techUK's board brings together senior leaders from some of the world's most innovative technology companies. This diversity of experience and expertise underpins our work to help the UK realise the full potential of technology.
The main board meets quarterly to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the tech sector in the UK.
Sheila Flavell CBE
techUK President, Chief Operating Officer, FDM Group
FDM Group
Sheila Flavell CBE is President of techUK, and both Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Board Director of FDM Group. She has spent 35 years operating within the international tech space. As a “woman returner”, Sheila is passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s workplace. She founded the FDM Returners Programme in 2015, which has since helped over 550 men and women return to work after a career break. As a prominent female tech leader, Sheila understands the importance of being a strong role model and mentor for women. She has been key in driving FDM’s global expansion programmes, as well as establishing the company’s listing on the FTSE 250 in 2017. Sheila continues to advise government committees on improving the digital skills shortage in the UK. Her work in championing gender diversity has helped FDM attain a zero gender pay gap consistently since reporting was introduced in 2017. She was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List, for services to gender equality in technology and services to graduate and returners’ employment.
Dr Nicola Hodson
techUK Deputy President
Dr Nicola Hodson is the Deputy Chair of techUK and has previously held the positions of Chief Executive and Chair of IBM UK and Ireland. Dr Hodson is an accomplished technology industry leader with a deep understanding of the challenges facing the tech industry, as well as extensive experience in business and digital transformation. In 2023 and again in 2024, Dr Hodson ranked highly in Computer Weekly’s list of the 50 most influential people in UK technology, and in CRN’s 2024 A-List. Dr Hodson held senior positions at Microsoft for 15 years, including as a global leader of the transformation of the Microsoft commercial sales, marketing and operations business and UK Chief Operating Officer covering its UK commercial and consumer business. As Deputy President of techUK, the trade association for the IT industry, Dr Hodson has a wide breadth of experience and understanding of the tech sector, from large companies to start-ups, coupled with significant experience in the energy sector. She has extensive Board experience across multiple sectors, including Beazley plc, Drax Group plc, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). She has formerly served as a non-executive at Ofgem, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) group, as a governor of Bradfield College, and as a director of start-up Bramble Energy. Dr Hodson previously worked in the IT and business services division of Siemens, at CSC (now DXC), as a management consultant for EY and in the nuclear industry at BNFL. Dr Hodson holds an MBA and a PhD in Engineering. She is married with three sons and two stepsons, loves outdoor pursuits and is a keen motorbike enthusiast.
Jay Chinnadorai
techUK Vice President of Operations, Senior Board Advisor
Informetis
Jay Chinnadorai is a Senior Board Advisor at Informetis Europe and Japan. Informetis is an AI based IoT solutions provider focused on the energy and smart health sectors. Jay is also Founder and Managing Director of Sumtotal, a strategy, product and business development consultancy. Sumtotal was established in 2004 and provides pragmatic and effective customer-centric solutions in the converging sectors of Smart Energy, IoT, Mobile and Digital Media solutions. In addition, Jay is a Crown Representative at the Cabinet Office. Prior to founding Sumtotal, Jay was Vice President of Sony Europe responsible for different business units including Mobile Phones, Digital TV and Mobile Service Provider Business. Before joining Sony, Jay worked at Thomson Consumer Electronics as Marketing Director of its UK and Ireland Operations. Jay has an MBA from Manchester Business School (MBA) and a BSc (First Class Hons) in Electronic Engineering from University College London. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors. He is also a Business Leader of the Marketing Society.
