Member Article

North East tech network to double in size with second annual conference

Dynamo, the NE tech network, is expecting to double in size with its second annual conference this year.

Keynote speakers include Sage CEO Stephen Kelly, speaking for one of the first times since his appointment, BBC economics correspondent Steph McGovern and film mogul David (Lord) Puttnam.

Also joining will be the CEO of TechNorth, Claire Braithwaite, appointed as part of the Northern Powerhouse agenda, as well as Hans Moeller, NE LEP’s Innovation Director. There will also be presentations from the region’s award-winning ‘scale-up’ firms, such as Performance Horizon Group, Omlis and Ubisoft.

Given the growth of the region as a tech hotspot, the conference is launching ‘Get into IT’ - a dedicated pre-event Careers Fair for kids, parents, teachers, graduates and the industry – with support from the region’s Code Clubs, Maker Clubs and some of the conference speakers for the following day!

Dynamo 15 returns on 18 June 2015 for what promises to be an IT-packed event at the University of Sunderland. This year’s focus is how ‘North East tech impacts the World’. There will be conference streams on innovation, collaboration, policy, skills and growth.

Leading London economist Douglas McWilliams stresses the importance of UK digital cities in his book ‘Flat White Economy’. His arguments for focusing IT and technology development outside of London, corroborate Dynamo’s mission to build on the existing excellence in IT to grow the North East IT economy.

Dynamo 15, backed by co-headline sponsors Accenture and Sage, is for anyone interested in IT and technology, in the public or private sectors. Accenture, Sage and our other conference partners and sponsors this year are dedicated to promoting the North East as an IT hub.

Bob Paton, MD of the Newcastle Delivery Centre at Accenture, Dynamo 15’s co-headline sponsor said, “The North East technology industry is expanding rapidly, but to build on this success we need a pool of skilled, work-ready young people keen to pursue careers in technology. Dynamo 15 puts the spotlight on the importance of technology skills development in the region, as we work together to build a skills pipeline that will support our industry’s growth in years to come.”

Stuart Lynn, UKI Chief Technology Officer at Sage and co-headline sponsor said, “We’re thrilled to see the North East digital economy on the political agenda. Sage, led by our CEO, Stephen Kelly, is passionate about promoting a thriving IT industry in a Northern Powerhouse. Previously as Chief Operating Officer for UK government Stephen led amongst other initiatives the government’s digital transformation agenda, and is keen to be part of Dynamo, spearheading the campaign to put the North East on the IT hub map.”

Alastair Irons, from the Department of Computing, Engineering and Technology at the University of Sunderland, and Dynamo 15 conference host said, “We’re delighted to be hosting Dynamo 15 at our state-of-the-art campus in Sunderland. Not only do we provide young people with top quality Computing and IT qualifications, Sunderland is a technology hub so being a Dynamo member is a natural and happy relationship.”

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