Ciara Riordan

Web Summit Qatar February 2026 - Ciara Riordan interviews Hollywood actor Cliff Curtis and Chris Smith of Bloxx who have a new joint venture which hopes to help people own their own homes without getting a mortgage. @websummit #WebSummitQatar #WebSummit

Centre stage: The art of building intelligent things @websummit Lisbon. (November 2025) Ciara Riordan of BBC News interviewed Babak Hodjat, the creator of Siri's natural language model and Chief AI officer at Cognizant, along with Matthieu Masselin, CEO of Wandercraft who spearheaded Eve, the first self-balancing exoskeleton, and Calvin-40 humanoid robot, transforming mobility, autonomy, and how humans interact with intelligent machines.

Empowering creators: Building for ownership and growth Youtuber Callum @Calfreezy Airey and Co-Founder, Eliot Hackney, discuss their journey from creators to platform builders with BBC News social media editor and presenter Ciara Riordan. @thefellas have created the UK's leading digital first podcast company with leading podcasts @Chloevstheworldshow and @savinggracepod hosted by GK Barry. Watch them talk about their journey @websummit Doha.

Ciara Riordan, Social media editor and Presenter, BBC News interviews Mikayel Vardanyan, Co Founder & COO, Picsart on centre stage at the @websummitQatar. The creator economy is rapidly evolving, driven by the intersection of technology and creativity. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, its influence on this sector is becoming increasingly profound. From virtual influencers to content repurposing tools, AI is reshaping how creators produce, distribute, and monetize content. However, while AI offers tremendous potential, it also raises important ethical questions and challenges.

Join this session to explore how Generative AI is driving real world success in enterprises. Andrew Joiner, CEO, HyperScience Andrew is the CEO of Hyperscience, a market leader in hyperautomation and a provider of enterprise AI software infrastructure. Prior to Hyperscience, Andrew was CEO of InMoment, a leader in customer experience and data analytics solutions. Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board, European Innovation Council Michiel Scheffer has three decades of experience in business, academia and public policy. From 2000 until 2015, he was the Founder and CEO of Noéton Policy in Innovation BV. Since 2000, he is the Founder and CEO of Polisema BV. Discover impactful case studies where companies leverage Gen AI to tackle challenges, streamline operations, and boost revenue. From automating tasks to enhancing customer interactions, learn how leading businesses are turning it's potential into practical outcomes.

@websummit Economic Policy Summit (November 2025) Gen Z vs. the old economy Ciara Riordan of BBC News interviews Amanda Slavin, Forbes 30 under 30, best-selling author and Co-Founder, The Future Frequency and Mauricio Sion, Founder & Executive Chairman of SGF Global, specialising in human resources and recruitment solutions. Gen Z is entering a labour market shaped by older generations but with very different values and realities. Gen Z question 9–5 work, demand equity and climate accountability, and redefine success beyond productivity. This panel explores the generational clash over wages, wealth, automation, housing, and labour rights.

November 2024 - A million views an hour: The quest for 'fastvertising' Trends, virality, and agility are key for any marketer and content makers toolbelt. If you’re too slow to react, you’ve missed the boat. A keen eye is needed to recognise an online ‘moment’ or personality before it hits the true mainstream and before it’s played out. Youtuber @Callux and his After Party Studios Co-Founder, “RVBBERDUCK” (Ben Doyle) join BBC's Ciara Riordan as they look at the lifecycle of brand meets creator marketing. Discussing the need for flex in your house style, mobility, and all importantly trust in your team and partners, to truly close that gap between the concept phase and going live.

2nd June 2025 - Podcasting is no longer just a, record, edit and publish process—it’s about ownership, creative control, and building sustainable businesses. Join BBC News's @ciarariordan and @TheFellasStudios COO, Elliot Hackney as he shares his journey from creator to platform builder. Learn how he and his team have built one of Europe’s leading podcast studios, developed a model for creator-led IP ownership, and created a launchpad for creative minds into long form content. #sxswlondon