Acora & HANDD User Forum 2026

For the past 18 years, David has been at the forefront of Acora’s growth, helping shape the business into what it is today. He is delighted to open the forum alongside Handd co-founder Ian Davin, welcoming guests and sharing key business updates, industry perspectives, and Acora’s vision for the future. Together, they’ll set the tone for a day of insight, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Since joining the Acora family through the acquisition of Handd in May 2026, Ian Davin joins David Rabson to welcome attendees to the forum. This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand about the journey behind Handd, the expertise they’ve built over the years, and the exciting future ahead as part of the Acora group.

Simon Crumplin will take the stage to share insights from his work helping organisations turn AI ambition into business value. Drawing on his experience shaping Data & AI strategies for customers, Simon will explore how to move from strategy to execution, sequence AI initiatives effectively, and realise value quickly through transformational projects and practical delivery.

Since joining Acora through the Elastacloud acquisition in 2024, Microsoft MVP Richard has been helping organisations turn data ambition into reality. With a passion for Data, AI, and innovation, Richard will explore the often-overlooked truth about structured data, why it matters, how to de-risk it, and what businesses need to do today to build a foundation for successful AI outcomes tomorrow.

A respected industry voice with decades of hands-on experience in cyber security and data protection, Darren has spent his career helping organisations tackle real-world security challenges. In this session, Darren will explore one of the biggest blind spots facing organisations today: unstructured data. He’ll discuss how Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) is helping businesses uncover hidden risks, strengthen governance, and gain the visibility needed to securely embrace AI and data-driven innovation.

Cyber Security Update: Staying Ahead of the Threat

Join our Director of Cyber Security for an update on the evolving threat landscape and what it means for our customers. This session covers the latest developments across our cyber services, key lessons learned from the front line over the past year, and updates to our core security offering. Expect practical insight into how we’re strengthening protection and what you should be thinking about next.

Customer Update: Where We’re Headed

Join our Customer Director for a candid look at the year behind us and what’s ahead. This session covers the latest platform and service developments, key lessons learned from working alongside our customers over the past 12 months, and updates to our core service offering, with a particular focus on infrastructure, cloud, and managed services. Expect a clear view of how we’re evolving to support you better, and what to expect next.

Following the opening welcome from Ian Davin, Matt will take a deeper dive into the expertise Handd brings to Acora customers. Leveraging his extensive experience in the Managed File Transfer (MFT) space, Matt will explore what lies beyond traditional file transfer, highlighting emerging trends, adjacent technologies, and the key considerations organisations should be making as they plan for the future.

Jose Santos brings deep technical expertise in secure file transfer and data protection, having led end-to-end architecture and delivery across 150+ enterprise environments. In this session, he’ll explore the evolving MFT landscape, sharing insights into enhancement opportunities, emerging customer requirements, and how organisations can future-proof their file transfer capabilities.

Neil Maher is another Handd specialist who will take the MFT conversation into the rapidly evolving world of AI. As organisations embrace AI at pace, the movement, governance, and security of data has never been more important. Neil will explore how MFT is evolving to support this new landscape, highlighting emerging opportunities, potential risks, and the considerations organisations should be making as they look to innovate with confidence.

Ian brings more than 25 years’ experience leading transformation across business and technology, with a focus on helping organisations adopt AI with confidence and clarity. Before co-founding Modivus, he built and led Framework Training, delivering programmes for organisations including the BBC, Bank of England, CERN and the MOD. His work is centred on a simple principle: empower people first, and meaningful change will follow.

Sam has a background in Philosophy, Computer Science and AI, with more than 25 years’ experience delivering complex trading software and managing large-scale risk programmes in financial services. He works with organisations to help them navigate the cultural and behavioural changes that come with AI adoption, with a particular focus on non-technical teams. On the day, Sam will be supporting the delivery of the AI training sessions.

Paul combines a PhD in Mathematics and a research background with extensive experience teaching and training audiences at every level. He brings a practical perspective to helping people build confidence and trust in AI, making complex concepts accessible and relevant to everyday work. At the Acora & Handd User Forum, Paul will be supporting the delivery of the AI training sessions, helping attendees develop the skills and confidence to use AI effectively in their day-to-day roles.

Ian brings more than 30 years’ experience as a technologist, educator and consultant, helping engineers and organisations navigate complex technologies and the rapidly evolving world of AI. At the event, Ian will be supporting the delivery of the AI training session, sharing practical insights from the front line of technology, cloud and AI adoption.