Connected Places Summit 2026 Agenda

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Tracks

Wednesday 18 March

Registration

08:45-09:30

30m

Keynote speeches

9:30–11:00

90m

Driving growth and catalysing change

Grand Hall

Featured speakers

Kellie Beirne

Cardiff Capital Region

Amit Bhave

CMCL

Andrew Carter

Centre for Cities

Rokhsana Fiaz OBE

Newham Council

Networking break and visit exhibitors

11:00–11:30

30m

Day 1

11:30–13:00

Transport

How will we move tomorrow?

Grand Hall 2

Featured speakers

Robert Bateman

Nissan Technical Centre Europe

Emma Partlow

National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat)

Sophie Randall

Innovate UK (IUK)

Robin Spinks

RNIB

Transport | How will we move tomorrow?

Grand Hall 2

Hard truths & high growth: Reclaiming UK transport infrastructure credibility

The mandate is clear, but the delivery is stalling. While transport holds the key to the UK’s Green Growth, we remain caught between ambitious targets and the "hard truths" of delivery. From navigating complex regulatory minefields to rebuilding infrastructure credibility for global investors, the path to decarbonisation is currently paved with barriers that too often lock out our most innovative SMEs.

This session cuts through the polite policy lines to ask what it will actually take to turn transport into a high-velocity platform for the economy. It’s time to move beyond "theoretical opportunities" and build a system where innovators can actually compete, thrive, and lead the world in transport technology.

11:30-11:45

15m

Speakers

Sameer Savani

Transport Managing Director

Connected Places Catapult

Ignition: the future of cars

As the UK faces a pivotal moment in its transport evolution, this session explores whether shifting away from car dependency is truly desirable - or even feasible.

Drawing on case studies from UK cities experimenting with 15-minute principles, this session asks who benefits and who loses from car-reduction strategies, and whether rural transport will ever reach a place where it's not reliant on cars. Are options to travel more quickly actually reducing journey times, or do we just travel further?

11:45-12:30

45m

Speakers

Robert Bateman

Manager - Vehicle Research & Advanced Engineering

Nissan Technical Centre Europe

Susan Ross

Deputy Director

Edge Innovation

Future journeys: envisioning the future of accessible transport

Transport systems shape how we live and connect, yet many people still face barriers that limit their journeys. This session shares early insights from the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the Motability Foundation collaboration, supported by industry partners, and people with lived experience of sight loss. Discover how a design-led approach is uncovering opportunities for fairer, more accessible travel, and how co-created storytelling and documentary highlights can drive meaningful, long-term change.

12:30-13:00

30m

Speakers

Emma Partlow

Chief Executive Officer

National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat)

Sophie Randall

Innovation Lead, Mobility & Cities

Innovate UK (IUK)

Robin Spinks

Head of Inclusive Design

RNIB

Day 1

11:30–13:00

Construction & Local Growth

Harnessing regional clusters for business growth

Grand Hall 1

Featured speakers

Alan Welby

Connected Places Catapult

Construction & Local Growth | Harnessing regional clusters for business growth

Grand Hall 1

State of the nation: Growth

Presenting a state of the nation view of the Business Growth agenda across the UK’s regions and international landscape, this keynote explores disappearances in regional performance and the challenge of scaling innovation beyond pilots.

Discover why Connected Places Catapult is well placed to unlock business growth through devolution, place based investment and national programmes, and how we are supporting growth at scale and helping UK firms expand into international markets..

11:30-11:45

15m

Speakers

Alan Welby

Built Environment & Local Growth Managing Director

Connected Places Catapult

Innovation assets driving investment and inclusive outcomes

Regional authorities, place leaders, and industry are harnessing innovation assets to drive growth. By directing resources and expertise into the right economic spaces, they are building the foundations for vibrant, high potential business clusters. Initiatives like the national Innovation Accelerator help turn ideas into reality, while Investment Zones and Innovation Districts act as compact catalysts where research, SMEs, industry leaders, and investors align.

In this panel, leading exemplars share how to attract investment, engage industry, and secure inclusive outcomes.

11:45-12:30

45m

Investment for innovation in net zero: financing pilots to scale

Over the last 4 years, Connected Places Catapult has supported the Cities Commission for Climate for Climate Investment (3Ci), a partnership between local government and the private sector.

This session explores why local net zero investment remains challenging, what is starting to work, and how partners across government, finance and delivery can move innovation and pilots into delivery at scale. It introduces the newly launched Local Net Zero Finance and Investment Group (LNZFIG), sponsored by Minister White in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and supported by Connected Places Catapult, and draws on lessons from the 3Ci legacy to accelerate commercially viable, community-supported and scalable local net zero investment across the UK.

12:30-13:00

30m

Speakers

Catherine McGuinness CBE

Non-Executive Director & IUK Nominated Director

Connected Places Catapult

Day 1

11:30–13:00

Data Infrastructure

Growing the businesses of tomorrow with data

Doddington Forum 1

Featured speakers

Justin Anderson

Connected Places Catapult

Data Infrastructure | Growing the businesses of tomorrow with data

Doddington Forum 1

Scaling the frontier: From innovation pilot to enduring impact

The UK is world-class at starting things, but middle-of-the-pack at finishing them. Too often, our best innovators are trapped in 'pilot-purgatory', forced to reprove their technology every time they cross a city line. This keynote breaks the cycle, revealing the new digital architecture needed to make success portable and turn frontier startups into national anchor firms.

11:30-11:45

15m

Speakers

Justin Anderson

Managing Director, Data & Digital

Connected Places Catapult

Data is infrastructure: Policy, investment and delivery

The UK is treating data as national infrastructure to support AI, public service reform and productivity, backed by commitments including £112m for improved access to public and AI‑ready data. Initiatives such as the National Data Library form part of wider efforts to make public data more accessible and reusable. This panel session discusses how these policies are translating into real delivery, and how the infrastructure being built actually connects across sectors. Is the investment overcoming fragmentation, security and standards barriers, and ultimately boosting trust?

11:45-12:30

45m

Securing the connected nation: Cyber–physical resilience for UK critical national infrastructure

12:30-13:00

30m

Day 1

11:30–13:00

Pitch & partner

Leveraging digital innovation to deliver the transport systems of the future

Doddington Forum 2

Pitch & partner | Leveraging digital innovation to deliver the transport systems of the future

Doddington Forum 2

Building Tomorrow's Connected Transport Networks

This session explores how cities and regional transport bodies are innovating to create seamless mobility solutions. We'll examine how automation and smart infrastructure can drive operational efficiencies and learn from regional leaders who are successfully implementing connected transport solutions to transform urban mobility.

11:30-12:00

30m

Agentic Airports

12:00-12:30

30m

Transforming Transport Through Data, AI and Agentic AI

Explore how AWS and other industry leaders are revolutionising transport operations through AI, automation, and agentic AI. Using real-world case studies, learn how organisations can become truly data-driven, optimise operations, and deliver better services for citizens. This session will share practical insights on starting and scaling digital transformation and innovation, and how to get it right.

12:30-13:00

30m

Lunch

13:00–14:30

90m

Day 1

14:30–16:00

Transport

Turning clean maritime innovation into commercial growth

Grand Hall 2

Featured speakers

Geraint Evans

UK Major Port Group

David Surplus

B9 Energy

Day 1

14:30–16:00

Construction & Local Growth

Embedding the industrial strategy to accelerate exports and investment

Grand Hall 1

Featured speakers

Rodney Berkeley CBE

Department for Business and Trade

Dame Susan Rice DBE

Forth Green Freeport

Neil Young

Tees Valley Combined Authority

Construction & Local Growth | Embedding the industrial strategy to accelerate exports and investment

Grand Hall 1

Exports and international partnerships as a key driver of business growth

Why are exports critical in scaling UK businesses, and what role does UK expertise play in addressing global challenges?

Through real examples showcasing collaboration in action, this session focuses on why international partners value working with the UK, how Connected Places Catapult catalyses SME growth in high-growth markets such as India, and how we can pave the way for Team UK success in global markets.

14:30-15:15

45m

Speakers

Rodney Berkeley CBE

Director of Infrastructure & Technology

Department for Business and Trade

Driving growth through UK Industrial Strategy Zones: catalysts for inclusive growth and investment

UK Industrial Strategy Zones (Freeports & Investment Zones) are leading the charge on growth by attracting investment and innovative businesses.

They are quickly becoming hotbeds of innovation and playing a key role in growing the sectors of the future, creating thousands of long-term, high-quality jobs for local people. What are the immediate and long-term growth opportunities and how are Freeports and Investment Zones catalysing inclusive growth?

15:15-16:00

45m

Speakers

Ibrahim Mohamed

Infrastructure Investment & Freeport / Investment Zones Advisor

Office for Investment

Dame Susan Rice DBE

Chair

Forth Green Freeport

Jan Ward CBE

Chair

Plymouth & South Devon Freeport

Gavin Winbanks

FDI expert and co-founder of the Office for Investment

White Hawk Green

Neil Young

Freeport Skills & Workforce Development Manager

Tees Valley Combined Authority

Day 1

14:30–16:00

Data Infrastructure

Boosting growth with data infrastructure

Doddington Forum 1

Featured speakers

Dr Scott Steedman

BSI Group

Data Infrastructure | Boosting growth with data infrastructure

Doddington Forum 1

SME Trust: Assurance and data

SMEs need trust to compete in digital markets, supported by government frameworks, industry standards and real SME experiences. The UK has strong data strategies, but growth depends on access, not policy. This session explores how to turn data into a competitive advantage by enabling SMEs to innovate, scale and export. What does a functioning data ecosystem actually require to overcome current barriers and what are the roles of government, regulators, industry and Catapults?

14:30-15:15

45m

Speakers

Dr Scott Steedman

Director-General, Standards

BSI Group

Empowering SME growth

What are the practical steps SMEs can take to build the skills, structures and capabilities needed to grow in a digital data‑driven economy? How can SMEs strengthen operations through better data access, AI adoption and targeted skills development? What are examples of actionable guidance on accelerating innovation, leveraging funding, embedding resilience and connecting SMEs with industry bodies, technology partners and innovation hubs? Join this session to deep dive into how aligning with national priorities such as decarbonisation, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies can open new markets.

15:15-16:00

45m

Day 1

14:30–16:00

Pitch & partner

Partner track

Doddington Forum 2

Pitch & partner | Partner track

Doddington Forum 2

Partner track

14:30-16:00

90m

In-person only

Networking break and visit exhibitors

16:00–16:30

30m

Keynote speeches

16:30–17:30

60m

The future of transport

Grand Hall

Featured speakers

Professor Greg Clark CBE

Connected Places Catapult

Andy Lord

Transport for London

Keynote speeches | The future of transport

Grand Hall

SME-led transformation: Advancing sustainability and efficiency in UK transport

This fireside chat will spotlight the transport SMEs that are driving real progress in sustainability, efficiency, and system-wide transformation across the UK. The discussion will explore the technologies, business models, and partnerships enabling these high-potential companies to scale their impact and help deliver a cleaner, more resilient transport network.

16:30-16:50

20m

Delivering a world-class transport network: Andy Lord in conversation

Join Professor Greg Clark and Andy Lord for an in-depth conversation on what it takes to deliver and sustain a world-class transport network for a global city. This session will explore the leadership, innovation, and long-term planning required to keep London moving efficiently while supporting economic growth and improving passenger experience.

16:50-17:30

40m

Hybrid

Speakers

Andy Lord

Commissioner

Transport for London

Professor Greg Clark CBE

Chair

Connected Places Catapult

Networking reception

17:30–18:30

60m

Thursday 19 March

Registration

08:45-09:30

30m

Keynote speeches

9:30–11:00

90m

Future proofing infrastructure, the built environment and transport

Grand Hall

Featured speakers

Graeme Craig

Places for London

Clare Wildfire

Mott MacDonald

Networking break and visit exhibitors

11:00–11:30

30m

Day 2

11:30–13:00

Transport

Driving the rail revolution together

Grand Hall 2

Featured speakers

Helen Davis

Siemens Mobility Limited

Graham Goswell

Worldline

Transport | Driving the rail revolution together

Grand Hall 2

Tracks of tomorrow: How innovation and devolution will reshape rail

Rail reform marks a transformative moment for the UK rail network. This session examines how reform could enable greater devolved decision-making at local level, alongside stronger, more empowered collaborations to drive innovation. We explore the challenges of balancing national strategy with local autonomy, assess the risks of fragmentation against the benefits of localised control, and consider how this shift could support innovation at scale and embed new approaches across the rail system.