Julian David OBE
Chief Executive Officer
techUK
Julian David is CEO of techUK. He leads techUK’s 100+ strong team representing 1,100+ British based tech companies, comprising global and national champions and more than 600 SMEs and ScaleUP companies. Julian represents techUK on a number of external bodies including the Digital Economy Council, the National Cyber Security Advisory Council and the Department of Business and Trade’s Strategic Trade Advisory Group. He is member of the NTA Advisory Board of DIGITALEUROPE and is a member of the Board of the Health Innovation Network the South London Academic Health Science Network. Julian has over thirty years of experience in the technology industry. Prior to joining techUK, he had a series of leadership roles at IBM including Vice President for Small and Medium Business and Public Sector. After leaving IBM he worked as a consultant helping tech SMEs establish successful operations in the U.K. His personal interests include Football (West Ham, Balham FC and Real Madrid) and Art.
Jon Young FCA
techUK Vice President of Finance & Partner
Deloitte LLP
Jon is an audit partner at Deloitte LLP. He has specialised in the Technology, Media and Telecoms sector for over 25 years providing audit and advisory support to some of the most influential businesses in the industry. He leads Deloitte’s TME Audit practice in the UK and is passionate about supporting UK technology businesses to benefit from the opportunities presented by a rapidly changing market. Jon brings a finance, accounting and governance perspective to techUK where he serves as director, chairs the finance committee and is a member of the remuneration committee.
Samuel Ajiboyede
CEO
Zido Technologies
Samuel Ajiboyede is a visionary leader driving innovation in sustainable technology and clean energy solutions. As CEO of Zido Technologies, he spearheads transformative projects that advance a sustainable digital economy, integrating cutting-edge energy systems and automation to address critical environmental challenges. He is the inventor of the Harnod Energy System (EcoRegen) (UK Patent Application No. 2501966.2), a breakthrough technology designed to improve electric vehicle range and energy efficiency. His expertise spans energy regeneration, green hydrogen, hybrid smart grids, and carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS). Samuel’s strategic approach integrates green energy into logistics and infrastructure, significantly reducing environmental impact and positioning industries for a low-carbon future. A respected global speaker, mentor, and entrepreneur, Samuel has built and scaled multi-million-dollar businesses across diverse sectors including real estate and mobility. With a strong digital presence — over 1.5 million followers and 100,000 subscribers to The Entrepreneur’s Diary — his thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and other leading outlets. Outside the professional sphere, Samuel hones his strategic thinking, discipline, and resilience through golf, polo, table tennis, RC games, and Taekwondo — qualities that underpin his approach to leadership and innovation.
Joanne Allen
Finance Director
techUK
Tricia Blatherwick
Chief Evangelist
AutogenAI
Tricia Blatherwick is the Chief Commercial Officer at AutogenAI. She has spent over 30 years working for some of the UK’s largest IT and Outsourcing companies, generating sales in excess of £4bn. She holds a degree in English Literature and an MBA in Strategic Discourse - and is passionate about the power of language - including business language - to motivate, inspire and create change in the world. Having put in the 'hard yards’ of bid writing throughout her career, she also knows that the Proposal industry is way overdue for a technological breakthrough - which is the reason she joined the leadership team at AutogenAI. With 5 kids, 2 snooty cats, and a dopey Labrador, Tricia thrives on creativity, stimulation, and intravenous caffeine.
Sarah Blundell
COO
CyberHive
As COO of a growing UK Cyber SME, I am passionate about delivering technology that can be used to protect people while also delivering business value. Much of the focus in Cyber security education is on improving the security baseline but I believe that this should not be at the expense of identifying and analysing new and emerging threats and trends along with the opportunities this can provide UK PLC. My prior background in risk management in the financial services sector and strong operational delivery experiences enables me to blend the desire for increased security with the requirements for usability to ensure that security posture is increased both theoretically and in practice. I have a strong track record of building successful partnerships to stimulate innovation and growth. These include commercial, academic and government partnerships. Successful collaboration enhances solutions through bringing a diverse range of expertise to bear on a problem
Heather Cook
CEO
Wellmind Health
Heather Cook has spent the past 15 years working in digital health, developing evidence-based programmes that help people make meaningful, lasting changes to their health and wellbeing. She has held CEO and Managing Director roles in organisations focused on improving outcomes for people living with neurodiverse conditions, mental health challenges and addiction. Heather has worked extensively with health systems in the UK and has spent time in the United States exploring innovative recovery models, including personalised behavioural health and recovery ecosystems that support long-term change. She is passionate about combining technology, community support and lived experience to help people build healthier, more hopeful futures.
