AI, Resilience and Real Talk: From the Hot Seat Moderating at MEA Finance 2026

There are events you attend, and then there are events that genuinely leave you energised.

This month's Here to Stay: MEA Business and MEA Finance Resilience and Leadership Forum 2026 was firmly the latter, and I left feeling genuinely inspired by the quality of conversation in the room.

I had the privilege of moderating not one but two panel sessions in the afternoon, which was a brilliant experience. Sitting in that chair, guiding the discussion rather than simply participating in it, gives you a very different perspective, and I loved every minute of it.

The first panel brought together business leaders and experts from some brilliant organisations including SAS, SAP and Network International, to explore how technology, efficiency and security are reshaping operations across the region.

What made it particularly compelling was the depth of discussion around AI and specifically Agentic AI, and what the autonomous enterprise actually looks like in practice rather than in theory. These aren't distant concepts anymore. The leaders in that room are living them, deploying them, and navigating the very real challenges that come with them. Hearing their firsthand perspectives was genuinely fascinating.

The second session shifted focus slightly, looking at how organisations are building the operational foundations needed to support long-term growth and resilience across MEA. A great thread ran through both panels: technology is only as powerful as the strategy and people behind it.

I always say that the best events are the ones where you learn something too, and yesterday was absolutely one of those. A huge thank you to the MEA Finance team for curating such a sharp and dynamic group of voices, and to every panellist who brought such genuine insight and candour to the discussions.

Days like this are what make the region such an exciting place to be doing business right now.

More reflections to come.