Gibraltar, Wednesday 21 January 2026 — Gibraltar today reinforced its ambition to take a responsible lead in the adoption of artificial intelligence, following the successful delivery of the AI Futures & Foresight Conference, a high-level, invitation-only gathering of senior leaders from across government, regulation and industry.

The conference builds on months of work already undertaken by the Ministry of Justice, Trade and Industry to advance AI initiatives focused on innovation, skills and smart regulation, and was delivered as a joint initiative between the HM Government of Gibraltar and Numero Partners, in collaboration with global learning and transformation organisation Hyper Island.

It brought together C-suite executives and senior decision-makers from financial services, insurance, gambling, distributed ledger technology (DLT), telecommunications, law, professional services and technology to explore how artificial intelligence can be adopted responsibly, competitively and with long-term confidence in a highly regulated environment.

The conference was made possible with the support of its founding sponsors Gibtelecom, Xapo Bank and Hassans International Law Firm whose continued investment in leadership, innovation and skills development reflects the importance of cross-sector collaboration in shaping Gibraltar’s future economy.

Opening the conference, Matt Parkes, Co Founder of Numero Partners, framed the day around a shared leadership challenge: while AI capability has moved rapidly through organisations, leadership understanding and alignment have not always kept pace.

“This moment is not about leaders becoming technologists,” Parkes said. “It’s about leaders gaining perspective, understanding what AI can do, where it creates value, where it doesn’t, and how we harness our people rather than sideline them. Gibraltar has an opportunity to lead by choosing alignment over hype, and responsibility over reaction.”

Parkes noted that most organisations represented at the conference are already deploying AI across their operations, often effectively, but that the pace of adoption has highlighted the need for leaders to step back, compare approaches across sectors and align around shared principles.

He then invited the Hon Nigel Feetham, Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry, to formally commence the conference.

Minister Feetham welcomed delegates and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working alongside industry to ensure that AI adoption strengthens Gibraltar’s competitiveness, broadens its economic base and safeguards long-term prosperity.

“Our ambition is for Gibraltar not just to adapt to AI, but to take a responsible lead in how it is adopted,” Minister Feetham said following the conference. “This conference builds on the work the Ministry has already been advancing in recent months, focused on innovation, skills and smart regulation. By bringing together global expertise and local leadership, we are creating the insight and foresight needed to prosper in this new era.”

Throughout the day, participants engaged in expert-led sessions designed to cut through hype and establish a shared, practical understanding of what AI means for leadership decision-making. Discussions explored the strategic trade-offs leaders face including speed versus safety, innovation versus credibility, and experimentation versus enterprise value, particularly within regulated industries.

Delegates also took part in structured foresight and scenario work examining the future of AI in Gibraltar, considering how governance, trust and economic vitality could evolve over the coming years. A closing fireside discussion enabled senior industry leaders to share candid reflections on AI adoption to date, highlighting practical lessons learned and the realities of implementation.

The importance of the conference was further underlined by the attendance of His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar, alongside senior representatives from His Majesty’s Government and key stakeholders from across Gibraltar’s economy.

The conference concluded with a shared recognition that Gibraltar does not face an AI adoption problem, but an alignment opportunity, one that can only be realised through continued collaboration between Government, regulators and industry.

The AI Futures & Foresight Conference marks the next step in a wider collaboration to embed AI literacy, leadership alignment and responsible innovation across Gibraltar’s key sectors.

The Appendix to this Press Release contains Minister Feetham’s Opening Speech and Matt Parkes, CEO, Closing Speech

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Event: Future-Proofing Gibraltar: The AI Futures & Foresight Conference
Date: Wednesday 21 January 2026
Format: One-day, invitation-only leadership conference
Partners: HM Government of Gibraltar, Numero Partners, Hyper Island

About Numero P

Numero P is a Gibraltar-based group working at the intersection of strategy, leadership and transformation. Through advisory and consultancy work, Numero P helps organisations navigate complexity, regulation and change — bringing clarity to decision-making and supporting leadership teams to build strategies that perform under pressure, thrive under scrutiny and create long-term value.

About Hyper Island

Hyper Island is a global learning and transformation consultancy with over 30 years’ experience supporting leaders and organisations through periods of change. Working with more than 2,000 organisations across 40+ countries, Hyper Island focuses on building the skills, mindsets and cultures required to turn emerging technologies — including AI — into meaningful, responsible and sustainable progress.

About HM Government of Gibraltar / Gibraltar Finance Centre

HM Government of Gibraltar is committed to supporting innovation, economic resilience and sustainable growth across Gibraltar’s economy. Through responsible regulation, international engagement and close collaboration with industry, the Government works to ensure Gibraltar remains a trusted, competitive and forward-looking jurisdiction.