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AI, Leadership & the Future of Tech
Last Thursday, was nothing short of brilliant at the Manchester Tech Festival Leadership Evening, hosted at EM Code. A huge shoutout to the incredible Amy Newton and her powerhouse team for curating a night that brought together some of the region’s sharpest tech minds to talk leadership, innovation, and AI.
From cutting-edge discussions to reconnecting with familiar faces (and meeting plenty of new ones), the energy was electric. Special thanks to Amul Batra for top-notch MC'ing and keeping the evening flowing.
Event Highlights
The night’s standout moment? Being a big fan of the planets and the moon, a live Q&A with Ron Thompson, former Chief Data Officer at NASA, from D.C. to share deep insights from his work with NASA was a big excitement for me! Ron touched on everything from AI readiness to data governance and the urgent need for adaptable leadership in today’s fast-moving tech landscape. Can’t wait to meet him in person when he comes to Manchester later on in the year.
Emma Green, Managing Partner at CD Lawyers, delivered a session where she discussed the intersection of AI and cybersecurity. She shared real-world examples of challenges posed by AI from a cybersecurity perspective and offered guidance on how businesses can stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field .
Another mic-drop moment came from David Lindop, Founder of Anterospective.ai and former Global CDO at EY. His thought-provoking talk on human-AI synergy didn’t just spark conversation, it stirred the pot in the best possible way. It helped many of us put words to thoughts we’ve been mulling privately: this tech is changing the game and fast.
Key Themes & takeaways
🔄 Adaptability is non-negotiable - Ron Thompson nailed it: In an age of exponential change, resisting innovation isn’t just unwise, it’s a risk to relevance. The winning teams will be those that embed change-readiness into their culture.
📊 Data = Strategy - Thompson emphasised that data isn’t just fuel. It’s the engine. His examples from NASA highlighted the power of cross-functional collaboration and structured governance in unlocking true value from data.
🧠 AI Starts with people - Despite the hype around AI, it’s the human element that’s most critical. Upskilling, ethical frameworks, and digital literacy are key to ensuring AI complements, not replacing the workforce.
👥 Bold Leadership for the AI Era - Leadership in this moment means being proactive, curious, and willing to question legacy systems. It’s not just about adopting AI tools. It's about shaping how we use them, who they serve, and how they impact lives.
The speaker line-up also tackled some of the thorniest and most exciting challenges facing our industry:
🛑 The risks of leaving AI governance as an afterthought
💡 AI-powered productivity and the next frontier of business innovation
👁️ The human impact of AI and how companies are rethinking workforce planning
🚀 How AI imaging is transforming fault detection and even space travel
Beyond the talks, the evening was all about connection. Over drinks and canapés, the invite-only crowd of leaders, founders, and tech experts sparked conversations that will likely ripple across Manchester’s tech ecosystem in the months to come.
The North West tech scene is alive with ambition, talent, and a shared sense that we’re on the brink of something huge.
Thanks again to the Manchester Tech Festival team for a stellar evening and here’s to more bold ideas, deeper conversations, and building a future where AI works for everyone.
