Director Leeds Digital Festival
Director Leeds Digital Festival
Stuart Clarke is a co-founder of the Leeds Digital Festival and has been its Festival Director since it started in 2015. He is also the founder of Paceline marketing and PR consultancy, working with firms in the tech sector. Stuart is a non-executive director to numerous startups, and the creator of the Leeds Tech Map and the PARSE peer roundtable programme for startup founders.
He was awarded an MBE for Services to the Technology Sector in the 2023 New Year Honours list.
“Leeds is the most collaborative city in the UK and the success of the Leeds Digital Festival is down to how the region’s tech sector comes together to support each other.”
Operations and Sponsorships Manager Leeds Digital Festival
Operations and Sponsorships Manager Leeds Digital Festival
Experienced in project management, admin, and customer-focused roles, Claire manages sponsor relationships at Leeds Digital, alongside behind-the-scenes administrative functions. She’s been a part of Leeds Digital Festival since its inception and loves seeing how it has been embraced by the Leeds tech and digital community.
Claire also works alongside Stuart at Paceline Ltd.
“It’s been a real privilege to become an integral part of Leeds Digital. It’s such a unique entity whose success is entirely down to the energy and enthusiasm that the Leeds’ sector brings to the Festival each year.”
For further information regarding sponsorships, email Claire here.
Marketing and Events Manager Leeds Digital and Leeds Digital Festival
Marketing and Events Manager Leeds Digital and Leeds Digital Festival
Steph is the Marketing & Events Manager for Leeds Digital and the Leeds Digital Festival. With over 12 years of diverse experience, including roles at a major corporation, a startup, a media company, and as a freelancer, she brings a wealth of experience to the table.
She oversees all marketing strategies and communications for the Leeds Digital and Leeds Digital Festival brands. Steph also plays a key role in building the festival programme and works with partners across the City Region to shout about all the brilliant tech things happening in Leeds.
“I am incredibly lucky to join and support such a brilliant and collaborative community. The Leeds tech sector has so much to offer and I’m excited to help spread the word about it.”
For marketing enquiries, contact Steph here.
Marketing Assistant Leeds Digital
Marketing Assistant Leeds Digital
Imagine is our Marketing Assistant here at Leeds Digital. Leeds local with an MA in Linguistics and plenty of hands-on experience in digital content creation and copywriting, Imagine combines her strong academic background with a real flair for words and a lifelong goal of empowering others.
At Leeds Digital, Imagine is responsible for reviewing, editing, and publishing content on our website and across our social media to shout out about all things tech in Leeds.
“I’m proud to be from Leeds and tech is a big part of the city’s growth. It’s great to see, but it’s even better to be a part of it and get people talking.”
For any website or social media enquiries, you can reach Imagine here.
Festival Coordination Assistant Leeds Digital
Festival Coordination Assistant Leeds Digital
Lorenzo is the Festival Coordination Assistant for Leeds Digital. Italian with a Master’s degree in Communication and experience as a professional in digital media, he has always been passionate about technology and social impact. He brings to the table his skills in community building, having co-founded multiple events such as Startup Africa Roadtrip, a cooperative initiative between the European and African innovation ecosystems.
At Leeds Digital, he reviews all event submissions to ensure high-quality standards in the September Festival programme and provides extra support for the team.
“I am grateful to be part of this vibrant initiative and movement that is nurturing the culture of innovation across Yorkshire and the UK.”
Head Of Innovation, North of England Bruntwood SciTech
Head Of Innovation, North of England Bruntwood SciTech
Deb Hetherington is an award-winning facilitator of business support and growth consultancy with over a decade's experience supporting startup and scaling businesses. As Head of Innovation at Bruntwood Scitech, she oversees the design and delivery of innovation services & growth support to a range of disruptive tech businesses across the UK.
Deb is also passionate about the economic and social success of the cities, upskilling young businesses at Leeds Beckett University, Data & AI led innovation, and the potential implications that rapidly advancing technologies are likely to have on both business and society alike. She is also the co-founder of WILD.
"Working with the Leeds Digital team is one of the most rewarding roles I've had. The social and economic impact this activity has on Leeds, and the wider region, is outstanding."
