Northern Tech: A Great Opportunity

Katherine is a dynamic leader in the Northern tech ecosystem, driving strategic growth for digital startups, scale-ups, and established businesses. Operating within a thriving network of over 1,500 businesses across six UK cities, she brings practical, front-line insights to regional innovation and commercial development. A passionate champion for equality, diversity, and inclusion, Katherine created and delivers Bruntwood SciTech’s Female Founder Incubators. Since launching in Leeds in 2022, she has successfully expanded the programme to Manchester and Alderley Park, supporting over 60 women-led businesses with vital resources, networks, and strategic guidance. This exceptional impact earned her 'Facilitator of the Year' at the 2023 Leeds Digital Awards. With a robust background in Financial Services, Katherine excels at facilitating high-value partnerships that accelerate growth. She seamlessly combines strategic thinking with creative flair to connect entrepreneurs with the exact expertise they need. Katherine's influence extends across the sector through her numerous advisory roles and acts as a Leeds Digital Ambassador. She serves on the boards for The Whole Point, LegalTech i

Rory Southworth runs Fhunded Angels, connecting Lancashire founders with investors and building early-stage investment opportunities. Fhunded is a Lancashire County Council Programme.

Stuart Clarke MBE is the founder and chair of Leeds Digital, Yorkshire’s largest tech community. Leeds Digital runs the annual Leeds Digital Festival, the largest open-platform tech event in the UK. Stuart is also the founder of the annual UK Tech Week which brings together regional tech ecosystems, alongside national advocacy organisations, to celebrate tech across the whole of the UK. The 2026 UK Tech Week saw over 50 regional ecosystems take part, from Ipswich to Glasgow, Cardiff to Sunderland, Belfast to Exeter and all points between. Running his own marketing and PR consultancy, working with startup and scaleup firms in the tech sector, he is also a non-executive director and adviser to a number of startups. Stuart devised and runs the PARSE peer roundtable programme for startup founders and is the creator of the Leeds Tech Map.