FINTECHNORTH
EVENTS
Newcastle Conference 2025
July 1st, 9:00am
Wylam Brewery, Palace of Arts Exhibition Park
FinTech North is delighted to announce our 2025 Newcastle Conference, hosted in partnership with brand sponsors Mastercard, networking sponsors Kani, exhibition sponsors The North East Combined Authority and evening social sponsors Google Cloud. Returning for our fifth year in the region, this flagship event will once again celebrate the strength, innovation and collaboration within the North East’s growing FinTech ecosystem.
The conference will take place on 1st July 2025 at Wylam Brewery, one of the city’s most iconic venues, located in the historic Palace of Arts in Exhibition Park. Combining industrial heritage with creative energy, Wylam Brewery offers the perfect backdrop for a day of sector insights and networking—followed by our evening social, also hosted on-site.
With over three-quarters of the region’s FinTech firms based in Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, and continued growth in startups and scaleups, the North East stands out as a nationally significant FinTech hub—home to major brands like Atom Bank, Kani, Cascade, and Sage.
This year’s agenda reflects the region’s evolving specialisms and global outlook, with sessions covering:
– FinTech ecosystems and payments: Featuring voices from across the UK’s FinTech landscape, we’ll examine how regional and national ecosystems can unlock growth and international potential.
– Capital and scaling journeys: From Series A to sustained growth, we’ll explore what’s next for high-growth Northern FinTechs.
– International expansion: With both inward investment opportunities into the North East and outbound growth on the agenda, we’ll hear from investors and market specialists.
– Data and AI: A recognised regional strength, this theme will be explored through keynotes, a showcase of local innovation, and a panel discussion on how data and AI are shaping the future of financial services.
– Purpose-driven FinTech: We’ll round off the day by exploring how FinTech can scale sustainably—aligning social and environmental impact with commercial success.
As always, we encourage attendees to use sustainable transport and enjoy the walk through Exhibition Park, in keeping with our themes of innovation, purpose, and community.
Join us at Wylam Brewery on 1st July 2025 for a day of insight, conversation and connection as we spotlight the region’s role in shaping the future of UK FinTech.
For more information about the event and opportunities for collaboration, contact: info@fintechnorth.uk
Event Schedule
Breakfast & Registration
Welcome from FinTech North
Delivered by Joe Roche, General Manager, FinTech North
Silas Ozoya, Talent Upskill Associate, FinTech North
Welcome and Regional Updates
Julian Wells, Director, Whitecap Consulting
Ecosystems in Action: Unlocking the UK’s FinTech and Payments Potential + Audience Q&A
Moderator: Stephen Ingledew OBE, Chairman, FinTech Scotland
Peter Cunnane, Director of International & Partnerships, Innovate Finance
Dr. Emma Black, Founder, Cascade
Dan Moore, Head of Strategy, Analysis and Engagement, PSR
Mark Mullen, Chief Executive, Atom bank
Meryl Levington, Director of Innovation and Industry Engagement, University of Strathclyde
Updates from the Office for Investment
• James Harbidge, Investment Partner: Financial & Professional Services, Office for Investment
From Raise to Rise: Series A Done. What's Next?
• Roger Binks, CCO, Kani
• Aaron Holmes, CEO, Kani
• Rebecca Minchella, Investment Manager, Maven Capital Partners
Comfort break
Local expansion successes and opportunities for expansion in the North East
• Rebecca Hall, Inward Investment Manager, The North East Combined Authority
• Michael Graham, General Manager, Infotel UK Consulting
Fireside chat: Opportunities for outbound expansion
• Moderator: Peter Cunnane, Director of International & Partnerships, Innovate Finance
• Samantha George, Market Development Executive, Acclime
• Roisin Perry, Fintech Trade and Investment Manager, Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
Lunch
AI and the Future of Financial Services: a panel discussion + Audience Q&A
• Moderator: Kevin Telford, Co-founder, FinPact
• Karen Zhang, FinTech Lead & VC Partnerships, Google Cloud
• Vicki Jordan, Policy Manager - AI, Remuneration, and Policy Profession, FCA
• Vicky Adeney, Vice President – Data Strategy, Mastercard
• Lucy Batley, Owner/ CDJ, Traction Industries
From Data Dust to Deployed - The 100-Day AI Playbook for FinTech
• Sarat Pediredla, CEO, hedgehog lab
Data & AI Innovation in the North East: a Showcase
Dai Davis, Percy Crow Davis & Co Ltd
Dave Jennings, Strategic Accounts, AI Practice, bigspark
Networking break
Backed by the North East: Scaling a Northern FinTech with Purpose
• Andrew Rabbitt, CEO & Co-Founder, Incuto
• Naomi Allen Seales, Investment Manager, North Star Ventures
Sustainable Finance, Scalable Tech: Aligning Profit and Planet + Audience Q&A
• Michael Donnelly, Digital Marketing Strategist, Netto
• Anne- Marie Soulsby, Associate, Genee
• Moderator: Katherine Keddie, Co-Founder, Adopter
• Dan Graf, CEO & Co-founder, earthchain
• Liam Clancy-Kerrigan, Senior Sales Manager, Newcastle Strategic Solutions
FinTech Delivering Social Purpose: a Showcase
• Michelle Jones, CSIO, Keepl Social
· Olivia Toplass, Head of Product, thankyü
• Ade Ajayi, Co-founder, Ndewo
Closing remarks, event to close
Evening Social
Sponsored by Google Cloud
Hosted at Wylam Brewery
Event Location
Newcastle Conference 2025
Wylam Brewery, Palace of Arts Exhibition Park
Claremont Rd
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4PZ
