Beyond the prompt: Modern engineering in an AI-first world  

Location CGI Leeds office, 1 Whitehall Quay, Leeds LS1 4HR

Date and time 30 September 2026, 17:30 – 21:00

Skipton

Microsoft

Beyond the prompt: Modern engineering in an AI-first world  

Location CGI Leeds office, 1 Whitehall Quay, Leeds LS1 4HR

Date and time 30 September 2026, 17:30 – 21:00

Skipton

Microsoft

AI is fundamentally changing how software is built, but it isn’t replacing engineering. It’s redefining it and what it means to be a developer. 

Join CGI and Skipton Building Society to explore how modern engineering is being transformed by AI and why the future belongs to teams that combine technology with engineering excellence.

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What to expect

We’ll look at how AI is being applied in engineering teams today, the governance and practices needed to adopt it safely, and the skills that will define the next generation of engineers.

Discover real insights from Skipton Building Society’s journey from manual, time-consuming and high-risk software releases to secure, automated deployments delivered in minutes.

Expect honest conversations, practical lessons and the opportunity to connect with fellow engineers, architects and technology leaders.

  • Practical examples of AI being applied in real engineering teams with insight into how engineering roles and career paths are evolving. 
  • Explore the engineering foundations – from DevSecOps and platform engineering to golden templates, standardised pipelines, dependency management and built-in security
  • An understanding of the guardrails needed for responsible AI adoption. 
  • Connections with other engineers navigating the same transformation. 

Agenda

17:30 Arrival, networking and refreshments 

18:00 Welcome speech

18:10 Lightning Talk 1: Secure, automated and developer-led delivery – how modern engineering practices create the foundations for AI-ready software delivery.

18:35 Lightning Talk 2: The engineering experience – how AI is changing engineering and the skills that matter most.

19:00 Networking, food and refreshments

19:20 Expert panel discussion: Leaders will debate the future of engineering and what AI means for careers and skills

21:00 Event close

Who should attend

This event is ideal for anyone exploring the evolution of AI in software engineering including engineers, architects and technology leaders. Whether you’re a developer experimenting with AI-infused tooling or a senior leader guiding engineering teams through change, you’ll gain practical ideas, fresh perspectives and a clearer view of modern engineering in an AI-first world.

From coding to orchestration, the new role of the software engineer

As AI takes on more technical implementation, engineers are increasingly focused on orchestration, solution design, governance, and understanding business needs.

Watch our recent interview with CGI leaders on how AI is reshaping the skills and responsibilities of software engineers.

All-star speakers

Raj Fowler – Director of Engineering at Skipton, and former Amazon tech leader 

Mike Winter – Vice President Consulting Expert, CGI UK

Joe Hodkinson -  Senior Apps & AI Solution Engineer, Microsoft

Skipton-Building-SocietySkipton Building Society prepares for the next century of banking with CGI

Skipton Building Society partnered with CGI to digitally transform the 170-year-old institution. Together, we put customer and User Experience, Cloud and Data at the heart of a comprehensive programme to revolutionise Skipton’s business and service.

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Register your interest now

 

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Discover all CGI events at Leeds Digital Festival 2026

As Headline Sponsor of Leeds Digital Festival 2026, CGI is excited to launch a series of events throughout the programme. We’re shining a light on the projects, partnerships and people trailblazing in Leeds and helping to grow the region.

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CGI in Leeds and YorkshireLeeds-partners

As one of the world’s largest IT and business consulting services firms, CGI has a strong and growing presence across Yorkshire, with offices in Leeds, Sheffield and York.

We were proud to have been recognised as a 2026 Top Company to work for in Leeds by LinkedIn, highlighting our commitment to careers and nurturing talent in the region.