Frugal AI workshop

Elizabeth Osta is the Founder of Digital Forward, an Advisory firm focused on maximising business value through data, AI, and digital transformation. With extensive experience advising data leaders, private equity firms, and venture capitalists, she provides strategic insights that help organizations leverage data to drive growth and efficiency. She is also involved in non-executive director (NED) training, preparing leaders for board roles where data-driven decision-making is critical.

In her previous roles, Elizabeth served as the Chief Data Officer at Heineken Global and for the Barclays Security function, where she led the development of robust data platforms, built high-performing teams, and advanced strategies for secure, impactful data usage. Her efforts have consistently driven value and innovation, enabling organizations to navigate complex data landscapes and stay ahead of industry trends.

With over 30 years of experience, Elizabeth has a proven track record in building high performing teams and sustainable data capabilities and crafting strategies that deepen customer engagement across banking, consumer goods, and retail sectors.

She is a strong advocate for Agentic AI and Frugal AI—approaches that emphasize responsible, cost-effective and transformative AI solutions. Elizabeth also believes in the importance of governance to ensure reliability and compliance across operations.

Elizabeth’s expertise and advisory role extend across a broad spectrum of industries, where she is respected for her deep knowledge in data strategy, AI, and digital innovation. Her dedication to advancing data-driven cultures continues to shape the industry and inspire emerging leaders as they drive digital transformation forward.

Federica is the founder and CTO of Sqwish, where she leads the technical development of their efficient AI models. She holds an MEng from Cambridge and specializes in model optimization, pruning, and RAG systems. Previously in her role as a research scientist at MediaTek Research, she focused on neural network optimization and meta-learning, contributing to projects like the FishLeg optimizer (spotlighted at ICLR). She combines deep technical expertise with practical engineering experience from roles at ARM and Bending Spoons.

Ravi Bhalla is a highly driven and multiple award-winning Senior Executive Leader with 20+ years’ experience leading large-scale transformation across digital, data, technology, and regulation to deliver strategic business value, multimillion savings and group-wide benefits in the financial services, insurance, telecoms, and public sectors.

Currently serving as the Strategic Transformation Director at HSBC, Ravi is responsible for the effective strategy, portfolio oversight, and execution of Global Enterprise Technology. He is driving HSBC’s global core banking strategy and architectural simplification, designing end-to-end value stream models, and defining the future technology workforce.

Prior to HSBC, Ravi held the position of Head of Innovation at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), where he led the organization’s innovation agenda and chaired the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN). During his tenure, he successfully revitalised the FCA’s innovation initiatives, launched a groundbreaking digital sandbox, and fostered international collaboration among regulators.

Ravi is also an Honorary Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, where he conducts research on regulatory innovation and emerging technologies like Frugal AI. His academic pursuits complement his industry experience, allowing him to provide insightful perspectives on the future of finance and technology. Ravi Bhalla a Senior Executive Leader and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. He has 20+ years’ management experience leading large scale transformation programmes in financial services across industry, consulting and the regulator. He has worked in reputable institutions including Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group (LBG), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), KPMG and HSBC, holding influential positions including Head of Innovation for the FCA, Head of Group Strategy & Transformation for LBG and currently Strategic Transformation Director for HSBC, in addition to acting as a Strategic Advisor to a range of organisations.

In his previous role as Head of Innovation for the FCA, Ravi was responsible for scaling the FCA’s Digital Sandbox which leverages synthetic data and AI capabilities as a public utility in financial services. Ravi has also led large scale cloud programmes for both LBG and HSBC as well as advanced analytics at scale programmes. Ravi is a highly experienced keynote speaker. He has published in a number of articles in international peer reviewed journals. Ravi holds a BSc (Hons) in Business Management from the University of East Anglia and an MA in Management, Economics and International Relations from the University of St. Andrews.

