2025 Review & 2026 Predictions, with Kevin Antao (Part 2 of 3)

2025 Review & 2026 Predictions, with Kevin Antao (Part 2 of 3)

In this episode, Stuart and Kevin step back — part reflection, part rambling — and peer into 2026 using our amateur forecasting crystal ball 🔮. The conversation touches on themes technologists are likely to feel very directly next year:

📊 Data as both a foundation and a pressure point Data is everywhere — fragmented across CRMs, finance systems, fundraising tools, service platforms, and spreadsheets. In 2026, data becomes unavoidable: central to AI, regulatory compliance, reporting, cyber resilience, and decision-making — often without the structures in place to manage it well.

🤖 AI, agents, and the non-human workforce We move into a world where technologists are managing digital workers, automated workflows, controls, and safeguards — alongside human teams.

🔐 Cybersecurity and resilience as lived experience The focus shifts from pure prevention to impact, recovery, and how organisations continue to operate when things go wrong.

💻 Operating systems, hardware & infrastructure realities AI isn’t abstract — it runs on devices, networks, data centres, electricity, and water. We reflect on estate refresh decisions, infrastructure strain, and the less glamorous foundations that everything depends on.

📜 Regulation, compliance & data protection tightening their grip From AI regulation to evolving data protection expectations and increasing transparency demands, the compliance agenda continues to grow — and it increasingly lands on technology teams to make it workable.

🏢 Big tech, shifting structures, and uncomfortable dependencies We also discuss the changing organisational structures inside the large technology providers charities rely on — and what that means when priorities shift, support models change, or philanthropy becomes less central. It raises an uncomfortable but necessary question for European charities: how much dependency is too much, and where might diversification, open source approaches, or contingency planning start to matter?

This episode doesn’t offer predictions or answers. It’s a thinking prompt — from two technologists comparing notes before 2026 properly begins. If you haven’t yet had the space to reflect — or you’d welcome a nudge before January hits — this episode is for you.

Don’t miss the final part where we look at action points for all leaders in 2026

Stay Tuned for more insights in future episodes

If you’re new to the podcast - then definitely take a look back at some cracking episodes in the previous two seasons. Whilst there is a storyline flowing through the episodes, they work in any order, so don’t feel obliged to listen to them chronologically.

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About our host and guests

Kevin Antao, Independent consultant

Kevin Antao is an experienced technology leader with a strong track record of driving digital transformation in non-profit and commercial sectors. As a Digital Trustee, CIO, and Technology Advisor, he has spearheaded strategic initiatives that optimise technology infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity, and improve operational efficiency across global organizations.

Stuart McSkimming, Podcast Host

Stuart is a thought-leader in AI for charities and not-for-profits, and recognised in the 2025 AI100 list of the top 100 people shaping the future of AI in the UK. He is the founder of the sector-specific Technology & AI consultancy, Virtue Chain . He has over twenty years’ experience in NFP/Charity leadership roles, predominantly in the technology/digital and transformation space. He is an expert in getting the most from teams and focusing organisations on strategic goals to get the most from Technology & Digital. He is passionate about organisations focusing on inclusion and finding ways to attract a diverse mix of top talent into their teams. He has worked as a CIO for two organisations – Shelter and Royal British Legion, and also a variety of roles elsewhere. Stuart is extensively networked in the not-for-profit sector both in the UK, and internationally, and is the Vice Chair of top membership organisation, Charity IT Leaders. Stuart enjoys regular public speaking, and also has been known to do stand-up comedy gigs occasionally.

Virtue Chain builds the link between enthusiastic and talented technology teams, and organisation strategic goals. By focusing on people, strategy, governance and decision-making structures, Virtue Chain can help your charity get the right leadership approach across AI, Technology, Digital, Data, and transformation. We use maturity models, and partnering approaches to help trustees, CEO’s and exec leaders see the potential for technology in their organisation, and understand where to start in turning ideas into action.

Get in contact with [email protected] if you’d like to chat. Typically the conversation starts from either a trustee, CEO or CTO level.

In case its not obvious, views expressed are the personal views of the podcast host and guests and don’t necessarily represent those of any organisations they work with or for, either now or in the past.