“Supercharge your Business with AI” is this year’s theme of the annual Atlantic Technological University (ATU ) Digital West Conference due to take place in ATU Mayo campus (Castlebar ) on Friday 11 October from 8.30am – 1.30pm.
Organised by ATU’s School of Business in partnership with Castlebar Chamber, ATU iHub and the Local Enterprise Office (LEO ) Mayo, the free conference will be opened by the President of Atlantic Technological University Dr Orla Flynn and addressed by the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary, TD.
The annual conference attracts leaders, innovators and tech enthusiasts from home and abroad as well as ATU students, staff and graduates. This year’s theme will highlight AI technology’s crucial role in enhancing business operations and driving growth. Attendees will gain valuable insights from a stellar line-up of keynote speakers, engage with compelling success stories, and witness a live demonstration showcasing practical AI applications.
Keynote speakers are: Dr Muslim Syed (ATU ), lecturer in the Enterprise and Technology Department, School of Business, who will talk about “Empowering SMEs with Responsible AI”; Graham Baitson, Al/Technology Consultant, who will speak on the topic “Machines of the Mind: How AI is Shaping Our World”; Muireann Fitzmaurice, founder of Marketing Coach, whose talk is titled “Using AI for marketing & your business – Live Demo”; Alan Heaney, founder of Lely Mullingar & Efficient Farm Systems, who will talk about “The emerging role of AI and Agritech on Irish farms; and Brian Hanely, Co-founder and CEO of Brighbeam, who will talk about “Gen AI The Reality: Use Cases in Production & How to get Started”.
Event organiser and ATU Assistant Lecturer Anne Conlon said they are delighted to host this half conference in St Mary’s Hall, Castlebar. “It has always been a very successful event and this year it is exciting to bring it back to an in-person event on a much bigger scale with opportunities for more engagement for businesses and students.”
Meghann Drury-Grogan, Head of Department of Enterprise & Technology, School of Business, ATU Galway-Mayo, said this has always been a successful event for our department that brings together industry leaders, ATU students and alumni.
“This year we look forward to welcoming not only our post-graduate students in Digital Media and Marketing, but also undergraduate students in our BB in Marketing & Sales, BB in Entrepreneurship, and BSc in BIS to learn about the impacts of AI on business’ growth and innovation.
“We are honoured to welcome Minister Calleary and Dr Orla Flynn who will speak. This is an impactful event for our ATU Galway and Mayo students to make new connections as we bring a perspective on AI and digital technologies in the west of Ireland and beyond.”The conference will feature a dynamic segment called “LightBulbs Talks,” where businessleaders will share 10-minute stories on how AI has revolutionised their operations. These first-hand accounts will provide actionable insights and inspire attendees to explore AI solutions within their organisations.
“Another highlight will be a live demo, showcasing the practical application of AI in business settings. This demonstration illustrates how AI technologies can seamlessly integrate into daily operations, from automating routine tasks to enhancing decision-making processes.
The Digital West conference will take place in St Mary’s Hall on campus (Castlebar ). Tickets are limited. Prospective attendees are encouraged to secure by booking.
For more information, check the Digital West https://digitalwest.bizFor details on ATU’s Master in Digital Media and Marketing programme, see: https://www.gmit.ie/master-of-science-in-digital-media-and-marketing and related programmes in the Department of Enterprise & Technology, see: https://www.gmit.ie/schools-campuses/school-of-business/department-of-enterprise-technology
