DGI 2026

23 - 25 February 2026

Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London

Professor Zena Wood

Director Defence Data Research Centre

Zena Wood is an Associate Professor in Digital Economy at the University of Exeter and Director of the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC). Professor Wood’s background is in Computer Science with her research focusing on how value can be derived from datasets that would help understand the impact of digital transformation within the Digital Economy and the Defence sector. She is particularly interested in what can be learnt from other sectors, and the overlap between methods that can be applied to datasets relating to physical and non-physical environments. In 2024, she was recognized part of Digital Leaders 100 in category of AI Expert of the Year, and as one of the TechWoman100.

DDRC comprises a consortium led by the University of Exeter, supported by the Universities of Liverpool and Surrey, and the Digital Catapult. DDRC aims to help Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and the wider UK defence sector, overcome their data and AI related challenges.

Day 2 | 24th February 2026

3:20 PM Leadership Fireside Chat – How to Use Data, AI and Cloud Technology to Automate Workflows and Maximise Analyst Impact

  • Automate Routine Tasks: How to delegate time-consuming workflows to AI for faster, more efficient intelligence production. 
  • Boost Analyst Capacity: How to free up expert time by streamlining data management and visualisation in the cloud. 
  • Accelerate Intelligence Cycles: How to combine AI and cloud processing for near-instant analysis at mission tempo. 
  • Do More With Less: How to scale geospatial output despite limited resources by integrating automation across workflows. 


Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Zena.

Download The Latest Agenda