Northern FinTech Summit 2026

Northern FinTech Summit 2026 realiza-se a 22 de outubro de 2026, The Guildhall York, em York.

We’re delighted to announce our return to York for the third annual Northern FinTech Summit, hosted in partnership with Aviva, B arclays Eagle Labs and CubeMatch, with support from the North’s inward investment agencies and exhibition sponsors Layers Studio. Now firmly established as a highlight of the FinTech North calendar, the Summit is our flagship two-day gathering that brings the whole of the North’s fintech ecosystem into one room. Over two days, we’ll hear from the founders, leaders, investors, corporates, and policymakers driving the region forward, across four themes that between them capture where the sector stands today and where it’s heading next. The Themes Day One – Market – What’s really shaping the sector right now: the international picture, the macroeconomic backdrop, and how firms across the North are responding to a fast-moving landscape. – People – Teams, culture, inclusion and diversity, and the leadership that turns talent into growth. If fintech has a competitive edge, it starts with the people building it. Day Two – Money – The funding and investment landscape, and a look at where money is heading next — from how it’s raised to how it moves. – Tech & Product – The innovation at the heart of fintech itself, including a Summit favourite returning once again: the Startup Showcase. The Venue: The Guildhall, York We’re returning to the Guildhall, one of York’s most storied buildings and a fitting home for a Summit built on collaboration. Sitting on the banks of the Ouse in the heart of the city, the Guildhall has served as a meeting place for York’s merchants and civic leaders for over 600 years. Today it’s been reborn as a University of York building and home to Barclays Eagle Labs – a space where centuries of civic collaboration now sit alongside academia, innovation, and enterprise support. Few venues so naturally embody what the Summit is about: bringing an ecosystem together under one roof. The Social: Lendal Cellars As night falls on Day One, we’ll head to Lendal Cellars for our evening social – the very event that first inspired us to build a social into every FinTech North conference. The connections built on the night are as key to the Summit as anything on the agenda, and Lendal Cellars, tucked into the city’s historic vaults, right next door to the Guildhall, is the perfect setting for it. Why Attend The Summit draws a senior audience from across the sector – founders, C-suite leaders, investors, and policymakers shaping fintech across the North. The Guildhall’s setting naturally shapes who’s in the room, so every conversation carries weight. This is a gathering for people who want to meet the leaders defining the region’s fintech future. AGENDA **This agenda is under construction and is subject to change** Day 1: MARKET SESSION 10:00-11:00: Arrival & Registration 11:00-11:10: Welcome from FinTech North Delivered by Joe Roche, General Manager, FinTech North 11:10-11:20: Welcome from Barclays Eagle Labs Delivered by Chris Lunardi, Ecosystem Manager, Barclays Eagle Labs 11:20-11:30: The Chris Sier Keynote Delivered by Colin Payne, Head of Innovation, FCA 11:30-12:15: The Market in Motion: Political Change, Regional Growth and the Forces Reshaping UK Fintech – Moderator: Stephen Ingledew OBE, Chairman, FinTech Scotland & Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, CFIT – Andy Thornley, Head of Regulatory Policy, Innovate Finance – John Huddleston, Senior Manager, UK Growth and Investments, Group Public Affairs, Aviva – Jackie Kingham, Director, Business Transformation, Raisin – Chelsea Boothroyd, Nexus Engagement Manager, University of Leeds 12:15-12:25: The Geopolitics of Fintech: Risk and Opportunity in a Shifting International Landscape Delivered by Ben Wilson, Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy, UK, Mastercard 