Julian Cracknell
Chief Technology & Information Officer
BAE Systems
Julian Cracknell is Chief Technology & Information Officer for BAE Systems. Previously, Julian held a number of senior roles in the Company’s cyber security business including the position of Managing Director Applied Intelligence. Julian joined BAE Systems in July 2012. Prior to joining BAE Systems, Julian worked at Logica in a number of roles including Director of National Security and Business Unit Manager for Defence Systems. Julian has a First Class Honours Degree in Computer Science from the University of Dundee and is a trustee of Naomi House, a children’s hospice in Hampshire, UK. When not at work Julian enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, reading and keeping fit.
Jacqueline de Rojas CBE
techUK President Emeritus, Chair
Bletchley Park Trust & Institute of Coding
Jacqueline is a techUK Board Member and President Emeritus. She is also Chair of Bletchley Park Trust & Chair of the Institute of Coding. Voted the Most Influential Woman in IT 2015 and Included in World’s 100 most influential people in digital government 2019: Woman of the Year awarded by Women in IT Excellence 2019, 2020 Asian Tech Pioneer, named in 2021 Connected Britain’s Top 100 Influencers and Stroeous Award Winner: Global Positive Impact Leader of the Year 2021. Listen to her life and music choices on Desert Island Discs podcast March 2019. Jacqueline was appointed as a CBE in the Queen’s Honours List of 2018 and was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree by the University of Bath in 2019.
Kata Escott CB
Managing Director
Airbus Defence and Space UK
Kata is the Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space UK. Prior to joining Airbus in 2023, she was a civil servant, and has supported governments across a range of national security priorities since 2001. In the civil service career, Kata worked in Defence and at centre of the government including as chief of staff to the Cabinet Secretary through Brexit, and strategy lead and secretary to the National Security Council through Russia's 2021 invasion of Ukraine. She was the Head of the Office for S&T Strategy in 2022 and was part of the senior leadership team charged with setting up the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology before she moved to industry. She remains passionate about the transformative potential of S&T for our economic growth and national security, and to that end is committed to ever closer collaboration across government, academia and the private sector.
Chris Francis
Director for Government Relations
SAP UK
Chris leads on all areas of policy and business support for SAP UK as well as covering a portfolio of EU issues. Previously Chris has worked on technical regulatory affairs and policy matters in the UK and the EU for over ten years following a career in the UK Civil Service covering a wide range of trade and business policy issues as well as innovation support.
Jonathan Freeman
Chief Strategy & Regulatory Officer
Cellnex UK
Jonathan Freeman serves as Chief Strategy & Regulatory Officer for Cellnex UK, where he leads the company’s strategy development, regulatory affairs, public affairs, and ESG activity. His remit also includes driving growth through in-country M&A, forging strategic partnerships and alliances, and advancing early-stage innovation. Previously, Jonathan headed the delivery function at Cellnex UK, overseeing customer installations and infrastructure upgrades for the UK’s mobile network operators during their 5G rollouts. Before joining Cellnex UK, Jonathan held senior positions at Arqiva across strategy, product development, and commercial disciplines. He led programmes that achieved the UK’s first large-scale deployment of small cells and conducted the country’s first 5G Fixed Wireless Access trial. Earlier in his career, Jonathan worked as a management consultant, advising leading telecoms, media, and regulatory organisations, including the BBC and Ofcom. Jonathan holds a BSc in Management, Operations and Technology from the University of Manchester. Outside of work, he enjoys triathlons, mountaineering, and a variety of outdoor pursuits. He is married with two children.
