The Festival of Innovation and Grassroots Growth Summit

The Festival of Innovation and Grassroots Growth Summit

Discover how Innovation at the University of Warwick is changing the world

Monday 27th January 2025 - Warwick Arts Centre - 10am - 5pm

Summit Programme

From illuminating keynotes by industry leaders and thought-provoking sessions by local founders to unparalleled networking opportunities, there’s so much to experience at the Festival of Innovation and Grassroots Growth Summit.

Please note: Agenda speakers and times are subject to change

Time	Space	Session
10am - 11am	Foyer / exhibition area	Registration and refreshments
11am - 11.20am	Butterworth Hall	A warm welcome: Shaping the day ahead Yewande AkinolaLink opens in a new window - Global Innovation & Sustainability Consultant, University of Warwick Council member Elliot Parnham - CEO SkyfarerLink opens in a new window
11.20am - 12.10pm	Butterworth Hall	Celebration of founders from Local founders, regional and Warwick academics. Hear from the people who have innovated and grown on a Warwick programme – Part 1 introduced by David PlumbLink opens in a new window CreaTechLink opens in a new window HealthTechLink opens in a new window CleanTechLink opens in a new window Warwick EnterpriseLink opens in a new window Deep Tech Innovation CentreLink opens in a new window
12.10pm - 12.40pm	Butterworth Hall	Why 2025 is a great year to grow a small business Emma JonesLink opens in a new window - Founder, Enterprise Nation
12.40pm – 1.40pm	Foyer / exhibition area	Lunch and networking
1.40pm – 2pm	Butterworth Hall	Why regional R+D clusters like Warwick / W Midlands are the key engines of the UK R+D economy and should be at the heart of the Industrial Strategy George FreemanLink opens in a new window - MP
2pm – 2.55pm	Butterworth Hall	A panel discussion- From inequality to opportunity: growth for everyone. Inclusive growth how we accelerate innovation and growth by ensuring no one is left behind. Chair: Sarah Walker - CEO, Cisco Panel members: Dean Cook - Executive Director – Place and Global,Innovate UK Julian DennardLink opens in a new window - Fund Principal, Mercia PLC Edwina Dunn - Founder, The Female Lead Jennifer Edwards - Managing Director, Head of High Growth Matt HurstLink opens in a new window - Warwick Business School Read Matt's reportLink opens in a new window
2.55pm – 3.15pm	Foyer/ exhibition area	Comfort break
3.15pm – 3.35pm	Butterworth Hall	Toyosi Olowe
3.35pm -3.50pm	Butterworth Hall	Why Innovation is in the Warwick DNA Stuart CroftLink opens in a new window – VC and President, University of Warwick
3.50pm – 4.55pm	Butterworth Hall	Celebration of founders from Local founders, regional and Warwick academics. Hear from the people who have innovated and grown on a Warwick programme – Part 2 introduced by Darren PirieLink opens in a new window, Director NatWest Accelerator Programme NatWest AcceleratorLink opens in a new window ICUReLink opens in a new window Ignite/Minerva business angelsLink opens in a new window University of Warwick spin outs Link opens in a new window University of Warwick Business partnerships Link opens in a new window
4.55pm – 5.05pm	Butterworth Hall	Pointing the way ahead. Greg Clark – Executive Chair, Warwick Innovation District

You are invited to join us for the Winmark Awards Celebration, which will be from 5.15 – 5.45pm in the Butterworth Hall. www.winmarkglobal.comLink opens in a new window
Categories include

Fintech Innovation Award
CleanTech Award
HealthTech Award

AgriTech Innovation Award
CreaTech Innovation Award

DeepTech Innovation Award
Winmark Innovation Award

Speakers

Dean Cook - Executive Director – Place and Global, Innovate UK

Dean Cook is Executive Director for Place and Global at Innovate UK. As part of the Senior Leadership Team, Dean has responsibility for working across the Innovate UK system to embed ‘Place’ and ‘Global’ more widely across Innovate UK’s activities. The core team includes Managers for the English Regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who are responsible for the development of strategic relationships and action plans with local leadership across the UK. The team’s National Contact Points for EU Horizon programme and overseas staff are a critical network to support businesses looking to benefit from international funding and collaboration, as well as developing strategic nation-to-nation bilateral partnerships. The team’s portfolio of programmes focuses on funding local capacity and capability via support to regional innovation clusters. As well as funding for international collaboration, vital for innovative businesses seeking to export and exploit wider opportunities as part of global supply chains.

With over 30 years experience in research commercialisation, Dean joined Innovate UK in 2014 and was formerly at Defra’s ‘Food and Environment Research Agency’ in York, with an early career as an applied biologist working with industry to reduce pesticide use in farming. He then moved into various roles within the agency’s commercial and science management teams. Dean is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and an MBA graduate of the University of Warwick. Originally from the South of England, Dean has lived in York for almost 30 years and has represented Innovate UK on a number of economic-boards across the North of England. Dean has a strong interest in innovation clusters and brings a business perspective to collaborative activities with other UKRI councils.