CEO, Head of Digital and Commercial Law Berwins
CEO, Head of Digital and Commercial Law Berwins
Paul is founder and CEO of Yorkshire law firm Berwins with a longstanding specialism in advising tech businesses on software-related contracts and corporate matters. He was there at the beginning of LDF as a founder director, and has continued to support the organisation as well as the festival itself. He’s been responsible for developing links with LDF’s counterpart festival in Tallinn, Estonia, Latitude 59; and it was from there that he imported the idea of a last-day festival run, leading an ever-growing group of runners around the tech sights of Leeds on the final Friday.
“Honestly, being involved in LDF is one of my career highlights – being an evangelist for my home city and for the tech sector, and enjoying the embrace of a community like no other. As good as it gets!”
Our ambassadors are some of the Leeds City Region’s best and brightest minds in tech. They represent Leeds Digital within the city and beyond, promoting the innovation and expertise that exists in the local tech community.
Each ambassador plays a role in the Leeds tech sector and is committed to collaboration and inclusion. Through shared knowledge, mentorship and advocacy, they’ve already made significant impacts in the industry.
Find out more about our ambassadors, what they do, and their key values and vision at our blog.
Founder Crisp, a Kroll Business
Founder Crisp, a Kroll Business
Starting his first tech business at the age of 15, Adam created one of the world's first social media businesses.
He soon recognised the importance of protecting children and teenagers using online games and social networks from abuse, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying and other online threats, and set up Crisp in 2005, after helping the UK government to develop online child protection laws.
Adam built Crisp into a global industry-leading risk intelligence firm and oversaw its sale to US-based Kroll in 2022. Still an advisor to Crisp, Adam is now focusing on helping the next generation of tech founders.
“I'm really proud to be an Ambassador for Leeds Digital. I've appreciated the help and support that I've been given from the Leeds tech sector over the years and I'm looking forward to helping promote it far and wide.”
Senior Strategic Events Manager NEXUS
Senior Strategic Events Manager NEXUS
Alan leads the year-round strategic events and engagement programme for both the Nexus innovation community and wider business engagement at the University of Leeds.
He frequently engages with and manages visits involving national policymakers and politicians. For the past six years he has led and championed a programme of events and activity for Leeds Digital Festival. He's passionate about creating events and opportunities which facilitate collaboration and innovation across the Nexus community, the Leeds innovation ecosystem and beyond.
“Leeds Digital continues to gain momentum and deliver a huge amount of value and impact for the tech and innovation sectors in the city. I’m really excited to be an ambassador and am looking forward to collaborating with Leeds Digital as it continues to go from strength to strength.”
Co-Founder and CEO The Data City
Co-Founder and CEO The Data City
Since founding a digital agency in 1999, Alex has been pioneering applications of new technology throughout his career and is now a Co-Founder and CEO of The Data City, a tech start-up that uses machine learning to map the global economy for government and the private sector.
Alex is an active member of the digital/tech community, regularly speaking at events, judging awards, providing non-exec advisory services, and is also the chair of web 3 start-up Pooldata.io. Alex is a champion of diversity and inclusion and is passionate about raising awareness around neurodiversity and entrepreneurship.
“I love the Leeds tech scene! It is full of brilliant, ambitious people who go above and beyond to help each other out and have fun together. Business is hard, but being part of this scene adds a joy to it that feels very special.”
Innovation Lead - Creative Industries Innovate UK
Innovation Lead - Creative Industries Innovate UK
Alina has a track record of working in and with high growth companies. Collaborator and connector, previously focused solely on supporting and advocating for innovators within the region, she brings a commercial perspective to their challenges.
Alina is a champion for diversity, innovation and inspiring future leaders, and joined Innovate UK to expand the support for untapped innovative businesses and to increase investment in creative talent. Ensuring Creative Catalyst strategically & operationally compliments other activities across UKRI in the sector, Alina’s role involves helping to build collaborations between industry, managing competitions and overseeing programme delivery.
“I’ve been attending Leeds Digital Festival for years - the careers fair is where I got my first full time job in the creative industry! It’s been lovely to see the way it’s developed over the years and that the value its community creates can now be shared year round through the new platform.”
