FINTECHNORTH
EVENTS
Leeds Conference 2025 + Pitch360 North
May 15th, 8:30am
Cloth Hall Court
FinTech North is delighted to announce the return of our flagship Leeds Conference in 2025, hosted in partnership with Mastercard, Sedulo, PEXA, Cyber Alchemy, Lenvi, Leeds Building Society, Bruntwood SciTech, name badge sponsors Future Finance, networking sponsors, Wrapped Agency and exhibition sponsors The Data City.
The city’s financial heritage is reflected in its iconic venues, and this year’s conference will take place at Cloth Hall Court, a location that embodies Leeds’ unique blend of historic significance and forward-thinking ambition. Surrounded by some of the UK’s leading financial institutions, the venue underscores the city’s role as a dynamic centre for FinTech collaboration.
Leeds’ FinTech ecosystem has seen remarkable expansion, with over 100 FinTechs operating across InsurTech, PayTech, RegTech, and beyond. Findings from Whitecap Consulting’s latest regional strategy report highlight the strength of Leeds’ financial services sector, which employs over 60,000 people and contributes billions to the UK economy. The report also emphasises the importance of collaboration—something we champion through events like this flagship gathering.
Bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, and policy-makers, the FinTech North Leeds Conference 2025 will showcase the region’s growing impact on the national and global FinTech landscape. With a focus on innovation, resilience, and collaboration, this event will highlight the latest trends and opportunities shaping the future of financial technology.
Join us as we celebrate Leeds’ continued rise as a FinTech leader and explore what’s next for the industry in 2025 and beyond.
At the conference, the content will cover some of the region’s specialisms, as well as themes addressing key subsector issues including Banking, Lending, RegTech and Home Ownership.
FinTech North is excited to announce that our flagship Leeds Conference will feature Pitch360, Innovate Finance’s prestigious FinTech pitching competition designed to spotlight the UK’s most innovative startups. Our showcase session at our flagship conferences has been a long standing FinTech North favourite, so we’re delighted to enhance the popular segment by hosting Pitch360’s Northern iteration in the thriving hub of FinTech innovation that is Leeds.
For more information about the agenda, speaking and sponsorship opportunities, or ways to get involved, please reach out to us at info@fintechnorth.uk.
Event Schedule
Registration and breakfast networking session
Networking sponsored by Wrapped Agency
Welcome from FinTech North
Delivered by Joe Roche, General Manager, FinTech North
Regional Innovation and National Sector Leadership: a Macro-Economic Outlook
Moderator: Julian Wells, Director, Whitecap Consulting
Richard Carter, CEO, Lenvi
Mohammed Gharbawi, Senior Advisor, AI, Quantum Computing, Bank of England
Natalie Moore, Head of Economics, Leeds Beckett University
Nicole Sandler, Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, CFIT
Welcome and regional updates from West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Delivered by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Driving Entrepreneurial Growth in the Leeds Innovation Ecosystem
Delivered by Gilda Smith-Leigh, Innovation Manager, Business and Skills, Leeds City Council
Comfort break
The Future of Home Ownership: AI, Digital Innovation, and the Evolution of Lending
Moderator: Katherine Megson, Head of Innovation and Growth, Bruntwood SciTech
Simon Wright, COO, PEXA
Pat Szubryt, AI Lead , Central Data Office, Leeds Building Society
Innovation, Funding and Investment in the Leeds City Region
Moderator: Foluso Laguda, Strategy and Innovation Consultant, Whitecap Consulting
Jennifer Anderson, CIO, National Wealth Fund
Jordan Dargue, Co-Founder, Lifted Ventures
Josh Perry, Partner- Allowances, Incentives and Reliefs, Sedulo
Lunch & Networking
Networking sponsored by Wrapped Agency
FCA Keynote: Balancing Risk & Growth
Delivered by Colin Payne, Head of Innovation, FCA
The Double-Edged Sword: AI, Deepfakes, and the Future of KYC in Fintech
Delivered by Neil Richardson, Managing Director, Cyber Alchemy
Still using SIC codes? That's criminal
'Why outdated classification is a risk for KYB, AML and compliance'
Delivered by Alex Craven, Co-founder, The Data City
Partnerships with Purpose: Driving Innovation in RegTech with Mastercard
Delivered by Christina Cooper, Digital Partnerships, Mastercard
Build or Buy: The Evolution of Partnerships
Moderator: Oliver Chesher, Managing Director, Galibier
Jackie Kingham, Director, Business Transformation, Raisin
Anupam Bansal, Managing Director, Oxygen Consultancy Ltd.
Intellectual Property, opportunity and risk in the modern landscape
Max Jagger, Senior Corporate Account Executive, Towergate Insurance Brokers
Oliver Hall, Intellectual Property Underwriter, CFC
Networking break
Networking sponsored by Wrapped Agency
Pitch 360 North - Welcome from Innovate Finance
Delivered by Peter Cunnane, Director of International & Partnerships, Innovate Finance
Pitch 360 North – Pitches and Judge Q&A
1. Paul Harvey Founder & CEO, Adiona Insurance
2. Adam Armer Director, Doconomy
3. Joshua Ojo Founder and CEO, Ndewo
4. James O'Sullivan Founder and CEO, Nuke From Orbit
5. Alasdair Hood Founder and CEO, Recirculate
LHV Bank: Building a Fintech-Powered Retail Bank in 12 Months
Kris Brewster, CCO, LHV Bank
Ellie Kirkman, FinTech PR Consultant, Started PR
Pitch360 North - results
Closing remarks, event to close
Evening Social
Lost and Found
12 Greek St
Leeds
LS1 5RN
Event Location
Leeds Conference 2025 + Pitch360 North
Cloth Hall Court
Quebec Street
Leeds
LS1 2HA