Rt Hon Greg Clark

The Rt Hon Greg Clark is Executive Chair of the University of Warwick’s Innovation District (and Chair of WMG - the Warwick Manufacturing Group).
Greg served for 19 years as a Member of Parliament, before stepping down in 2024. He was a senior minister for nearly 10 years, including serving in the UK Cabinet as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Minister for Science and Universities, and previously as Minister for Cities and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. In the last Parliament Greg was elected by the whole House of Commons to serve as Chair of the cross-party Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee.

As a Cabinet Minister Greg was responsible for the development of the UK Industrial Strategy, for the City and Devolution Deals which have established Mayoral Combined Authorities covering half of the population of England, and for proposing and enacting the UK’s commitment to Net Zero emissions by 2050.

Greg was the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Japan and he is the Chair-elect of the Japan Society, the leading independent body in the United Kingdom dedicated to the enhancement of the British-Japanese relationship.

Greg will also Chair the Society of Chemical Industry from January 2025.

Born in Middlesbrough, Greg was educated at St Peter’s Comprehensive School and then read economics at Cambridge University before earning his PhD from the London School of Economics.

Before entering Parliament, Greg worked for the Boston Consulting Group and as Controller, Commercial Policy at the BBC. Greg is married to Helen and has three grown-up children.

Edwina Dunn OBE

Edwina Dunn is one of the most successful leaders in the data industry, with a career of delivering transformational business change.

Dunnhumby revolutionised the world of retail and consumer goods when they pioneered Tesco Clubcard and other global loyalty programmes.

Founder & Chair - The Female Lead, an educational foundation celebrating the achievements and diversity of women who shape our world ; using data to understand the challenges women face, working with business and government to help create new models and policies for the workplace, all driven by a social platform with over 8 million followers.

In 2019 Edwina received an OBE for her services to data and business in the UK.

Edwina is former Chair at Starcount where she helped forge a new era of consumer insight and technology and former Chair at the CDEI (Centre for Data Ethics &Innovation) and a former Board member of the Geospatial Commission.

Her book When She's in the Room was published in February 2024..

Jennifer Edwards - Managing Director, Head of High Growth

JennyLink opens in a new window is the Head of NatWest’s Innovation Economy Banking team. She joined NatWest after more than a decade with J.P. Morgan. In her most recent role, Jenny was a Managing Director responsible for building, scaling, and leading the healthcare and life science business across the Western United States. Her team provided clients ranging from start-up to IPO with an array of cash management and funding solutions. In her tenure at J.P. Morgan, Jenny had the opportunity to build out the firm’s market share in three critical regions across the country.

She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to NatWest in her understanding of how to deliver a financial ecosystem in which high growth businesses can thrive by providing tailored solutions and services to meet their bespoke needs

Toyosi Olowe

Toyo Writes: The journey in starting a luxury art decor & design e-commerce platform

Toyosi Olowe is an award-winning Female Founder and graduated from BA Law and Business at the University of Warwick in 2016. She is the visionary behind the Modern Art E-commerce and Design service TW (ToyoWrites). With a social mission to positively affirm and encourage mindfulness and positivity through art & affirmations. She provides commissions, original artwork, luxury paintings and designs for B2B, consumer markets & art collectors.

She is a Keynote speaker and has been invited to deliver talks, business lectures & honorary speeches at prestigious ceremony’s at the likes of University of Warwick, Nord Anglia Ed & Soho House.

Toyosi is a highly talented artist and has created custom made designs for a huge array of clients. She has decorated spaces globally and led an entire art decor project in Saudi Arabia. Chosen by the Telegraph & Natwest in the Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch list. She has been featured in the Khaleej Times for immense creativity and global influence in the art scene.

As a Creative Director, she has led multiple pop-ups and exhibited at Christies, Google, Deloitte, Barclays, HSBC and more! The TW brand has been endorsed by the likes of Wayfair Global, John Lewis, notable Hollywood Stars & Global CEOs. The brand is also an ambassador for highly talented artists in Africa & the Diaspora by supplying selected artwork online & at private exhibitions to purchase.

Sarah Walker - Chief Executive – Cisco UK & Ireland

As Chief Executive for the UK & Ireland, Sarah Walker has direct responsibility for Cisco’s sales operations in the region and oversees a diverse community of employees who represent over 40 areas of Cisco’s global business.

Sarah has built a career in digital technology and communications, focussed on customer centricity and using technology to deliver outcomes aligned to business objectives. With early roles in mobile telephony, working her way up the technology stack, Sarah spent 25 years in BT in various senior leadership positions across both the public and private sector before joining Cisco two years ago to lead its Enterprise business in the UK and Ireland.

In her prior role leading Cisco’s Enterprise business, Sarah was responsible for the company’s relationships with more than a hundred large, private sector organisations across key sectors for the UK and Ireland – ranging from transport to pharmaceuticals and financial services.

Sarah is also a Non-Executive Director at Liverpool Women’s Hospital Trust and is Chair of the Board of Trustees at Greater Manchester Academies Trust as well as the proud Executive Sponsor for Women of Cisco UKI.

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