11:30-12:15

45m

Speakers

Helen Davis

Director Strategy & Business Development, Rail Infrastructure

Siemens Mobility Limited

Graham Goswell

Rail Systems Operations Director

Worldline

Breaking Down Data Barriers to Transform Delivery & Assurance on HS2

Discover how HS2 are breaking down silos and reimagining data-sharing for the AI age. Through collaborative experimentation with real-world data on the HS2 Accelerator, in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, innovators are helping HS2 tackle key reset priorities — from predictive safety to cost and schedule assurance. The session will include a panel discussion exploring the insights from the latest data-driven cohorts, followed by a case study of BuildPrompt — a start-up using AI to bring clarity and confidence to commercial assurance on HS2.

12:15-13:00

45m

Day 2

11:30–13:00

Construction & Local Growth

Unlocking the future of construction

Grand Hall 1

Featured speakers

Elspeth Finch MBE

IAND

Ben Raybould

Turner and Townsend

Alan Welby

Connected Places Catapult

Melissa Zanocco OBE

UK Research and Innovation

Construction & Local Growth | Unlocking the future of construction

Grand Hall 1

State of the nation: Construction and infrastructure

Presenting a state of the nation view of the construction and infrastructure sectors across the UK, this keynote explores opportunities and challenges in delivering the nation's infrastructure strategy and how new approaches can unlock growth.

Discover how Connected Places Catapult is driving new approaches to Digital Whole Life and industrialising construction, and how we're supporting growth at scale and helping UK firms expand into international markets.

11:30-11:45

15m

Speakers

Alan Welby

Built Environment & Local Growth Managing Director

Connected Places Catapult

The next frontier for UK construction: Industrialised construction

The UK is increasingly recognising the potential of industrialised construction to transform how we design, manufacture and deliver the built environment. The next challenge is coordinating an industry-wide shift that embeds MMC, platform approaches and product-based delivery, while enabling SME innovation and capability growth.

How do we create the right conditions for manufacturing‑led approaches across the asset lifecycle to improve productivity, cut cost and carbon, and deliver predictable outcomes? This panel will also examine how structured pathways into major programmes help SMEs validate, demonstrate and scale new MMC solutions.

11:45-12:20

35m

Speakers

Melissa Zanocco OBE

Director, Growth Mission Accelerator

UK Research and Innovation

Global growth at scale: Turning UK digital expertise into opportunities

Initiatives like the Digital Construction International Programme (DCIP) can act as powerful export levers, creating structured pathways for UK businesses to access global markets. By showcasing innovative SMEs alongside established industry leaders, we examine how the UK’s Digital + Domain expertise can scale worldwide and position the nation at the forefront of a rapidly expanding sector.

How do we turn the UK's digital construction expertise into international opportunity?

12:20-13:00

40m

Speakers

Elspeth Finch MBE

Chief Executive and Founder

IAND

Ben Raybould

Digital Lead, New Hospital Programme

Turner and Townsend

Mohammad Shana'a

Chief Executive Office

Morta

Day 2

11:30–13:00

Data Infrastructure

Driving transport efficiency through data

Doddington Forum 1

Data Infrastructure | Driving transport efficiency through data

Doddington Forum 1

Driving transport efficiency through data

How can data and digital infrastructure unlock new efficiencies and sustainability in UK transport? What are the latest research insights and how can they be rapidly adopted at scale?

Join this session to discover actionable steps for decarbonising the network, real-world examples of technology adoption, strategies for overcome barriers to adoption, and key opportunities for SMEs to scale up solutions nationally.

11:30-12:20

50m

See it, Pitch it, Scale it”: AI solutions redefining smarter transport

Fresh from braving the dangers of a ‘Dragon’s Den’ session on AI innovation, meet the three survivors of the DfT’s “Smarter Transport Systems – AI in Transport” funding competition. These trailblazing SMEs will present their AI-powered solutions and their plans for real-world implementation. Don’t miss this chance to see the future of transport unfold!

