Cathy Mulligan Keynote Speaker

Founder, Digital Crossroads
Acknowledged Expert on Digital Technologies, Sustainability, and Technology Futures
Authority on Real World Solutions to Governments and Multinational corporations on Digitalisation

Cathy Mulligan's Biography

Dr Catherine Mulligan is a leading thinker and practitioner working at the intersection of digital technologies, sustainability, and economic transformation. She is the Founder of Digital Crossroads, an initiative focused on shaping how digital systems are designed, governed, and deployed to deliver resilient, secure, and equitable outcomes. Alongside this, she is a Visiting Academic at Imperial College London, where she continues to contribute to research and teaching on digital transformation and real-world implementation.

Catherine brings over two decades of experience across industry, academia, and global policy. She has held senior executive roles, including Chief Technology Officer (North & West Europe) at Fujitsu, and has led large-scale digital transformation strategies across multiple markets. She has also built and led interdisciplinary research programmes spanning Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Her most recent book is Digital Sustainability, Designing Resilient Digital Systems’, co-authored with Shivam Kishore. She has published a further eight books on emerging technologies.

She has advised the United Nations, governments, and multinational organisations on how digital technologies can drive systemic change—from climate action and infrastructure resilience to financial and economic transformation. She was a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation and a World Economic Forum Fellow for seven years, including the Global Future Council on Data Policy.

Catherine is a recognised thought leader on digital systems, governance, and sustainability. She is a frequent speaker at global forums including the OECD, GSMA Mobile World Congress, Chatham House, the UK Parliament, and BBC media. She was also shortlisted as Best Speaker in the AI and Future Technology category for The Speakers Awards 2026.

She is also actively engaged in strengthening inclusive digital ecosystems, with a particular focus on connecting and supporting women in digital across industry, policy, and research communities.

Her work focuses on how digital systems can be designed and governed to deliver sustainable, secure, and resilient outcomes at scale.

Digitalisation and the Green Transition

Digital Technologies for Sustainability and Inclusive Growth

The Future of Money: Blockchain, Web3 and Financial Innovation

Artificial Intelligence and Global Resilience

Regulation, Policy and the New Digital Economy

She has advised the United Nations, governments and global organisations on digital transformation, sustainability and economic systems at the highest level.
She brings over two decades of leadership across industry and policy, including senior executive roles and large-scale digital transformation programmes.
She translates complex digital and sustainability challenges into clear insight that helps leaders design resilient, secure and equitable systems.
She is a recognised global thought leader and speaker, contributing to major forums including the OECD, World Economic Forum and UK Parliament.
Her insights help organisations align technology with sustainability goals, strengthen governance and drive systemic change at scale.