Co-founder The Data Refinery
Co-founder The Data Refinery
Anna Sutton is the recently exited Co-Founder of The Data Shed, a Leeds based Data consultancy, now Hippo Data. Currently Anna is busy building business #2, The Data Refinery, a SaaS data platform that supercharges data and AI capabilities for any organisation.
The plan is to take everything learned from the Shed and make data driven insights available to a much wider range of organisations giving customers all the benefits of a data warehouse and analysis tools, without the headaches and expense.
“Through the Leeds digital community, I’ve made friends, found clients, met the eventual buyer of our business and made connections that have played a huge part in our success. It has also played a key role in my growth as a leader and keeping me sane during the highs and lows of scaling a business, particularly in the turmoil of the last five years. We have something special here in this city and I’m very proud to be invited to be an ambassador as part of Leeds Digital.”
Head Of Technology Leeds Building Society
Head Of Technology Leeds Building Society
Jay is Head of Technology for Savings, Digital and Mortgages at Leeds Building Society - a great company currently going through a huge digital transformation.
Graduating with an Economics degree, Jay has spent most of his career in technology and financial services, with the likes of GE Capital and DSG (CACI) before joining the Society. Married with two kids, he’s been based in Leeds since 1998, and is an avid technologist, snowboarder, rambler and gym goer.
“The Leeds digital ecosystem is exciting, vibrant and highly collaborative and is a great place to be for any digitally-minded individual or business that is looking to grow in the Leeds area. Its strengths are the high concentration of successful digital and technology businesses and experts that are located in the area that come together to create a special digital hub. I’m excited about the opportunity to be an active part of Leeds Digital to share the great things that are happening in Leeds with a much wider audience.”
Chief Partnerships Officer Generation UK&I
Chief Partnerships Officer Generation UK&I
Jess Sewter is Chief Partnerships Officer for Generation UK&I, a leading skills bootcamp charity that trains, supports and places people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds into life-changing tech and data roles otherwise inaccessible.
Jess has worked in education, employment and skills for over 20 years and is passionate about improving social mobility through widening access and challenging the status quo. Jess partners with businesses looking to grow their digital teams, increase their diversity and make social impact.
“The Leeds Digital ecosystem is thriving and is the heartbeat of Leeds. It brings together so much innovation, collaboration, and support across the city and works together on important issues such as increasing DEI and closing the digital divide in Leeds. I am proud to be part of it and rave about its impact far and wide!”
The Anthrosecurist
The Anthrosecurist
Lianne is an award-winning Head of Security Operations for a major UK supermarket retailer.
She's delivered talks across the globe to share her vision for a new type of security function, drawing upon her expertise as a cyber-anthropologist (through her consultancy, The Anthrosecurist), her practical experience as a security-focused software developer, and as a security practitioner. Lianne combines the human and the technical aspects of security to evangelise a cultural security transformation.
She's also on the advisory board for a community enterprise aimed at encouraging diversity in tech and is a published author and podcast host.
“I owe my career to the Leeds Digital festival. It inspired me to take the leap to retrain for a career in this industry, and as my career grew it not only gave me fantastic opportunities that I could have only dreamed of, but it also enabled me to make life-long connections and friends.
We are so very lucky to have such an amazing tech community in Leeds, and I for one, am very grateful.”
Site Reliability Engineer Sky
Site Reliability Engineer Sky
Patience Ndlovu is a Site Reliability Engineer who retrained into Tech from a non-Tech background after serving in the Royal Navy.
She found her passion for technology and spent time learning how to code using the #100ofdayscodechallenge. Starting her first tech role in 2019, in 2021 she won Computing’s Analyst of the Year and Women in Tech’s Rising Star awards.
Patience featured on Tech Talent Charter’s #DoingItAnywayCampaign, and following her passion, she’s a mentor to new starters, works with the next generation to increase representation, and runs a community group for Black Young Professionals in Leeds.
“The Leeds digital ecosystem is thriving and if we want to continue on this trajectory, we need to collaborate more to tackle challenges like the digital skills gap, improve retention and be inclusive by not leaving anyone out of the conversation."