12:20-13:00

40m

Day 2

11:30–13:00

Pitch & partner

SME Innovation pitches

Doddington Forum 2

Featured speakers

Cato Davies

Ensemble Analytics

Pitch & partner | SME Innovation pitches

Doddington Forum 2

Scaling Freight Together: How Policy, Capital and Industry Move Innovation Forward

This panel will explore how to unlock and scale freight innovation, bringing together perspectives from government, investors, industry leaders, and SME. The discussion will focus on policy, investment, and commercial challenges, and what’s needed to take proven ideas beyond pilots, support growth, and shape the future of freight.

11:30-12:00

30m

Speakers

Cato Davies

CEO

Ensemble Analytics

David Elvy

Deputy Head Multi Modal Freight Policy

Department for Transport

Rebecca Goulding

Head of Enterprise Support (Transport)

Connected Places Catapult

Accelerating Freight Innovation: From Trials to Impact

This panel will highlight how the Accelerator is turning innovative ideas into real-world impact across the freight sector. Speakers will share insights on partner collaboration, trial outcomes, and how the programme is driving change, alongside practical reflections on procurement and adoption.

12:00-12:45

45m

Lunch

13:00–14:30

90m

Day 2

14:30–16:00

Transport

Tackling transport emissions

Grand Hall 2

Featured speakers

Jenny Kavanagh

Green Skies Consulting

Paul Perera

Waygate Technologies

James Wright

Port of Tyne

Transport | Tackling transport emissions

Grand Hall 2

Zero emission flight: Moving from roadmaps to coordinated trials and beyond

The UK government’s Jet Zero strategy sets out key milestones on the path to net zero aviation emissions by 2050, but significant challenges remain. This session explores how funding can be de-risked and better incentivised, how cross sector collaboration can be strengthened, how investor confidence can be increased, and how net zero ambitions can be translated into commercially viable solutions.

Are the targets still achievable and what are the practical steps required over the next five years?

14:30-15:15

45m

Speakers

Mark Eldridge

Director of Hydrogen

Element Materials Technology

Jenny Kavanagh

CEO and Founder

Green Skies Consulting

Paul Perera

Strategy & Technology Operations Director

Waygate Technologies

Gareth Powell

Non-Executive Director

Connected Places Catapult

Powering the transport of the future with clean energy

15:15-15:30

15m

Speakers

Michael Boxwell

Founder & Corporate Development Officer

Voltempo

James Wright

HSE Leader

Port of Tyne

Lucy Yu

Non-Executive Director & Chair of the Projects, EDI & Sustainability Committee

Connected Places Catapult

Day 2

14:30–16:00

Construction & Local Growth

Infrastructure as an enabler of business growth

Grand Hall 1

Featured speakers

Chris Coonick

National Grid

Prof. Mark Tewdwr-Jones

UCL

Dr Wei Yang OBE

Digital Task Force for Planning

Construction & Local Growth | Infrastructure as an enabler of business growth

Grand Hall 1

Integrated planning for a better future: Aligning housing, infrastructure and sustainability

England’s planning system faces a critical challenge: fragmented priorities after a decade of localism have slowed housing delivery, infrastructure rollout and decarbonisation. While devolution and emerging Spatial Development Strategies signal a shift back to coordinated planning, regional authorities often lack the expertise and digital tools to deliver at scale.

This session explores how integrated, digital‑first approaches can transform regional planning, using shared data standards, interoperable platforms and scalable innovation to align housing, transport, utilities and environmental priorities into one coherent strategy.

14:30-15:15

45m

Speakers

Prof. Mark Tewdwr-Jones

Professor of Cities and Regions

UCL

Dr Wei Yang OBE

Chief Executive Officer

Digital Task Force for Planning

Collaborative innovation in infrastructure: Scaling innovation for systemic impact

Infrastructure underpins the economy, yet much of what we’ll need by 2050 remains unbuilt. Fragmented, project‑based delivery limits innovation in climate resilience, digital transformation and productivity.

This session explores how treating infrastructure as a connected system, rather than isolated projects, can unlock efficiency, sustainability and value; and how collaborative, lifecycle‑driven innovation, shared frameworks and interoperable standards transform delivery. How can the UK lead globally by creating exportable models for digital, system‑level infrastructure?

