Economist Impact's Commercialising Quantum Global
Business Design Centre, London Partner event
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Key Technologies
Key Activity Areas
Meet the Innovators
This regular video interview series celebrates the work of techUK members in promoting a healthy UK innovation ecosystem. Such an ecosystem would see a wide range of stakeholders collaborating on innovations that improve the lives of the UK population in a profound and sustainable manner, including through boosting productivity, tackling climate change, creating jobs, and facilitating economic growth.
Previous Focus Areas
These techUK initiatives bring together senior representatives from selected technology areas or sectors of the UK's ecosystem to identify key applications of technologies across industries and explore how the UK can take a leading role in their development and deployment. Each focus area explores how the UK can lead on the development and adoption of transformative technologies through roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, reports, and more.
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Meet the Team
Ella Shuter
Ella Shuter
Ella joined techUK in July 2025 as Junior Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies.
In her role, Ella supports the design and delivery of four to six-month sprint campaigns. These identify emerging technologies of interest to members and Government, share industry best practice, champion relevant sectors and industries across the UK, and work through key challenges and opportunities to drive the development, application and commercialisation of these technologies.
Before joining techUK, Ella completed an internship at Digital Catapult, supporting across public affairs, policy and the organisation's programmes. She also has experience working in an MP's Parliamentary and Constituency Office.
Ella holds a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bristol.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-shuter-264158244/
Luke Lightowler
Luke Lightowler
Luke is a Junior Programme Manager in techUK’s Emerging Tech and Innovation team. He works on techUK’s robotics programme, collaborating closely with members, policymakers and stakeholders to support the safe development, deployment and adoption of robotics technologies across the UK. Alongside this, he also contributes to the team’s wider work on emerging technologies.
Luke began his career on the DHL Supply Chain graduate scheme, where he worked across large-scale logistics operations and supported transformation initiatives focused on efficiency, automation and process improvement. This gave him first-hand experience of complex industrial environments and the practical application of technology within supply chains.
Following this, Luke worked for Michelle Donelan MP, focusing on policy communications and parliamentary engagement. He supported briefing, stakeholder engagement and cross-sector communications, gaining insight into how legislation and policy are shaped and debated, as well as developing a strong understanding of parliamentary process.
He later worked at the Department for Transport as a Senior Policy Advisor, focusing on digital policy development and leading on data-driven programme delivery within government. This strengthened his understanding of policymaking and the regulatory and digital landscape shaping emerging technologies.
Luke holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, which provides him with a strong technical foundation and a particular interest in robotics, automation and applied engineering.
Outside of work, Luke enjoys weight training, walking (particularly in Wiltshire and the Cotswolds) and reading non-fiction. He previously spent time at a Shaolin temple in the rural mountains of Shandong province, China, where he studied Kung Fu while living alongside Shaolin monks - an experience that also sparked his appreciation (and slight obsession) for tea.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Sara Duodu
Sara Duodu
Sara joined techUK in October 2025 as Programme Manager for Quantum and Digital Twins.
Before joining techUK, Sara worked at Capital Enterprise as Research Lead, where she focused on policy research related to the UK’s startup ecosystem. During her time there, she co-authored a flagship report unpacking what quantum startups in the UK need to grow and stay in the UK.
Sara holds a Master of Global Affairs (Innovation Policy & Global Security) from the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and an MA (History) and a BA (History & Political Science) from the University of Western Ontario.
Outside of work, Sara enjoys reading, playing rugby, and watching any and all sports.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Elis Thomas
Elis Thomas
Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on Semiconductors and Digital ID.
He previously worked at an advocacy group for tech startups, with a regional focus on Wales. This involved policy research on innovation, skills and access to finance.
Elis has a Degree in History, and a Masters in Politics and International Relations from the University of Winchester, with a focus on the digitalisation and gamification of armed conflicts.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/elis-thomas-49a1aa1a1/
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's Emerging Technology and Innovation activity, working with many of the UK's most innovative tech companies to convene key stakeholders, work through key challenges and opportunities for industry, showcase best practice, and shape Government's thinking around future technologies, sectors and industries.
Focus areas include Robotics, Immersive, Web3, Metaverse, Photonics, Space, Gaming, Creative, Innovation policy, university spin-outs, and Futures & Horizon Scanning.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Julian David OBE
Julian David OBE
Julian David is the CEO of techUK, the leading technology trade association that aims to realise the positive outcomes that digital technology can achieve for People, Society, the Economy and the Planet.
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. techUK is the voice of the tech industry in the UK with 21 member led programmes covering all of tech from ‘Chips to Clicks’ and addressing 11 market sectors from Defence and Central Government, through to Health, Consumer Electronics and Financial Services.
In 2021 techUK launched TechSkills, the employer-led accreditation organisation that aims to improve the flow of talent into the digital workforce and open up access for all to high value tech jobs.
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.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-david-8013b817/
Sue Daley OBE
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work. This includes work programmes on AI, Cloud, Data, Quantum, Semiconductors, Digital ID and Digital ethics as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List. She has also been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the tech agenda in the UK, in December 2025 Sue was appointed to the UK Government’s Women in Tech Taskforce by the Technology Secretary of State. She also sits on the UK Government’s Smart Data Council, Satellite Applications Catapult Advisory Group, Bank of England’s AI Consortium and BSI’s Digital Strategic Advisory Group. Previously, Sue was a member of the Independent Future of Compute Review and co-chaired the National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries in 2020, Sue has been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and has been a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI, the UK Tech 50 and annual UK Cloud Awards. She is a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015, Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. Before that, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue
