UEL professor shapes global AI leadership report
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Published
03 March 2026
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Professor Nazrul Islam, Chair Professor of Business at the University of East London, has played a prominent role in a major new international report on the future of AI-powered workplaces.
His expert insights feature throughout From Intent to Action: The Leaders’ Guide to Building AI-Powered Workplaces, a 2026 flagship publication by Economist Impact.
Based on a global survey of 639 senior executives across London, New York, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo, the report examines how organisations are preparing their workforces for the next phase of AI adoption - and the leadership, governance and workforce strategies required to do so sustainably.
Professor Islam, from the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, was invited as one of a select group of international experts interviewed to inform the research. His contributions span governance, workforce transformation, leadership strategy, AI skills development and the future of responsible innovation.
Moving beyond AI pilots to real transformation
A central theme of the report is the gap between ambition and execution. While 88 per cent of executives see AI as a source of competitive advantage, only a small minority report embedding it into core business processes.
Professor Islam argues that many organisations continue to treat AI as a standalone technology rather than as a cross-functional transformation and are approaching AI too narrowly.
He says that AI should be treated a means to transform function across an organisation. Without ambition, governance, ownership and measurement, he warns, AI pilots remain isolated experiments rather than drivers of value.
He also highlights the disconnect between knowing which skills matter in an AI economy and developing them. While executives recognise the importance of technical, ethical and human-centred skills, fewer are ensuring those skills are available and embedded.
“Organisations are increasingly aware of the importance of AI skills, governance and leadership alignment,” he said. “But awareness alone is not transformation. Real progress requires structured investment in people, clear accountability and a culture that integrates AI into everyday decision-making.”
Professor Islam’s contributions also reflect London’s position as a leading global AI hub. He draws attention to London’s strengths as a global AI ecosystem. The capital’s density of data-intensive industries, regulatory innovation strengths and flexible globally mobile talent pool position it as structural advantages in AI deployment - a leading hub for AI-enabled transformation.
Through his leadership role at UEL and as a director of the University’s Centre of FinTech, Professor Islam’s work connects directly to this evolving landscape.
A proud moment for UEL
From Intent to Action is circulated internationally among corporate leaders, policymakers and strategic decision-makers. UEL’s inclusion in the research programme positions the University within global conversations on AI governance and the future of work.
Reflecting on his involvement in the report, Professor Islam said:
It is a privilege to contribute to a global Economist Impact research programme examining one of the most important transformations of our time. For the University of East London to be recognised in a report shaping international executive and policy conversations around AI governance and workforce readiness is something I am immensely proud of.
This moment reflects not only my own work, but UEL’s growing contribution to debates on responsible AI, digital transformation and the future of work. As AI reshapes organisations worldwide, universities must play a leading role in ensuring that innovation is matched by ethical leadership, inclusive skills development and sustainable impact.”