Agenda – Semantic Layer Symposium 2025

SLS 2025 Agenda

The Semantic Layer Symposium 2025 will take place on Wednesday, 1st October 2025, from 09:00 to 18:00 (CEST), featuring a carefully curated program to maximize learning, discussion, and networking.

Detailed Agenda

9:00 to 9:15
Registration

Grab your badge, enjoy a coffee and fresh croissant, and start the day by meeting fellow participants and presenters.

9:15 to 9:30
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker: Zach Wahl (Enterprise Knowledge)

Kick off the symposium with a welcome from Zach Wahl, setting the stage for an inspiring day.

9:30 to 10:15
Using Semantics to Reduce Hallucinations and Overcome Agentic Limits – Neuro-Symbolic AI and the Promise of Agentic AI

Speaker: Ben Clinch (Ortecha)

With the pace of change of AI being experienced across the industry and the constant bombardment of contradictory advice it is easy to become overwhelmed and not know where to start. The promise of LLMs have been undermined by vendor and journalistic hype and an inability to rely on quantitative answers being accurate. Afterall, what good would a colleague be (artificial or not) if you already need to know the answer to validate any question that you ask of them? This is further compounded by the exciting promise of Agentic AI but the relative immaturity of frameworks such as MCP. The promise of neuro-symbolic AI that combines two well established technologies (semantic knowledge graphs with machine learning) enable you to get more accurate LLM powered analytics and most importantly faster time to greater data value and when leveraged alongside solid data management foundations can mitigate and empower AI Agents while limiting the inherent risks in using them.

In this practical, engaging and fun talk, Ben will equip you with the principles and fundamentals that never change but often go under-utilised and help you lay solid foundation for the new age of agentic AI.

10:15 to 10:30
Coffee Break

Recharge with coffee and snacks, continue the conversation, and connect with peers between sessions.

10:30 to 11:15
Panel – Knowledge Graphs: The Rising Star of the Knowledge Management Toolkit

Panel Moderator: Barry Byrne (Novartis)
Panelists: Kurt Kragh Sørensen (Novartis) & Daan Hannessen (Shell) & Sara Mae O’Brien-Scott (Enterprise Knowledge)

Leading organizations are increasingly turning to knowledge graphs to connect information, enable intelligent discovery, and unlock new business value. In this panel, world-class practitioners share real stories of how they have implemented knowledge graphs as part of their knowledge management strategies. Expect practical lessons, proven approaches, and insights into why graphs are quickly becoming an essential part of the enterprise toolkit.

11:15 to 12:00
Building a Data Marketplace at Scale: A Semantic Data Architecture

Speakers: Brian Schurmann Michels & Henrik Gudbrand Petersen (Novo Nordisk)

The proliferation of data products across large pharmaceutical organizations presents both opportunities and challenges for establishing effective semantic layers. This presentation examines Novo Nordisk’s recent implementation of a Data Marketplace initiative, designed to enhance visibility and accessibility of data products across the organization while maintaining governance and quality standards.

12:00 to 13:00
Lunch

Enjoy a relaxed lunch while networking and exchanging ideas with other attendees.

13:00 to 13:45
Entity Resolution: Finding the Best Customers and Worst Criminals Hidden in Your Data

Speaker: Paco Nathan (Senzing)

Entity resolution generates an overlay on structured data, producing the building blocks (nodes, relations, properties) for a backbone to organize a knowledge graph. Think of this as a way to help generate and update key components for a semantic layer. This talk explores downstream FinCrime use cases, leveraging real-world data: investigations enhanced by graph analytics; GraphRAG and agentics made more accountable; and temporary graphs for identifying crime in progress.

13:45 to 14:30
Fireside Chat – How a Semantic Layer Powers Fraud and Crime Investigations

Panel Moderator: Sara Nash (Enterprise Knowledge)
Panelists: Alistair C. & Piers G. (HMG – His Majesty’s Government)

A UK government agency turned to semantic layers as a solution to extract, resolve, and connect key data so their analysts could focus on investigations rather than the administrative burden of manually pulling together data points from various sources. They sought a “single pane of intelligence” to cut through the noise of unstructured documents, public datasets, and legacy data. In this fireside chat, the team will talk through their journey of building their semantic layer product vision, aligning on a technical strategy, designing semantic models, building a graph, and enabling analysts to conduct their work in more efficient and effective ways. They will highlight lessons learned from initial prototype development to the approach for scale and user engagement.

14:30 to 15:00
Coffee Break

Recharge with coffee and snacks, continue the conversation, and connect with peers between sessions.

15:00 to 15:45
The Rising Importance of Information Science in the World of Semantic Layers and Knowledge Graphs

Speaker: Dawn Brushammar (Dawn Brushammar Consulting)

In the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and knowledge management, the skills and expertise of library and information science professionals are becoming increasingly visible and vital. This talk will delve into how traditional information science skills such as cataloging, metadata management, and information retrieval are essential in the development and implementation of semantic layers and knowledge graphs.

15:45 to 16:00
Take Aways and Looking Ahead: Semantic Layers and AI

Speaker: Lulit Tesfaye (Enterprise Knowledge)

Wrap up the day with key insights and a forward look at how semantic layers and AI will shape what’s next.

16:00 to 18:00
Reception

Close the day with a reception in the iconic Nimb Vinotek wine cellar – the perfect setting for conversations and connections.

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Detailed Agenda

9:00 to 9:15 Registration

9:15 to 9:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:30 to 10:15Using Semantics to Reduce Hallucinations and Overcome Agentic Limits – Neuro-Symbolic AI and the Promise of Agentic AI

10:15 to 10:30Coffee Break

10:30 to 11:15Panel – Knowledge Graphs: The Rising Star of the Knowledge Management Toolkit

11:15 to 12:00Building a Data Marketplace at Scale: A Semantic Data Architecture

12:00 to 13:00 Lunch

13:00 to 13:45 Entity Resolution: Finding the Best Customers and Worst Criminals Hidden in Your Data

13:45 to 14:30 Fireside Chat – How a Semantic Layer Powers Fraud and Crime Investigations

14:30 to 15:00Coffee Break

15:00 to 15:45The Rising Importance of Information Science in the World of Semantic Layers and Knowledge Graphs

15:45 to 16:00Take Aways and Looking Ahead: Semantic Layers and AI

16:00 to 18:00Reception