Supported by
Supported by

AI Stories

Tue 2 Mar 2027
10:30 - 13:30
OVO Energy, Bristol

What does it really take to make AI work in a contact centre? Beyond the promises are difficult decisions, unexpected discoveries and lessons you only learn by doing. Join fellow contact centre leaders for an honest look at putting AI into practice, sharing the decisions, challenges and lessons behind their stories.

Hear how DHL is modernising customer service without losing its people-first culture, discover where OVO Energy is taking AI next, and explore how Veygo balances pressure to reduce costs with protecting service and delivering meaningful value. These are stories about the choices behind the technology, what has worked, what hasn’t, and how those experiences are shaping what comes next.

Bring your questions for an open conversation with our storytellers, then look ahead to the next wave of AI and what it could mean for your customer operation. Expect honest reflections, practical insights and time to connect with peers over lunch, helping you consider your own next steps with greater confidence.

How much is it?

Free to attend.

Why should you go?

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the real experiences of CCMA members as they share the realities of AI adoption, offering valuable lessons on overcoming challenges, delivering value and navigating the next wave of opportunities and risks.

Who is it for?

Open to members and non-members. This event is for senior operational managers and upwards, and those responsible for AI projects (project managers) or functions supporting the contact centre, such as IT, knowledge/insights, compliance/risk or HR.

Agenda

10:30
Welcome

Hear the latest news and updates on the CCMA and what to expect from the day. 

Leigh Hopwood, CEO, CCMA
10:40
AI Story: Modernising Customer Service Without Losing Your Soul

DHL has embraced automation and AI while maintaining a strong people-first culture. Jen shares the realities of that journey, including difficult decisions, unexpected discoveries and the lessons learned along the way. 

Storyteller: Jen Sharp, VP Customer Service, DHL
11:00
AI Story: From Progress to Possibility

OVO Energy has implemented AI right across the customer operation, but their AI journey doesn’t stand still. Laura shares what they are focusing on right now, where it’s investing next, the opportunities it sees ahead, and how its customer operation is preparing for the next phase of AI adoption. 

Storyteller: Laura O’Neill, Senior Digital & AI Operations Lead, OVO Energy
11:20
AI Story: Whose ROI Is It Anyway?

As AI investment grows, success can look very different depending on who you’re asking. Ian shares how he balances pressure to reduce costs with the need to protect service, delight customers and demonstrate meaningful value. 

Storyteller: Ian Edwards, Chief Operating Officer and Transformation Director, Veygo
11:40
Conversation: The Truth About AI Adoption

Behind every AI success story are false starts, unexpected challenges, changing priorities and lessons learned the hard way. With our storytellers on hand, we’ll have an open interactive conversation about the realities of the AI journey so far, what delivered value, what didn’t, what we know now that we wish we’d known at the start, and the impact this is having on the future of customer operations.  

Expect honest reflections, practical insights and experiences that will help others navigate their own path with greater confidence.  

Hosted by Leigh Hopwood with: 

  • Jen Sharp, VP Customer Service, DHL 
  • Ian Edwards, Chief Operating Officer and Transformation Director, Veygo  
  • Laura O’Neill, Senior Digital & AI Operations Lead, OVO Energy 
12:15
Beyond Today: The Next Wave of AI

The pace of AI innovation shows no sign of slowing. In this forward-looking session, Chris will explore the developments most likely to shape the contact centre over the next two to three years, from AI agents and autonomous workflows to emerging customer behaviours. Separate the hype from the reality and discover what leaders should be preparing for now. 

12:45
Final Comments and Close
Leigh Hopwood, CEO, CCMA
13:00
Lunch

Speakers

Ian Edwards

COO
Veygo
With 20+ years’ experience, Ian transforms operations through customer-centric leadership, modern operating models, operational excellence and innovative technology adoption.

Jen Sharp

VP Customer Service
DHL
Jen leads customer service at DHL, combining people-first leadership with digital innovation to empower teams, drive transformation, and enhance customer experience.

Laura O'Neill

Senior Digital and AI Operations Lead
OVO Energy
Laura leads business optimisation and change initiatives, coaching teams, driving continuous improvement, operational excellence, and transformation across customer operations.

Leigh Hopwood

CEO
CCMA
Leigh champions the contact‑centre industry’s development, reputation and voice, using her extensive leadership and marketing experience to support members and influence national industry engagement.

Register for this event here

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For more than 30 years, the CCMA has been dedicated to supporting contact centre leaders. We push ourselves to do more for our thriving membership base, which is the largest community of industry professionals in the UK.

The CCMA was founded with the goal of sharing best practice and networking to improve skills and knowledge in order to progress contact centre operations - and we live by that to this day.

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