Andy Hague
CEO TechWM, Director 4TSec
TechWM
Andy is the CEO of TechWM, an independent not-for-profit organisation that sits at the beating heart of the West Midlands tech sector acting as the voice of the region’s tech ecosystem. He is also the founder and director of 4TSec, a boutique cybersecurity advisory business. Andy acted as CEO of The Cyberfort Group from starting the business with Private Equity backing in 2017 until the start of 2024 and continues to act as a Board Advisor to the business. Cyberfort was created from his idea to bring together the best of breed products and services in the field of data security by a combination of targeted acquisition , industry recruitment and organic build of market leading services and has grown to be one of the largest cyber services SME’s in the industry. Prior to founding Cyberfort, Andy held a wide variety of roles across technology businesses and cybersecurity notably heading up the cybersecurity division of NCC Group in its early days and setting the foundations for the business to become a global player in the field. In his early career Andy carried out the MBO of a software business and transformed it into a telecoms business operating in over 100 countries before selling the business to an AIM company in 2005. This venture saw him receive a much respected Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In January 2023 Andy helped set up the SME cybersecurity forum within TechUK that has now gained strong momentum and has seen him subsequently pick up the SME industry panel remit within the Cabinet Office for the rollout of Secure By Design. Other current roles include sitting as a member of the Bank of England Decision Making Panel providing important industry data and feedback on a monthly basis to help shape the MPC policy decisions. Outside of business and advisory roles, Andy is a passionate advocate of Neurodiversity inclusion and acceptance where he has always embraced the strong crossover with cybersecurity skills. Andy lives outside Stratford upon Avon with his wife and two young children, one of whom is autistic and provides inspiration every day to help shape and improve the future life chances of neurodiverse individuals. This has served as a primary driver in moving to roles that allow him to promote and improve the tech skills and life chances of Neurodiverse individuals.
Nathan Hancock
Vice President and Managing Director, Adobe UK, Ireland, Middle East, and Africa
Adobe
Nathan Hancock is the Vice President and Managing Director for Adobe UK, Ireland, Middle East, and Africa. A seasoned technology executive with over two decades of experience, he has held leadership enterprise go-to-market roles at Microsoft, Pegasystems, and Digital.ai. Nathan is a customer-centric, people-focused leader and is known for building high-performing teams and driving strategic partnerships that accelerate business transformation and customer value. He holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas and a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University. On a personal note, Nathan lives in London with his wife and two young children, is a passionate supporter of Chelsea Football Club and the Dallas Cowboys, and volunteers with the Alzheimer Society and Food for the Cities.
Nicola Hayes
Chief Marketing Officer
Platform Markets Group
Nicola Hayes has been involved in the digital infrastructure industry since the late 1990’s. A qualified lawyer, whilst at The Philips Group she started work advising on network rollout globally before becoming fascinated with the buildings where interconnect happened. That led to Nicola researching and writing the world’s first analyst report on Colocation in 1999, and she then moved into strategic advisory and M&A work in this new and exciting part of the industry. Nicola was one of the co-founders of Broadgroup and developed the first ever DataCloud event, now the largest and most well-known data centre conference on the European calendar. Following a return to academia to complete an MSc in Marketing, Nicola started working as a senior lecturer in Marketing before taking on the role of Associate Dean at the London South Bank University Business School. During this time, she continued to advise and work with companies active in the digital infrastructure sector, working on many large funding and M&A transactions as well as providing brand consultancy globally. Over the past 30 years, Nicola has also been involved in many industry related initiatives, including spending several years on the techUK data centre council, helping on projects dedicated to promoting the industry to a younger workforce, and sitting on industry advisory boards. In 2022, Nicola co-founded of Platform Markets Group, a boutique company focused on providing premium content and events experiences to the ‘C’ suite, investors and advisors in digital infrastructure.
