techUK will be organising its first-ever members' delegation to Ukraine (Lviv), due to take place between Thursday, 25 September, and Monday, 29 September 2025. The delegation will centre around the IT Arena Conference, which takes place in Lviv, Western Ukraine, from the 26-28 September.
What you get:
An Executive-level ticket to the IT Arena Conference in Lviv.
To be part of key meetings with senior Ukrainian Government stakeholders (Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Defence etc.), at the Ministerial level, as well as meetings with organisations such as Brave1, IT Lviv Cluster, IT Ukraine, the Ukrainian Start-Up Fund, and more.
Accommodation in a high-quality hotel in Lviv.
Travel from Poland into and out of Ukraine, as well as travel from Lviv.
A pre-departure briefing by the Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom.
To find business partners on the ground through tailored networking events.
IT Arena Conference
IT Arena Conference is Ukraine’s and Eastern Europe’s largest tech event, bringing together thousands of global industry leaders, investors, and startups. The event includes multiple stages focusing on business, technology, products, and startups as well as workshops, investor-startup meetings, high-level networking and Expo zones –with a focus on innovation, including defence tech. The conference is a leading platform to explore technologies, business strategies, and product innovations with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government representatives.
Why Ukraine?
The tech sector is Ukraine’s largest exporter of services, contributing $12.7 billion to the national economy in 2023 and is continuing to grow through the support of over 2,100 IT companies, around 2,000 startups, and over 340,000 skilled professionals.
Despite wartime challenges, the industry has shown strong resilience: startup valuations have tripled since 2020, and Ukrainian startups generate five times more revenue per invested dollar than their US counterparts.
Ukrainian Defence Tech Innovation
Ukraine's Defence Tech sector continues to expand rapidly, fuelled by strong government support and international partnerships. This growth drives investment in advanced technologies such as drones, AI-enabled systems, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity, positioning Ukraine as a leading hub for innovative and scalable defence solutions.
Initiatives such as UK-Ukraine TechBridge and Code.UA, alongside the UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement signed in September 2024, are actively connecting Ukrainian and British tech businesses, talent, startups, and investors. These efforts streamline market access, unlock new investment opportunities, and strengthen collaboration, creating a thriving environment for sustained growth and innovation between both countries.
You would need to cover the cost of:
Travel Insurance (techUK to provide guidance on providers)
Flights to Poland
Subsistence costs
Attendees must be either C-Suite, Director, or a Commercial/Policy Representative chiefly responsible for Ukraine.
There will also be a separate ticket available for members who only need Accommodation and Conference Tickets, at a reduced price.
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Chief Operating Officer & Director of Markets, techUK
Matthew Evans
Chief Operating Officer & Director of Markets, techUK
Matt Evans is techUK's Chief Operating Officer and leads our Market Programme teams.
The Market Programme teams help techUK members apply innovative technology solutions across a range of sectors, including the Public Sector, Telecoms, Climate, Financial Services and Cyber. Matt also leads our Nations and Regions work.
Prior to his appointment in early 2019, Matt led techUK’s Smart Infrastructure and IoT work, as well as being CEO of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (now Digital Connectivity Forum). During this time he led the telecoms industry’s approach to lowering the cost of network deployment, played a key role in coordinating it’s response to Brexit and was closely involved in the development of the Government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. He also assisted in the development of the UK’s first secure by design Code of Practice aimed at consumer IoT, oversaw the publication of a paper outlining the tech sector’s view of future mobility services and drove engagement around the use of digital twins.
Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked in Arqiva's public policy team, across the broadcast and telecoms markets. Before that he was a researcher for an MP at Westminster.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
techUK International Policy and Trade Programme activities
techUK supports members with their international trade plans and aspirations. We help members to understand market opportunities, tackle market access barriers, and build partnerships in their target market. Visit the programme page here.
Report: Next steps for UK-Ukraine cooperation in tech, trade and defence
techUK has published a new paper, Next steps for UK-Ukraine Cooperation in Tech, Trade and Defence, which sets out a practical agenda for deepening collaboration between the UK and Ukraine across defence-tech, innovation and digital trade.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Sabina Ciofu is International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Programme. Based in Brussels, she shapes global tech policy, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf region. She drives strategy, advocacy, and market opportunities for UK tech companies worldwide, ensuring their voice is heard in international policy debates.
With nearly a decade of previous experience as a Policy Advisor in the European Parliament, Sabina brings deep expertise in tech regulation, trade policy, and EU–US relations. Her work focuses on navigating and influencing the global digital economy to deliver real impact for members.
A passionate community-builder, Sabina co-founded Young Professionals in Digital Policy (800+ members) and now runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy (more experience, better wine, earlier nights). She is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club, a network of 500+ women supporting each other with kindness.
She holds advisory roles with the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club for women.
Recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of the most influential women in UK tech, Sabina is also a sought-after public speaker on tech, trade and diversity.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
