Do you continue to evolve what you have, invest in modernisation, or take the risk of rebuilding?

Do you prioritise speed, resilience, or long-term sustainability?

And how do you make those calls when the stakes are high and the system is constantly evolving?

This Tech Leader Talk brings together senior leaders from high-scale digital businesses to explore: What it really takes to lead platform decisions at scale.

Drawing on experience from organisations operating complex, high-traffic systems, the discussion will focus on the leadership challenges behind critical engineering decisions - where trade-offs are unavoidable and there’s rarely a single “right” answer.

📅 Date: Thursday 11th June 2026
🕒 Time: 12pm-2pm
📍 Location: No.1 Circle Square
💷 Price: Manchester Digital members - Free (4 x tickets per company)
                Non members - £30

Manchester Digital  members, please check your emails/newsletters or speak to your Community Manager for your discount code to access free tickets.

Spaces are limited - secure your place to gain insight from these senior leaders and connect with peers.

To reserve your place, book your ticket today. This event is aimed at senior leaders and decision makers only, please email kate.wilson@manchesterdigital.com if this does not apply to you but you would like to attend. We reserve the right to cancel any orders.

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Speakers to include

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What to Expect?

• Networking Lunch: Connect with other senior leaders over a light lunch and refreshments.
• Inspiring Panel Discussion: Hear insights from senior leaders from across the sector as they share their experiences of innovation and progress.
• Q&A Session: Gain expert perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing leaders working in complex platform environments. 

Who Should Attend?

This event is for senior leaders, C-Level professionals, and decision-makers in tech and digital businesses across the North West who are eager to:

• Build connections with peers in the industry.
• Share and gain new perspectives on leadership and innovation.

This is a unique opportunity for C-Level executives and senior leaders from the North West’s digital and tech sector to come together, share insights, and build meaningful connections.

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Speakers

Richard Horvath

Lead Software Engineer
Lloyds Banking Group

Richard Horvath is a Lead Software Engineer within the Transport Platform at Lloyds Banking Group, where he leads teams delivering and modernising large‑scale digital services across the vehicle lifecycle.

Richard brings over 30 years of experience in IT, spanning roles including software engineer, project manager, and Scrum Master, giving him a broad perspective across both technology delivery and ways of working. Throughout his career, he has worked across packaged solutions, bespoke builds, and large‑scale legacy platforms, helping organisations decide when to buy, when to build, and when to rebuild.

Chris Grice

Head of Engineering
Street

Hosted by

Alison Ross MBE

Chief People & Operations Officer
Autotrader

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Bring a Tin

We're encouraging all event attendees to bring a tin of food to donate to Mustard Tree, a Manchester charity supporting people facing poverty and homelessness. It’s a small act that could make a big difference. Donations can also be made on the day.

Let’s make doing good part of what we do—together, and let’s make kindness part of the culture.

Read more about Bring a Tin

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At Manchester Digital, we believe in creating an inclusive and diverse community where everyone feels welcome and valued. We are committed to ensuring that all our event attendees have a safe, enjoyable experience that meets their needs.

We invite all attendees to contact us if they have any dietary requirements, accessibility needs, or neurodiversity requirements, or if they require accommodations to respect their cultural or religious needs during their visit. We believe that by working together, we can create an environment that is welcoming to all and allows everyone to fully participate in our events.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to hear from you and to work with you to ensure that our events are accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Please flag any special dietary or accessibility requirements to info@manchesterdigital.com as soon as possible.

You can download our Code of Conduct here.