Guthrie Holliday
Managing Partner
BetterGov
Guthrie Holliday is Managing Partner at BetterGov, a UK digital consultancy specialising in public sector transformation. He leads the firm’s commercial strategy, growth, and client engagement across central government, Parliament, defence, and devolved administrations. Guthrie brings an SME perspective to the techUK Board, advocating for fair access to markets, transparent procurement, and stronger collaboration between government and smaller technology businesses. He is particularly focused on ensuring SMEs play a meaningful role in delivering innovation across the UK public sector, while helping shape a more inclusive and high-performing digital economy.
Chris Hulm
Senior Director - Europe Government Engagement
Visa
Chris leads Visa’s public affairs team in the UK and Ireland. Previously, Chris was based at Visa’s Global HQ in San Francisco as a Director in the Global Policy team. Prior to joining Visa in 2018, Chris held roles in the financial services policy team at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), as well as various advisory roles for MPs in Parliament. Chris holds a degree in Government from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Aleyne Johnson
Senior Director of Government and External Relations
Samsung Electronics
Aleyne Johnson is Samsung Electronics' Senior Director of Government and External Relations. Samsung Electronics is one of the world’s largest tech companies, employing over 300,000 people around the globe, a fifth of whom work in R&D. The UK is home to Samsung’s European operations, including its R&D centre, AI centre, and new King’s Cross tech venue, and is one Samsung's most important commercial and research markets. Aleyne is responsible for leading Samsung's policy development across all business and technology issues and works with Government and a wide range of external stakeholders. He also helps promote UK trade with important tech nations around the world. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and former Board member of the UK Government's Child Internet Safety Council (UKCCIS) and the Prince's Trust Technology Leadership Group. Prior to joining Samsung, Aleyne held roles in the technology and telecoms sectors with Vodafone and Orange and, before that, in the financial services sector in the UK and Australasia. He also worked for the British Government. He lives in West London with his wife, two children and cat.
Emma Kendrew
Technology Lead, UK, Ireland and Africa
Accenture
Emma Kendrew leads Accenture’s Technology business in the UK, Ireland and Africa. Emma has over 20 years of experience driving technology-powered business transformation with clients in retail, resources, government, and financial services. Throughout her tenure at Accenture she has played a lead role in establishing new centres to drive innovation, and built new practices including automation, AI, cloud and full-stack engineering. Before leading Technology, Emma led Accenture’s Enterprise and Industry Technologies practice in UKI where she was focused on helping clients achieve enterprise-wide transformation, working closely with leading platform providers. In 2015 Emma was recognised as one of the UK’s exceptional young businesswomen in Management Today’s “35 Women Under 35”. She holds a degree in Geography from the University of Cambridge, and is passionate about the role of technology in sustainability, diversity and regional opportunity.
Anthony Levy
CEO and Founder
Circularity First
Anthony has advanced the climate agenda through his role as CEO and Founder of Circularity First. He has positioned the organisation as a catalyst for Sustainable IT by proving that beyond being the right thing to do for people and the planet, it can also drive business value. Over the past 15 years, Anthony has provided sustainability advice and solutions to thousands of customers, including major organizations such as Verizon, BP, Vodafone, and The MoD. Aligning IT strategies with sustainability goals and showcasing how businesses can achieve their priorities whilst reducing environmental impact. Anthony has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions that support sustainability principles both internally and for customers: • Circular IT Practices: Circularity First has reduced e-waste and embodied carbon by enabling clients to reuse of over 1 million kilograms of technology, roughly the volume of the Royal Albert Hall • Research on Scope 2 and 3 Emissions: Recognizing that Scope 3 emissions often dominate the carbon footprint of networking and datacenter equipment, Anthony invested in creating market-leading sustainability data, conducting lifecycle analyses to measure embodied carbon and Scope 3 emissions, and providing unprecedented transparency in IT equipment sustainability • Software Development: To ensure clients can easily design sustainable solutions, compare alternatives, and report measurable benefits, Anthony led a team to build a piece of client software that makes sustainability research data accessible and actionable. This tool now helps