Building on the success of last year, techUK’s Tech and Innovation programme are excited to return to London Tech Week with a new series of techUK Talks, a series of conversations with UK tech leaders exploring the key digital technologies that are transformational for the UK economy. #techUKtalks
The UK Government’s Innovation Strategy sets out a long-term vision and ambition to make the UK a global hub for innovation by 2035. This follows the creation of the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) with the ambition to position the UK as a tech and science superpower, the UK’s R&D Roadmap which aims to build the foundations for the “industries of tomorrow” as well as the recent establishment of a new National Science and Technology Council chaired by the Prime Minister. As the UK looks to the future what is clear is that enabling and unlocking the power of technological innovation will be at the heart of what comes next. While the identification and focus being given to strategically important emerging and transformative technologies will be welcomed by the digital industry, innovators and entrepreneurs across the UK, the question remains does the UK have what we need to be successful in the increasingly competitive, global race for tech innovation supremacy in emerging areas such as AI and Quantum.
This session will explore from UK tech leaders of today and tomorrow about how the UK can be successful in its innovation ambitions and whether we are building the right innovation ecosystem we need and taking the right strategic approach to identifying, then backing and supporting the innovations of the future.
Speakers include:
- Sandra Sooläte, Head of UK Business Development, Starship Technologies
- Zoe Webster, Director Data Science and AI, BT
- Andy Nicholson, Director Technology and Innovation, Thales
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
Tess Buckley
A digital ethicist and musician, Tess holds a MA in AI and Philosophy, specialising in ableism in biotechnologies. Their professional journey includes working as an AI Ethics Analyst with a dataset on corporate digital responsibility, followed by supporting the development of a specialised model for sustainability disclosure requests. Currently at techUK as programme manager in digital ethics and AI safety, Tess focuses on demystifying and operationalising ethics through assurance mechanisms and standards. Their primary research interests encompass AI music systems, AI fluency, and technology created by and for differently abled individuals. Their overarching goal is to apply philosophical principles to make emerging technologies both explainable and ethical.
Laura Foster
Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
Elis Thomas
Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on Semiconductors and Digital ID.
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
Harriet Allen
