Get to know the speakers and panellists who will be joining us at the Fintech Conference 2025 at No.1 Circle Square, Manchester on 19th June.
This year’s theme, “Fintech Forward: Building Resilience Through Intelligence & Innovation,” will spotlight the technologies, people, and strategies reshaping financial services, from AI and RegTech to blockchain, DeFi and embedded finance.
Fintech Conference 2025 is sponsored by Slalom and Bruntwood SciTech.
How can AI really transform your organisation? The benefits of AI-accelerated migration
Hugh Freestone
Senior Delivery Principal
Slalom
Hugh Freestone is a seasoned Data professional who has worked on cloud platforms for over 10 years building on extensive previous experience in data warehousing and analytics.
At Slalom he leads a team delivering solutions including on Microsoft Fabric and is passionate about using technology to improve outcomes for clients.
Emily Roberts
Data Platform Lead
Principality Building Society
Trust & Security — Navigating Risk in a Digital-First World
Tim Brewin
Senior Product Owner
Lloyds Banking Group
Tim is a tech focused Product Owner transforming how we handle complaints at Lloyds Banking Group.
He specialises in blending AI innovation with regulatory rigour to create intelligent, scalable systems like the award-winning Merlin platform.
Tim enjoys playing with new tech and brings calm clarity to complexity—helping teams move faster, think smarter, and deliver better outcomes for colleagues and customers alike.
Chris Bush
Head of the Design Group
Nexer Digital
Chris Bush is Head of the Design Group at Nexer Digital, where he leads a multidisciplinary team focused on creating inclusive, user-centred products and services. With over 20 years’ experience in design and user experience, Chris has helped financial services organisations harness empathetic, accessible design to drive meaningful innovation.
He champions the use of emerging technologies, including AI, to remove barriers and improve access to vital digital services. A regular speaker at industry events, Chris is a passionate advocate for inclusive design and the role diverse, collaborative teams play in shaping equitable outcomes — particularly in complex sectors like fintech.
Neil Smith
Account Director
CyberLab
Neil Smith, Account Director at CyberLab, has over 10 years of experience in the cyber security and IT sector. He’s highly accredited in endpoint, network and cloud security. At CyberLab, he supports some of the largest public sector organisations and corporate brands on their cyber security journey.
Northern AI - Innovating With Purpose at LBG
Suzanne Ellison
Head of Product
Lloyds Banking Group
Suzanne is a visionary product leader with 20+ years of experience transforming Financial Services through innovation. At Lloyds Banking Group, she co-leads a powerhouse team of 300 colleagues, delivering enterprise-scale AI solutions that are redefining how the bank operates.
With a rare ability to bridge cutting-edge tech, business strategy, and real-world impact, Suzanne brings clarity and energy to the AI conversation. She’s also a passionate champion for women in tech—mentoring future leaders and building community through partnerships like DigitalHer.
RegTech & Regulation — Innovating Within the Rules
Elaine Mullan
Head of Marketing
Corlytics
Elaine Mullan is the Head of Marketing at Corlytics, a leading global provider of regulatory risk intelligence and analytics for the financial services industry.
She brings extensive experience from her successful tenure at various fintech firms, where she led impactful marketing campaigns and product launches on a global scale.
Elaine is a strong advocate for mentoring women in tech and fintech marketing and has been recognised as one of the top 30 most influential marketers in the fintech sector.
Dr. Nafisa Usman
Lecturer in Financial Technology & Digital Business
University of Salford
Dr. Nafisa is a Financial Technology Specialist and Lecturer in Financial Technologies and Digital Business, with a multidisciplinary background at the intersection of innovation, regulation, data analytics, and sustainable finance. She holds a PhD in Financial Technology and Digital Intelligence from the University of Salford Manchester and is believed to be the first to earn this pioneering title.
With extensive experience as a Financial Regulator and technology strategist, Dr. Nafisa offers a unique perspective on the adoption of RegTech solutions for sustainable finance and inclusive economic development. Her professional journey spans regulatory innovation, financial integrity, and digital transformation across both national and sub-national levels in Nigeria.
She currently teaches and conducts research in the areas of FinTech, digital financial services, compliance, and digital inclusion. Her work consistently explores how RegTech and digital intelligence can be harnessed to enhance transparency, integrity, and sustainability in financial systems.
Wendy Saunders
Partner and Head of Financial Services Regulatory
Lewis Silkin
Wendy specialises in both advisory and contentious financial services regulation and is the Co-Head of Lewis Silkin’s Financial Services team. She started her career in the Enforcement division of the Financial Services Authority (now Financial Conduct Authority) before moving into private practice, which has included secondments to Lloyds Banking Group and Macquarie.
She is very well connected across the firm to provide clients with a seamless and comprehensive service, ranging from employment matters such as SMCR, fitness and propriety and remuneration, corporate matters concerning change in control for financial services firms, advertising advice for a wide range of businesses concerning financial promotions, to outsourcing, e-money and payment services advice for our digital, commerce and creative clients. Not to mention her particular specialism in crypto-related matters.
She advises a very wide range of clients, from banks, financial institutions and investment firms through to advertising agencies, games platforms and cryptoasset firms.
Blockchain, Crypto & the Future of Decentralised Finance (DeFi)
Chris Air
Partner
DAC Beachcroft
Chris is a Partner at national law firm DAC Beachcroft.
He specialises in technology and privacy related law and acts for a number of fintech suppliers and large corporates in the financial services sector.
