. & M.S. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, has 20 years of experience, and currently leads Honeywell’s Assessments Team, hosts AI literacy training sessions, and spearheads Honeywell’s M365 Copilot program for HR. Working in generative AI since April 2023, Dr. Cotton has designed and built more than 200 specialized AI tools while also advocating for generative AI as the critical workplace intervention of our time to improve productivity, engagement, and innovation. Over his career he has worked primarily as an internal I-O practitioner for CSX, Flowserve, Honeywell, and the US Navy where he was the lead I-O practitioner for the US Navy SEALs. As a private consultant through his company (Elevate Tempus) he has worked with numerous other Fortune 500s and smaller organizations, published a best-selling book in selection (the Talent War) and created the Elite Performance Indicator assessment.

Join us

Complete the short registration form to secure your spot and discover how AI is reshaping how people are assessed, hired, developed, and led. Explore the key questions HR leaders face today, and how Talent Intelligence enables confident, defensible decisions in an AI-accelerated world.

Register Interest

About SHL

SHL, the global leader in Talent Insight, transforms businesses by leveraging the power of people, science, and technology. Our unrivaled, scientifically backed workforce data and highly validated talent solutions provide organizations with the insights needed to optimally leverage their people’s potential and maximize business outcomes. We equip recruiters and leaders with people insights at an organization, team, and individual level, accelerating growth, decision-making, and talent mobility and inspiring an inclusive culture that supports game-changing agility. For more information, visit shl.com.