15:15-16:00

45m

Speakers

Chris Coonick

UK/US Innovation Management Office Director

National Grid

Charlotte Hills

Head of Innovation

HS2

Day 2

14:30–16:00

Data Infrastructure

Accelerating business growth with testbeds

Doddington Forum 1

Featured speakers

Graham Faiz

DNV

Data Infrastructure | Accelerating business growth with testbeds

Doddington Forum 1

How can connected testbeds transform Britain?

Testbeds are the launchpads for technology adoption and scale‑up. This session explores how successful pilots can be turned into national infrastructure, examining what it takes for proven innovations to move beyond isolated trials. Examining the roles of government, industry, SMEs and academia in shaping testbed ecosystems, how can each contribute to creating pathways that turn early‑stage success into widely deployed, scalable solutions?

14:30-15:15

45m

Speakers

Graham Faiz

Head of Digital Energy

DNV

Session TBC

15:15-16:00

45m

Day 2

14:30–16:00

Pitch & partner

SME Innovation Pitches

Doddington Forum 2

Pitch & partner | SME Innovation Pitches

Doddington Forum 2

SME Innovation pitches

Where the brightest innovators shaping the future of transport, construction,mobilityand data take centre stage. In this fast-paced, interactive showcase,cutting-edgeSMEs and scale-ups will pitch breakthrough solutions to real-world industry challenges, from greener mobility to smarter infrastructure.

14:30-16:00

90m

In-person only

Agentic Declaration: Level Up Your Customs Declaration Game

The UK Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is complex, and rework is costly. Watch a live demo of Sailapp Agentic Declaration in action — catching hidden errors, accelerating complex cases, and improving compliance confidence. Leave with a practical edge to process more declarations faster, with fewer rejections, while staying fully in control.

15:00-16:00

60m

Speakers

SAMSON YU

Founder

DX Unit Limited

Making AI Agents Work: Challenges, Obstacles, and Solutions

This session explores how UK sovereign AI enterprise operating systems with self building agents overcome the major barriers to AI adoption and deliver instant ROI solutions. It highlights the organisational, technical, and cultural obstacles leaders face, and shows how next generation AI agents can transform operational challenges into strategic advantages for cities, regions, and infrastructure systems.

15:00-16:00

60m

Speakers

Ian Tomlin

CEO

Newton Day

Networking break and visit exhibitors

16:00–16:30

30m

Keynote speeches

16:30–17:30

60m

Tracks

Transport

From clean energy and future fuels to next-generation infrastructure and connected systems, the Transport Track explores how innovation is transforming the way we move people and goods. Featuring a showcase of pioneering SMEs, this track highlights the technologies driving decarbonisation, resilience, and growth across the UK’s transport sector.

Find out more

Construction and local growth

This track explores how digital planning, modern infrastructure, and innovation are reshaping the built environment. Showcasing SMEs on their scale-up journey and real-world success stories like the West Midlands demonstrators, we’ll spotlight how innovation in construction and place-making drives productivity, sustainability, and economic growth across the UK.

Find out more

Data infrastructure

Data is the backbone of the UK’s future infrastructure. This track explores how data sharing, digital connectivity, and advanced analytics are enabling smarter decision-making, stronger resilience, and more efficient delivery across transport and construction. Featuring a showcase of pioneering SMEs, we’ll highlight the innovators turning data into real-world impact, building the foundations of a more resilient, connected, and competitive UK.

Find out more

Pitch & partner

Where the brightest innovators shaping the future of transport, construction, mobility and data take centre stage. In this fast-paced, interactive showcase, cutting-edge SMEs and scale-ups will pitch breakthrough solutions to real-world industry challenges, from greener mobility to smarter infrastructure.

Find out more

Getting there

Event Venue: Convene Sancroft, Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 7DQ

Nearby Bus Stations:
St. Pauls Station – King Edward Street – 8, 25, 56, 133, N8, N25, N242

Nearby Underground Lines:
Underground Stations St. Pauls (Central Line) Bank (Central, Northern, Waterloo & City Lines) Moorgate (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern) Monument (Circle, District

Accommodation: Preferential rates have been secured through HotelRes and can be booked here. We recommend booking early to take advantage of the discounted rates.