Reykjavík 2023

Datacenter Changemakers Iceland
Episode 1

Live talk show with the people who are changing the face of the data center industry, hosted & moderated by Liselotte Lyngsø, Founder of Future Navigator.

Supertrends: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

From ChatGPT to DALL-E, AI and machine learning are evolving at a rapid pace, which is having a tangible impact on data center operations and IT management. This impact is two-fold: within the data centers themselves – as AI and machine learning are applied to everything from energy and optimization, to cooling and resource management – but also on the IT loads that continue to grow as AI applications both require and generate ever-increasing amounts of data. How will the development of AI and advances in machine learning continue impact data center operators and digital infrastructure providers? And what should we expect to see within the Icelandic market moving forward? Moreover, how will novel applications of AI and machine learning continue to grow, such as with projects seeking to preserve the Icelandic language?

Guests include:

Helga Waage – CTO & Co-founder, Mobilitus

Hanna Kristín Skaftadóttir – Program Leader, Business Intelligence & Assistant Professor, Bifröst University

The Cables That Came From the Cold

As the Arctic region experiences new challenges faced by climate change and melting ice, new possibilities are emerging for the deployment of digital infrastructure and subsea cabling. What are the opportunities and challenges associated with building and maintaining digital infrastructure and subsea cables in the Arctic Circle and across the Nordics? What are the broader implications for security, economic development, environmental sustainability, international collaboration, and geopolitics that submarine cables and other critical infrastructure pose for the region and beyond?

Guests include:

Farice

Presentation TBA

Datacenter Changemakers Iceland
Episode 2

Live talk show with the people who are changing the face of the data center industry, hosted & moderated by Liselotte Lyngsø, Founder of Future Navigator.

Navigating the Top CIO & CTO Challenges in Today's Volatile Landscape

As enterprise and government CIOs and CTOs grapple with an increasingly complex environment, they must not only expand their infrastructure platforms and adapt to hybrid IT and multicloud solutions, but also tackle geopolitical polarization, supply chain disruptions, inflation, climate change, and labor/skills shortages. To thrive, tech leaders must devise innovative business models and unlock fresh revenue streams. Join us for an insightful talk show that addresses the core challenges CIOs and CTOs face today:

✅ Cost Management & Optimization: Leverage hybrid IT and multicloud solutions for cost savings, even during economic downturns, and appease CFOs seeking cloud ROI.

✅ Sustainability: Address the "elephant in the server room" – Scope 3 emissions – and understand the emerging policies, legislation, and regulation demanding greener infrastructure.

✅ Compliance: Evaluate risks from third-party cloud providers, embrace hybrid IT and multicloud solutions for compliance and risk reduction, and adapt to new policy developments impacting enterprise data strategies and IT infrastructure.

This talk show is tailor-made for CIOs and CTOs looking to excel in their roles amid evolving challenges. Don't miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights that will empower you to navigate today's volatile landscape and transform your organization.

Guests include:

Smári McCarthy – Founder, Ecosophy

Lars Lindegaard – Sales Director, IBM Infrastructure

The Cloud is Not in the Sky

Data centers are now as crucial to all infrastructure as roads, railways, and airports. And with the ongoing green and digital transformation, the need for data centers will continue to increase. Yet, the sustainability of IT infrastructure itself is just as important as the benefits that technology can have on our day-to-day lives. This presentation will connect the technologies we are all using and relying on – both in our daily lives and at work – with the physical IT and energy infrastructure that underpins those technologies. The session will also offer perspective and insight into how data center and digital infrastructure professionals can introduce and explain the sector to the public and attract talent, as it is a growing industry with many opportunities that requires diverse expertise, all while offering a rewarding purpose: building a sustainable digital backbone for the world.

Datacenter Changemakers Iceland
Episode 3

Live talk show with the people who are changing the face of the data center industry, hosted & moderated by Liselotte Lyngsø, Founder of Future Navigator.

Ask Me Anything: Meet the People Building the Sustainable Internet of the Future

One of the biggest challenges that many companies across the data center and digital infrastructure sector face includes attracting and retaining talent. In this Ask Me Anything town hall-style session, anyone interested in pursuing a new career can ask our guests about the data center industry, its careers and opportunities, and the role IT infrastructure in Iceland can play in building a sustainable digital backbone for the world. We will also explore how the industry can attract more talent by focusing on diversity, inclusion, and social governance. 

Guests include:

Paula Gould – Founder & Lead Consultant, Float and gather ehf. & Co-founder, WomenTechIceland

Startups, Scaleups, and Innovation in IT Infrastructure

Datacenter Forum Reykjavík introduces the most-promising Icelandic startups and scaleups in the digital infrastructure and renewable energy sectors.

The startups:

Hringvarmi – represented by Dr. Alexandra Leeper and Justine Vanhalst, Co-Founders

Keystrike – represented by Dr. Ymir Vigfusson, CTO & Associate Professor at Emory University

The panel:

Ásta Sóllilja Guðmundsdóttir – CEO, KLAK – Icelandic Startups

Bala Kamallakharan – Founder, Startup Iceland