Chief Engineer BJSS
Chief Engineer BJSS
Rich is an engaged member of the Leeds tech community, bringing a wealth of experience from organisations such as the BBC and Sky.
As Chief Engineer at BJSS, he's dedicated to fostering innovation and achieving technical excellence in major projects. With 15 years spent in Japan, Rich offers a global perspective to software engineering. He plays an active role in the local tech scene, spearheading Leeds-JS and founding Leeds Digital Health. Rich is committed to making substantial contributions to the thriving Leeds tech landscape.
“Leeds is buzzing, with a vibrant community of talented, fun, and insightful individuals. There is so much going on, it is exciting to be a part of this dynamic tech ecosystem.”
Co-founder Seeai
Co-founder Seeai
Saile is a Tech Entrepreneur and Co-founder of Seeai, a software development company that specialises in utilising artificial intelligence to unlock new opportunities for businesses.
She’s a recipient of the prestigious Global Exceptional Talent VISA which enables the best tech talent from around the world to work in the UK’s digital technology sector. Saile has been recently recognised as one of the Women in Innovation Award Winners by Innovate UK that showcases high-potential female business leaders with game-changing innovations and ambitious plans that inspire future entrepreneurs.
“The Leeds Digital Ecosystem is a vibrant community of collaboration and innovation where companies can thrive. As an entrepreneur, the Leeds Digital ecosystem has been essential for both myself and Seeai. It has helped open doors to engage and connect with people from diverse sectors to share ideas and enable collaborations. Leeds Digital allows opportunities for everybody to engage, making it a great place for growth and innovation.”
Senior Director Cognizant
Senior Director Cognizant
Sarah is responsible for client growth at Conquer Technology. She has won multiple awards and has previously held a number of COO roles within fast growth technology businesses, and operated in senior roles for some of the most highly regarded consultancies in the world, including EY and Cognizant.
She is passionate about the Leeds digital ecosystem and chairs its Digital Steer and Leeds Digital Forum, guiding the digital ecosystem to ensure the city is the most inclusive and best place to be a digital business. Sarah is also a co-founder of WILD Digital, which is a 2,500 member+ Northern community-led initiative, focused on both creating and highlighting activities that encourage minority groups to consider choosing a career in digital.
“I’m honoured to be an Ambassador for Leeds Digital. The community is like family to me and being able to support and promote it both locally and on a wider platform is always a privilege.”
Head of Connected Technology Academy KPMG
Head of Connected Technology Academy KPMG
Yasmin is Head of Connected Technology Academy at KPMG, a role that allows her to break down barriers for women and young people coming into the tech industry and educating through outreach activity in schools, colleges and universities and her work with KidsCode in the Leeds region.
She’s a powerful voice in the Leeds tech community and is committed to helping people feel empowered to take the leap into tech, regardless of background and experience. Yasmin is a Board Member at WILD Digital, Maggie’s Cancer Centres and Yorkshire Dance, and a School Governor.
“The Leeds tech ecosystem is so unique and is a wonderful community to be a part of and something that has given so much to me over the years, whether that be friendship, support in my career and lots of opportunity. It’s something we should be proud of as a region and the strides we have taken over the years, from tech unicorns, entrepreneurs, watching new businesses grow and others land local hubs in the region, we have certainly cemented ourselves as a thriving hub to be reckoned with.”
Co-founder and CEO Panintelligence
Co-founder and CEO Panintelligence
Zandra Moore is the Co-founder and CEO of Panintelligence and is a tech entrepreneur, specialising in data. Zandra is passionate about enabling more women in the tech industry, improving gender equality and increasing investment in female-founded businesses.
Zandra’s unwavering energy led to the creation of LeanIn Leeds, No Code Lab and the Yorkshire Growth Tech Group, all with the focus of supporting and championing diversity in tech. With her experience, Zandra has also become a member of the UK Government’s Taskforce for Women-Led High Growth Enterprises. She’s also a mentor and Angel Investor.
“As a female tech founder and Leeds lass, I’m deeply motivated to see Leeds as a world-leading tech hub. The Leeds Digital movement has galvanised the collaboration the city needed to make this dream a reality for the city. I’m so proud to play a small part in that!”