Keynote Speaker for AI Expo, London UK
April 16, 2026David Meade, motivational keynote speaker joins Deloitte in London, UK to MC and host their Financial Services AI Expo 2026.
David Meade was delighted to work with Deloitte at the Financial Services AI Expo 2026 – a landmark event that brought together some of the most influential voices in financial services and artificial intelligence. Deloitte is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, operating at global scale and advising organisations across every major industry. In recent years, it has become a trusted authority on the application of AI, helping clients adopt the technology in ways that are not only powerful and efficient but also safe, governed, and compliant.
Held at Shoe Lane Studios in London, the event focused on a critical industry theme. It explored how to scale AI safely. It also covered moving from experiments to real-world results. It brought together senior leaders, policymakers, regulators, and technology pioneers to explore how AI is reshaping financial services at every level.
David served as event MC, host, and facilitator for the main stage across the full day programme. His role was to guide the audience through a packed agenda of keynote sessions, panels, and leadership discussions. Ensuring the energy remained high, and the messaging landed with clarity and impact.
Working closely with the Deloitte team in the months before the event, David helped shape the day. He chaired discussions, led interaction, and kept the programme on time. He also maintained momentum throughout.
The Expo 2026 Agenda
The calibre of speakers reflected the importance of the conversation. The event opened with Suresh Kanwar, Managing Partner for Financial Services at Deloitte UK, setting the tone for a day focused on the future of AI in the sector. This was followed by Chris Pease, who explored the rise of the agentic economy and decentralised AI systems, offering a glimpse into how intelligent agents may soon govern value exchange at scale.
Regulation and governance were central themes throughout the day. Jessica Rusu from the FCA provided a regulator’s perspective on managing risk in an AI accelerated landscape, while Kanishka Narayan MP outlined how the UK is positioning itself as a global leader in AI through policy, infrastructure investment, and legislative action. These sessions reinforced the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility.
Guest Speakers
The Expo’s agenda then moved firmly into application and outcomes. Speakers such as:
- Sumant Wahi from Man Group and Alexandra Mousavizadeh from Evident AI, examined the economic impact of AI and the widening gap between organisations that are successfully adopting the technology and those falling behind.
- Professor Ashley Braganza challenged leaders to think beyond technology and consider the organisational and strategic transformation required to truly embed AI at scale.
Afternoon sessions focused on practical deployment:
- André Balleyguier from Anthropic shared insights into how AI programmes can scale effectively in complex organisations.
- Dr Jochen Papenbrock from NVIDIA explored how smaller models are transforming the economics of enterprise AI.
- Jonathan Allen from AWS discussed how leadership and team structures must evolve in an agent driven world.
- Robert Whitaker from Salesforce highlighted real world success stories of AI delivering measurable business outcomes.
- Yinka Fasawe from Google Cloud, concluded the event by demonstrating how responsible AI can be built into systems from the ground up using tools such as Gemini.
Throughout the event, David played a central role in connecting these ideas, ensuring that each session contributed to a cohesive narrative. His ability to bring energy, clarity, and engagement helped elevate the experience for both speakers and delegates. The Expo was widely regarded as a world class event, with a level of insight and practical relevance that set it apart.
Reflecting on the day, David said, “What was truly remarkable was that this event was not about theories or experimentation. It was about application. Making a difference, and improving the way financial services organisations work through the power of AI.”
David has worked with Deloitte in many different capacities across the business over the years, but this event stood out as a truly exceptional example of what can be achieved when expertise, preparation, and ambition come together. He expressed his sincere thanks to Suresh, Tom, John, Piyush, Aarti, and the wider team for their dedication in delivering such a high quality experience.
With conversations already continuing beyond the event, the Financial Services AI Expo has set a new benchmark for how the industry approaches AI. David looks forward to working with Deloitte again in the future as they continue to lead the way in this rapidly evolving space.
Book David
If you’re planning an event and looking for an MC who can keep your message on track, get in touch with David’s team today.
