CTO Craft Mixers: Belfast Feb 2026

​We’re back in Belfast, Northern Ireland for the next edition of our signature networking event for CTOs and senior tech leaders – and you’re invited!

​Bridging the gap from junior to senior: the game may have changed but the evidence is mounting that those with the deepest expertise and experience get the most out of the tools, no matter how good those tools are. Engineers are now directing the choir. They’ve shifted from laying the tracks and building the roads, to planning, designing, editing, curating and directing – skills that take years to develop.

So, how do we help junior engineers develop these skills? Indeed, what skills precisely are we developing? Where exactly are we skating to?

Outcomes:

• ​Skills: What are the new skills on the block? Roles are evolving, practices are still merging, so what has changed, what hasn’t and where do we need to focus learning and development?

• ​Friction: LLMs make it easier to access information but they can also remove the friction of deep learning. How do we create environments where it’s not all about speed, but where it’s safe to learn, develop and go slow.

• ​Mentoring:  Humans can’t compete with instant answers, but they play a vital role in developing behavioural, reasoning and soft skills. What does learning together look like in this new normal? Do we need to review earlier and more often, e.g. plans not just code? Is pairing now non-negotiable?

​Format:

• ​A facilitated and structured roundtable discussion. The aim is to share insights, emerging practices and learn from one another.

​This event was made possible with the help of CTO Craft Host: Tara Simpson.