global technology companies around the world to make better decisions on Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions relating to technology use Recognizing the environmental impact of short IT lifecycles, Anthony initiated projects to extend the life of critical infrastructure: • Defence Sector Contributions: Circularity First’s solutions have saved £15 million for taxpayers by extending the life of equipment used by the UK MoD • Carbon Reduction Achievements: Anthony’s initiatives have significantly reduced embodied carbon emissions across thousands of customers inc. helping COLT reduce their footprint by 2031 tc02e since 2020 • Championing Net Zero Goals: Anthony has championed Circularity First’s ambitious target of achieving Net Zero across all scopes by 2030. The company is on track to meet this goal and has been independently verified by EcoVadis as in the top 1% globally for sustainability practices Anthony has personally worked with the boards of leading technology companies — including Verizon, Logicalis, Gamma, and Agilico — to integrate sustainability into their core strategies. Additionally, he contributes his expertise as part of the UN Global Compact on the Circular Economy, TechUK Climate Council, and the Government Digial Sustainability Alliance (GDSA). As a passionate advocate for sustainable IT, he frequently speaks at global events such as COGx, E-Waste World Conference, and SustainX, sharing insights on how businesses can adopt sustainable IT practices. His efforts have shifted perceptions on remanufactured technology by delivering both better ROI and lower environmental footprint.
Daniela Menzky
Co-founder and Chair
Climate Essentials
Daniela Menzky is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the corporate sector across diverse industries and business models. Daniela held a number of senior Human Resources & Organisational Strategy roles in major blue chip organisations such as Kodak and Avon Cosmetics before moving into General Management as a Managing Director for HAVI Logistics, the world’s largest privately-owned food service logistics company, as well as small & medium size technology enterprises. Following her successful corporate career, she co-founded and scaled several companies across Cybersecurity, IoT Communications, and Climate Mitigation. She is co-ceo of ANGOKA, a cyber security company and co-founder and chair of Climate Essentials, a startup helping organisations reach net zero via their data-driven multi-stakeholder software solution, Climate Essentials.
Mairead O'Sullivan
Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Strategy, UKMEA
London Stock Exchange Group
Mairead O'Sullivan is Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Strategy, UKMEA, at LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), where she leads engagement with policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders across the Group's businesses, including capital markets, financial market infrastructure, data and analytics, indices and risk intelligence. She advises on public policy and regulatory developments affecting financial markets, market infrastructure, data, technology and economic growth, and has been actively involved in a number of significant UK policy initiatives, including capital markets reform and broader efforts to strengthen the UK's competitiveness as a leading global financial centre. Prior to joining LSEG, Mairead held senior government relations, public affairs and policy roles in the financial services sector, advising on regulatory, political and market reform issues in the UK and internationally.
Georgina O'Toole
Chief Analyst
TechMarketView
Georgina O'Toole is Chief Analyst at TechMarketView, a role that encompasses thought leadership and business development. Georgina joined TechMarketView as a Research Director for PublicSectorViews in February 2010. She is a respected industry analyst known for her commentary on the UK software and IT services market and for her in depth knowledge of the public sector, having primarily focused on the sector for the last 16 years. Before joining TechMarketView, Georgina was Practice Leader for Ovum’s Geographies & Industries practice (alongside Tola Sargeant) where she was responsible for Ovum’s government research globally. As an analyst at Ovum Holway from 2000, Georgina had previously worked closely with both enterprise and vendor clients providing advice and opinion on the UK software and IT services market. She was instrumental in the launch of Ovum’s well-respected PublicSector@Ovum research programme in 2004 and went on to focus her research on the UK central government, defence and criminal justice markets. As a lead analyst in these sectors, Georgina’s opinion was valued by a variety of clients including IT services companies, major defence contractors and the UK Ministry of Defence. Prior to joining Ovum, Georgina was a business analyst for CMG (now Logica) working for a variety of clients in the transport & logistics and telecoms sectors. Georgina has a BSc in Management Sciences from the University of Southampton.