12:25-12:40: How Technology, Regulation and Smart Data are reshaping homebuying in the UK Delivered by Angela Hesketh, Head of Government & Public Affairs, PEXA 12:40-13:10: Staying Ahead of Fraud in a Faster, Smarter Financial System: a fireside chat – Chris Anderson, Managing Partner, Financial Crime Solutions Practice, CubeMatch – Naheed Akram, Founder, Karakor Consultancy -Moderated by Rebecca Hall, Team Manager – Inward Investment and Sector Development, Business Durham 13:15-14:05: Lunch & Networking PEOPLE SESSION 14:10-14:20: Built in the North East: Growing the Next Generation of AI Talent Delivered by Steve Kevan, CEO & Co-Founder, FinPact 14:20-15:05: Keeping Pace: Fintech Talent and Skills in the Age of AI – Moderator: Rhys Griffiths, Relationship Manager, FinTech Wales – Crispin Read, CEO, The Coders Guild – Dr Ashleigh McLellan, Founder, Anumi – Macs Dickinson, Director of Engineering, LHV Bank 15:05-15:20: Regulation as a Force for Good Delivered by Hannah Morrison, Founder, Clear Creator 15:25-15:45: Break 15:50-16:05: The Missing Data: Why Fair Access Depends on the People in the Room, Not Just the Policy Delivered by James Brown, CEO, Leeds Credit Union 16:05-16:50: Can Culture Scale as Fast as Growth? – Samantha Turner, CPO, Lenvi – Suzanne Lawson, Partnerships Manager, Group Innovation, Aviva – Natalie Garner, Transformation Programme Lead, DXC – Moderator: Bianca Spruit, Founder, Sprout Coaching – Anna Chandler, Consultancy & Fractional Leadership, Anna Chandler 16:50: Closing remarks 16:50-19:50: Evening FinTech Social Lendal Cellars 26 Lendal York YO1 8AA Day 2 10:00-10:45: Arrival & Registration 10:45-10:55: Welcome from FinTech North Delivered by Joe Roche, General Manager, FinTech North MONEY SESSION 10:55-11:05: The State of UK Fintech Funding 2026 Delivered by Joshita Ganesan, Membership Manager & Investment Lead, Innovate Finance 11:05-11:30: Show Me the Money: What It Actually Takes to Get Funded in 2026 – Ant Barker, Director of Venture Capital, Aviva - Charlotte Scott, Director, Roast my Pitch – Moderated by Angela Yore, Founder & CEO, SkyParlour 11:30-12:00: Tokenisation, Unpacked: What’s Actually Changing in How Money Moves: A fireside chat – Frances Edwards, COO, Avantgarde – Daire Lawlor, Advisor, CubeMatch – Moderated by: Chris Hemsley, Director, S&W 12:05-12:55: Lunch & Networking TECH & PRODUCT SESSION 13:00-13:20: The Agentic Shift: AI as Co-Builder, Not Just a Feature Delivered by Edward Marshall, CTO, Enablis 13:20-13:45: Building an Agentic FinTech Delivered by Anthony Pengleton, AI Practice Lead, Softwire & Rags Sathanandan, Co-Founder, p latform3 13:45-13:55: AI ready? Prove it. If you can’t find your data, you can’t trust your AI. Neither can your regulator. Delivered by Richard Handley, Director – Data & AI, Red Badger 13:55:14:10: The Future of UX: Designing Financial Products People Understand and Trust Delivered by James Hanson, MD Layers Studio 14:15-14:20: Comfort break 14:25-14:45: Tech Innovation Supercharging Financial Inclusion – Helene Panzarino, Chief Ecosystem, Director, Money Carer – Jo Yates, Product Manager, Money Carer 14:45-15:35: Northern FinTech Showcase – Paul Hands, CTO, Ark51 -Suz Ferreira, Founder, Suz Finance – Freddie Gjertsen, Co-Founder & CEO, Prompted – Angela Jayne Walton, Co-founder & CEO, alvovi – Hawa Kandeh, Founder & MD, AI TechTouch – Simon Catley, Co-founder Canongate AI -Josh Ojo, Founder, Ndewo – Moderated by Rachel England, Events & Project Manager, FinTech North 15:35-15:40: Closing remarks 15:40: Event to close Want to get involved as a speaker or sponsor? We’re looking for fintech voices and leaders from across the North to help shape this year’s agenda. If you’d like to speak or explore brand and sponsorship opportunities, we’d love to hear from you. For more information, or to discuss speaking, sponsorship, or collaboration opportunities, get in touch at info@fintechnorth.uk .