Vinod Dayalu is a Data & AI leader at Genpact responsible for a portfolio of accounts in Europe. With over 2 decades of experience in several business transformation programs, he has broad exposure across consulting, implementation and operational phases of Data & AI solutions. Based on a recent report on AI published by Genpact in partnership with HFS, 52% of 550 senior leaders across industries say a sole focus on productivity is misleading, neglecting the broader benefits (such as competitive advantage) and capabilities of AI. He’ll share further insights and use cases large enterprises are considering in their AI journey.

Iain was appointed as a director of GS1 UK in 2022, joining from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. As former UK High Commissioner to Ghana and, before that, finance director and Foreign Office board member, Iain has worked across UK government and within the private sector.

Initially qualifying as a lawyer and then chartered accountant with EY, Iain most recently was a director in the Supply Chains Unit of the Cabinet Office enabling HM Government’s response, supporting the PM’s supply chain advisor Sir Dave Lewis.

At GS1 UK, Iain leads on industry engagement with a particular focus on retail, healthcare, construction and eCommerce.

Venkata (“Serish”) is a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, and leads InnoFrugal, a decade-old non-profit focused on frugal innovation and impact investing. He’s spearheading a white paper on climate finance in India and is a multidisciplinary expert in academia and entrepreneurship.

Serish specialises in leveraging AI for impact, open innovation, and circular economy for frugal innovations. He’s authored key reports and participated in the EU-funded FRANCIS project. He co-hosts the More With Less Podcast on sustainable growth.

In addition to his role at Cambridge Judge, Serish serves on multiple advisory boards. He served as an advisor to the Smart Village Movement (SVM), a research project of Berkeley Haas Garwood Center. He previously co-founded Vault Impact, raising €17.5 million for an impact VC fund. He has developed a MOOC (massive open online course) on frugal innovation and is also a guest lecturer at global universities.

Ushnish is the founder and CEO of Sqwish, where they’re building super-efficient AI models to make advanced AI accessible and affordable for businesses. He holds a PhD in Information Engineering from Cambridge, where his research focused on Bayesian machine learning and optimization. Previously at MediaTek Research, he worked on training foundation models for wireless communication and improving generative AI algorithms. He has published in top machine learning conferences and journals including NeurIPS and developed ML tools for high-stakes applications at Rolls-Royce Aircraft Engines and the German Aerospace Center.

Aditya Chopra is Senior Vice President at Convegenius Global in London. Previously, he served as Vice President at Samagra – an impact consulting firm in India. He has extensively worked with governments and is an expert at leading large-scale systems change programs for education, digital services and sustainability. Prior to Samagra, he worked in investment banking for many years. Aditya holds an MBA from Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford and B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering.

Iliana Pearce is a Policy Advisor at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) leading on innovation and technology policy.

*She has worked for Michelle Donelan (previous Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology) which saw her collaborate with technology innovators across the constituency, from small local firms to industry giants such as Airbus and Dyson. Iliana has also undertaken legal research on the regulation of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on AI, and has recently moved to FSB from BBC News.*

Iliana’s work emphasises the need for pro-growth regulation that addresses small business concerns, to build trust in the technology while helping businesses develop their understanding and skills.

*The policy team at FSB publishes multiple reports per year providing a voice for small businesses, including the quarterly Small Business Index, which provides an overview on the current climate for small businesses and is used by ministers, governments, and organisations to shape small business policy.

Jaideep is a Professor at CJBS and a Fellow of Clare College. His qualifications include a BTech (IIT Delhi) and a PhD (University of Southern California). Jaideep is also a renowned author, having co-authored the award-winning book, Frugal Innovation, which explores how entrepreneurs in India are thriving despite limited resources. His research primarily centres around international business, marketing, strategy, and innovation, with interests in radical innovation in high-tech industries, the impact of firm culture on innovation, and R&D location decisions. Jaideep’s work has been featured in prestigious media outlets, including The New York Times, The Financial Times, and MIT Sloan Management Review. His most recent book, How Should A Government Be? The New Levers of State Power, was published in 2021.