Navigating the New Economy: Policy, Tech & Regional Growth

Featuring Chris Woolard CBE - EY Partner and Chair of the EY Global Regulatory Network, former Interim CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the UK Government’s Digital Markets Champion - this session brings high-level regulatory and financial insight down to earth. Drawing on his extensive background at the intersection of finance, government, and digital policy, Chris will explore how trends in Financial Services and digital markets provide a playbook for broader regional innovation and inclusive growth.
Following the briefing, Edward Twiddy, Co-Founder of Atom bank, will chair an open Q&A.
What we will cover
1. UK policy and economic outlook: Reflections on the early days of the Burnham government and latest Budget - examining what fiscal and policy direction means for Financial Services and inclusive growth across the UK.

2. Tech and regulatory change as an opportunity: How rapid developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tokenisation are transforming not just financial services, but the wider economy. We will discuss how businesses across all sectors can navigate rapid innovation and how the region can actively participate in this shift.

3. Connecting regional digital markets: Lessons from Chris’s role as Digital Markets Champion on why tech and digital policy must move beyond London. We will look at practical, real-world use cases for building connected regional tech clusters that boost productivity, drive investment, and support local supply chains.

4. Social mobility & preparing the future workforce: How do we ensure young people across the North East benefit from economic and technological growth? A practical discussion on building meaningful talent pipelines - from AI readiness and apprenticeships to cross-sector partnerships.

Event venue & nearby stays

The Pattern Shop, Sussex Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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