He regularly speaks on cutting edge legal issues involving AI, DLT and VR, including the emerging regulations and guidance relating to these technologies.
Alex Lynham
Founder/CTO
Envoy Labs
Alex is a PhD researcher, engineer and entrepreneur primarily working in the blockchain space. In 2021-22, he helped launch a blockchain, then developed two decentralized applications, including a social staking protocol, in the Cosmos Ecosystem.
Besides running Envoy Labs, a consultancy and staking infrastructure company, he is currently working on a PhD focussed on decentralization and the limits of blockchain immutability.
Emily Kelly
Senior Manager
Alexander & Co
Emily Kelly is a Senior Manager at Alexander & Co, a Manchester-based firm of chartered accountants and tax advisors, and a leading UK expert in crypto tax. She advises digital and fintech companies, startups, and SMEs on strategic growth, financial reporting, and compliance.
She heads the firm’s crypto tax team and works across sectors including fintech, creative, and professional services. Emily is relationship-driven, offering tailored support from launch to exit.
An active member of Pro-Manchester’s FinTech Steering Group, she’s committed to collaboration within the business community. Emily is a qualified Chartered Accountant, known for her hands-on, commercially focused approach.
Paul Taylor
Senior Director of Global Services
Chainalysis
Paul Taylor is the Senior Director of Global Services at Chainalysis, leading a team dedicated to advancing blockchain technology, educating the world on the future of finance and combating cryptocurrency-related crime.
With a background as a former Detective Sergeant in Greater Manchester Police, Paul has extensive experience in cybercrime and digital forensics. He holds an MSc in Cyber Security, Threat Intelligence, and Forensics and has co-authored research on blockchain security.
Paul has been investigating, managing and advising on the illicit use of cryptocurrency activity for over a decade and his work bridges the gap between law enforcement and technology to create safer, more transparent systems for the digital age.
In conversation with Luke Kosky with Katie Gallagher
Luke Kosky
Fintech Policy Lead
The Startup Coalition
Luke Kosky is a leading voice in fintech policy with a strong background in financial services and public policy bringing expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and advocating for innovation-driven growth.
Currently serving as the Fintech Policy Lead at the Startup Coalition, Luke has led initiatives to shape and influence policy decisions within the rapidly evolving technology and financial sectors including Consumer Credit Reform, Open Banking and payments innovation.
Katie Gallagher OBE
Managing Director
Manchester Digital
Katie Gallagher OBE is managing director of Manchester Digital, and plays a key role in the development of the region's tech ecosystem. She is also the chair of the UK Tech Cluster Group, which brings together the UK’s regional tech organisations to work together to share knowledge, connections and best practice.
She is an experienced founder and strategist with an entrepreneurial mindset and a deep understanding of tech ecosystems. Katie has more than 15 years’ experience of delivering innovative services, support and guidance to start-ups, scale-ups and corporates as well as managing and creating successful public/private sector partnerships.
Katie was awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours list for her work for the digital and tech industry in the North West.
Agenda
12:30 - Arrival and Registration
12:55 - Welcome address with Katie Gallagher OBE, Manchester Digital
13:00 - How can AI really transform your organisation? The benefits of AI-accelerated migration
Slalom are joined by their customer, Principality Building Society, to discuss how they implemented the use of AI agents as an accelerator on a big migration transformation, and how this has helped to overcome challenges as well as reducing the overall timeframes and costs. Join Hugh and Emily as they delve into the benefits of AI-accelerated migration.
13:30 - Trust & Security — Navigating Risk in a Digital-First World
Chaired by Tim Brewin (Lloyds Banking Group), panellists including Chris Bush (Nexer Digital) and Neil Smith (CyberLab) will discuss how fintechs are balancing innovation with security, compliance and customer trust. The panel will cover topics including AI in fraud detection, risk management and cyber resilience.
14:15 - Northern AI - Innovating With Purpose at LBG
Suzanne Ellison, Head of Product at Lloyds Banking Group, will deliver a fast-paced lightning talk on how the organisation is applying emerging technologies to deliver real impact for customers and communities, and what it means to build AI solutions responsibly at scale.
14.30 - Break & Networking
14.45 - RegTech & Regulation — Innovating Within the Rules
As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, how can fintechs stay ahead of the curve? In this panel chaired by Katie Gallagher OBE, Elaine Mullan (Corlytics), Dr. Nafisa Usman (University of Salford) and Wendy Saunders (Lewis Silkin) will explore how RegTech is enabling financial services to adapt more efficiently to policy shifts, reduce manual compliance processes and embed regulatory thinking into product development.
15.30 - Blockchain, Crypto & the Future of Decentralised Finance (DeFi)
In this panel chaired by Chris Air (DAC Beachcroft), speakers Alex Lynham (Envoy Labs), Emily Kelly (Alexander & Co) and Paul Taylor (Chainalysis) will cut through the hype to explore real-world use cases for blockchain, the role of stablecoins, emerging crypto regulation and where DeFi is heading next.
16.30 - What’s next for Fintech?
With the recent Spending Review setting the direction of travel for UK tech and finance, now is the time for fintechs to get clear on the risks and opportunities ahead. Katie Gallagher OBE is joined by Luke Kosky, fintech policy lead at the Startup Coalition, to unpack what’s changing, from long-awaited BNPL regulation to wider policy shifts affecting growth, compliance and investor confidence. Essential insight for anyone building, scaling or supporting a fintech business.
17.00 - Drinks Reception & Networking
18.00 - Close