Ruth Patterson
Vice President and Managing Director, UK and Ireland
HP
Ruth Patterson leads HP’s UK and Ireland, overseeing strategy, sales, operations, and growth. Ruth previously served as Global Head of the Advanced Compute Solutions Category Organization at HP Inc., partnering across global markets and with external partners to drive innovation across a portfolio including Mobile and Desktop Performance Workstations, Retail Industrial Solutions, OEM, Data Science, and AI Solutions. Throughout her career, Ruth has held multiple global leadership positions, spanning new business creation, consumer solutions, strategic alliances, R&D, marketing, and sales. Originally from Cardiff, Ruth holds an MBA from the University of Bath and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Glamorgan. She has also completed Stanford’s Executive Leadership Program and HP’s Accelerate Berkeley Executive Program.
David Price
Senior business development
DXC Technology
David Price is a senior business development leader with more than 25 years’ experience delivering secure digital, cloud, cyber security and AI-enabled solutions across Defence, Aerospace, Central Government and regulated industries. David has worked with techUK for over a decade and is currently a member of the AI & Machine Learning Working Group and the Cloud Leadership Committee. In his current role at DXC Technology, David leads strategic engagement across the UK Aerospace and Defence sector, working closely with the Ministry of Defence, Defence primes and partner ecosystems. DXC has a long-standing heritage supporting UK Defence through secure, mission-critical technology platforms and sovereign digital infrastructure. Prior to joining DXC, David held senior leadership positions at Rackspace Technology, UKCloud, Veritas Technologies, Performanta, Insight Enterprises and Commvault. Earlier in his career, he established the Global Systems Integrator business at SCC. Before entering the technology industry, David served as a Marine Engineer in the Royal Navy.
Julia Rowe
Sustainability Director
Ocado Group
Julia Rowe is the Sustainability Director of Ocado Group, a FTSE250 company bringing to market cutting-edge technology solutions that leverage the latest advances in automation, robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence for the online grocery distribution industry and beyond. She is responsible for setting, and embedding into normal business, a holistic sustainability strategy across global operations. Julia has been working in corporate sustainability for more than 18 years. She has a PhD in chemistry and spent her early career in technology development of hydrogen fuel cells for automotive applications. She is also sits on the Expert Panel of the Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research, where she is the member leading on battery recycling. Julia wants to see the UK tech industry leading the way solving global sustainability issues through technological advancements, for the benefit of society today and for future generations.
Kerry Sinclair
Executive Vice President, IT
Sage
Kerry Sinclair is Executive Vice President of IT at Sage, where she leads the company's global IT organisation, overseeing the technology, systems and infrastructure that enable Sage colleagues to work effectively and support the cloud platforms that underpin Sage's products and services. She has also held responsibility for Product Operations, helping to align technology delivery with customer outcomes. Having spent much of her career at Sage in a range of technology leadership roles, Kerry is recognised for championing inclusive leadership, collaboration and customer-focused innovation. She is a passionate advocate for diversity in technology and regularly speaks about the importance of curiosity, empowering teams and ensuring technology delivers meaningful business and customer value.
Alex Towers
Director of Policy and Public Affairs
BT Group
Alex was appointed Director of Policy and Public Affairs for BT Group in November 2017. He leads BT’s political strategy and its public policy work, both in the UK and around the world. Before joining BT, Alex was the Director of the BBC Trust – the BBC’s regulator and governing body - from 2015 to 2017. In that time, he helped to restore stability at the top of the BBC after a period of crisis; negotiated a new Royal Charter to sustain a strong, independent BBC in the form that the public want; and managed the process of change and transition to a new BBC governance structure, winding up the BBC Trust itself in the process. Alex held earlier positions at the Trust as Head of Finance, Economics and Strategy and then as Deputy Director. He led the Trust’s work to assess the performance of BBC’s services, to approve and allocate budgets, to scrutinise value for money, and to assess BBC proposals for new services and activities. He oversaw its programme of audience research, data analysis and public consultation. He also ran policy negotiations with Government officials and regulators. In his earlier career, Alex was a civil servant at DCMS. His work on media policy included the 2003 Communications Act, Ofcom’s first review of public service broadcasting and the BBC Charter Review that followed. He also helped to plan and deliver the 2012 Olympics. He grew up in Yorkshire, and now lives in South East London with his wife and their four children.
