The Business of Yorkshire Conference: Our Investment in Business panellists
The Business of Yorkshire Conference returns next month with its usual mix of insightful discussions and networking opportunities.
The Leeds Marriott Hotel hosts the one-day event on Thursday, November 28th and many of the region’s leading business figures will be speaking (9am start). It is split into three segments – business investment, people investment and regional investment. To book your ticket click here.
A big part of what delegates will enjoy are a five, 30-minute discussion panels, each one covering a different key topic.
Our first panel segment starts at 10.15am and it will focus on ‘Investment in Business’. Fast-growing businesses and sectors need investment to be able to fulfil their potential. There is a huge opportunity for the region if it can make sure the available funding reaches the entrepreneurs and organisations that can drive the future economy of Yorkshire.
Our Investment in Business panellists
Natalie Boswell, Regional Development Director, Lloyds Banking Group
Natalie Boswell of Lloyds Bank
Natalie Boswell leads on Regional Development for the North East & Yorkshire for Lloyds Bank, with the objective of building stronger and more sustainable regional economies through collaboration and thought leadership. She is passionate about supporting women founded and led businesses and focus areas of her regional development strategy include supporting businesses with productivity, international trade, access to finance and net zero transition. She joined Lloyds after graduating from Leeds University and has spent 11 years in customer-facing relationship management roles, supporting businesses across various sectors deliver their strategies and growth ambitions. She has recently been awarded a 1st class MBA from Henley Business School.
Zandra Moore, Co-founder and CEO, Panintelligence
Zandra Moore (pictured above) is the co-founder and CEO of Panintelligence and is a tech entrepreneur, specialising in data. She is passionate about enabling more women in the tech industry, improving gender equality and increasing investment in businesses founded by fellow female entrepreneurs. Earlier roles in tech instilled an appreciation of the technology industry and a desire to make a change in the mostly male led sector. Her unwavering energy has led to the creation of LeanIn Leeds, The No Code Lab and the Yorkshire Growth Tech Group, all with the focus of supporting and championing female representation in the tech industry. As a result, Zandra was invited to become a member of the UK Government’s Taskforce for diversity in fast growth companies in 2022.
Simon Cunnington, Director, British Business Bank & NPIF II
Simon Cunninton
Simon joined the British Business Bank in January 2017 to help launch and promote the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, before spending three years in the Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds team helping to increase the supply of venture capital to early-stage high growth UK smaller businesses. He now leads on the establishment and management of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, a £660m fund of funds supporting the growth of smaller businesses across the North of England.
He qualified as an accountant with Nottinghamshire County Council where he spent 11 years overseeing the council’s pension fund and treasury investments. He has extensive experience of managing and monitoring investments within the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in Nottinghamshire and was heavily involved in the early stages of creating LGPS Central.
Simon has a law degree (LLB) from the University of Nottingham.
John Connor, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
John leads Womble Bond Dickinson’s banking team and financial institutions sector team. He advises lenders including high-street banks, specialist debt funds and government agencies; as well as advising a range of local, national and international businesses. His practice includes advising on the origination of loans, the sale of loans and securities, and the restructuring of existing facilities. His work includes advising on property finance, corporate debt, project finance and invoice finance transactions.
Melissa Chambers, CEO & Co-Founder, Sitehop
Melissa Chambers
Melissa Chambers is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sitehop, a company that delivers ultra-high speed, low latency, and high-grade cryptography solutions. With more than 15 years of experience founding and growing technology startups and a team of engineers and experts, she is passionate about securing the backbone of the internet and communications. She advocates for women in STEM professions and is a proud member of Cyber Runway Scale and the Women’s Engineering Society. She is honored to have been recognized as Startup Magazine’s 2023 Inspirational Woman of the Industry and 2024’s Most Inspiring Woman in Cyber.
