Redefining Hybrid Cloud

Sovereignty, Simplicity and Trust

When: Tuesday, 3 March, 2026
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Location: Virtual

Event Details

In 2025, the cloud sector faced turbulence. Services faltered, costs spiralled, and confidence in security and resilience wavered. Businesses are demanding more — AI-ready infrastructure, low latency, and edge capabilities — but without the complexity and expense of managing massive private clouds.
In this session, we share an alternative to the traditional cloud model and how organisations can achieve control without chaos, performance without compromise, and trust without question. A cloud built to grow.
We’ll take a closer look at how to simplify hybrid cloud by decoupling data from compute, ensuring data independence, and eliminating vendor lock-in. You’ll learn why sovereignty has shifted from a compliance checkbox to a strategic imperative, and how organisations can build resilient, trusted environments without sacrificing flexibility.
Join us to discover how to transform sprawling, unpredictable cloud estates into streamlined, sovereign platforms that deliver clarity, control, and trust — and why these principles will define hybrid cloud success through 2027 and beyond. 
  • Why hybrid cloud complexity is accelerating and how to regain control 
  • Discover practical strategies for simplifying hybrid cloud without sacrificing flexibility 
  • Gain insight into Trust Systems’ approach to data independence, cost predictability, and governance 
  • Identify future trends shaping hybrid cloud success through 2027

Session Partners:

Trust Systems

Session & Speaker Details

Speaker
Chris Cowdry
Cloud Solutions Architect
Trust Systems
Chris Cowdry, Cloud Solutions Architect at Trust specialises in designing and delivering secure, resilient hybrid cloud strategies to enable organisations to modernise their infrastructure with confidence. His expertise spans complex cloud adoption journeys, governance, and performance optimisation, ensuring solutions are both scalable and future-ready. Known for translating technical complexity into clear, actionable insights, Chris helps businesses achieve agility while maintaining security and compliance.
Speaker
James Watson-Hall
EMEA Field CTO
Zadara
James is a visionary Distinguished Technologist with a proven pedigree in steering global digital transformation. As the former Worldwide Corporate Field CTO for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, he served as a strategic linchpin across the UK, EMEA, and beyond, translating complex innovations in AI, Hybrid Cloud, and Cyber Resilience into tangible commercial outcomes. He is now bringing his skills and capabilities to Zadara in Europe where he continues to deliver value to its customers and partners. Known for his ability to bridge the divide between technical intricacy and executive strategy, James has spearheaded landmark engagements—including a pivotal $90m deal with a global investment bank—whilst acting as a trusted confidant to CXOs and IT Directors alike. A celebrated keynote speaker and media-savvy thought leader, he combines robust commercial acumen with a genuine passion for problem-solving, ensuring organisations do not simply adopt technology, but thrive by it.