Sarah Walker
Chief Executive UK & Ireland
Cisco
As Chief Executive for the UK & Ireland, Sarah Walker has direct responsibility for Cisco’s sales operations in the region and oversees a diverse community of employees who represent over 40 areas of Cisco’s global business. Sarah has built a career in digital technology and communications, focussed on customer centricity and using technology to deliver outcomes aligned to business objectives. With early roles in mobile telephony, working her way up the technology stack, Sarah spent 25 years in BT in various senior leadership positions across both the public and private sector before joining Cisco two years ago to lead its Enterprise business in the UK and Ireland. In her prior role leading Cisco’s Enterprise business, Sarah was responsible for the company’s relationships with more than a hundred large, private sector organisations across key sectors for the UK and Ireland – ranging from transport to pharmaceuticals and financial services. Sarah is also an advisor to the UK Government’s Board of Trade, a Non-Executive Director at Liverpool Women’s Hospital Trust, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Greater Manchester Academies Trust as well as the proud Executive Sponsor for Women of Cisco UKI.
Penny Williams
Managing Director
CDW UK and International
Penny Williams has served as the Managing Director of CDW UK and International since October 2024, bringing over 30 years of senior leadership experience to the role. She is dedicated to creating customer value, building strong partnerships, and driving meaningful results. Her leadership is grounded in a people-first approach, with a culture shaped by trust, connection, and commitment. Penny believes that the passion and purpose of CDW’s people are the driving forces behind innovation, growth, and exceptional customer delivery. A committed advocate for women in technology and youth empowerment, Penny actively supports inclusive initiatives such as CDW’s Women in Tech | Women’s International Network (WIN). She fosters collaborative environments that strengthen relationships across the organisation and with customers. Penny’s dedication to diversity and excellence in the tech industry is also reflected in her long-standing role as a CRN Awards judge since 2016.
Justin Wilson
Senior Vice President and Head of UK Industries
Salesforce
Justin Wilson is a highly accomplished executive, serving as the Senior Vice President and Head of UK Industries for Salesforce. Justin’s organisation is responsible for driving the growth and success of customers in the region. Justin has held this position since February 2023. In addition, Justin is also the executive sponsor for the AbilityForce equality group and serves on the advisory board of international NGO, Save the Children UK. Prior to his current position, Justin excelled as the leader of the MuleSoft business unit from 2018. During his tenure, he spearheaded transformative growth, driving MuleSoft to achieve unparalleled success in the UK and Ireland. Under Justin's visionary leadership, MuleSoft secured the coveted position of #1 market share in API management and integration. Moreover, his strategic initiatives resulted in a threefold increase in organisational revenues during this period. Justin joined Salesforce in January 2009, holding several senior leadership positions in the UK & EMEA. Notably, Justin has played a pivotal role in propelling Salesforce's rapid expansion, enabling the company to outpace its competitors in the enterprise software industry. Before embarking on his career at Salesforce, Justin spent eight years at Nortel, where he lead an international team and acquired a deep understanding of the technology and customer experience landscape.
Simon Wilyman
Managing Director
Intel UK & Northern Europe
With 25+ years of experience in the semiconductor and tech industry Simon is a strategic leader operating at the leading edge of technology innovation. His mission is to enable customers and partners success and to continually develop highly skilled and performing organizations.