Agenda - Leeds

The Space Investment Forum Leeds took place on 26 March 2024.

Leeds agenda

Nexus, University of Leeds
Tuesday, 26 March 2024

Register your interest for the Leeds event

If you are interested in speaking, sponsoring or pitching, please contact us at: customer.service@dods-events.com.

Agenda for the Space Investment Forum, Leeds

08:30 – 09:15

Registration, tea and coffee

09:15 – 09:35
Welcome from UK Space Agency 
 
09:35 – 10:00

Keynote Speech:

Rt Hon Lord Willetts FRS, Chair of UK Space Agency and President of the Resolution Foundation 

10:00 – 10:15

Unlocking Space for Investment

The UK Space Agency will present its Unlocking Space for Investment programme which supports companies to deliver operational, customer and environmental benefits through the use of innovative satellite data and services.

Unlocking Space for Investment – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

10:15 – 11:00

PANEL 1 – Demystifying Space: an overview of the space sector in 2024

Our expert panellists will provide insights into the changing nature of the space sector, describing how the business model of the sector has changed and opened up the market. They will discuss which missions and capabilities are trending and emerging, and explain the economic and social benefits that the space sector brings to Earth.

Chair:

Mandy Ridyard, Chair of Space Hub Yorkshire

Panel:

Rt Hon Lord Willetts FRS, Chair of UK Space Agency and President of the Resolution Foundation 

Craig Brown, Investment Director, UK Space Agency

Richard Lowe, Chief Technology Officer (interim), Satellite Applications Catapult

Philip Thomas, Head of Scale Up Programme Division, European Space Agency 

11:00 – 11:30
Refreshment break
11:30 – 12:00

Resilient Comms for Space: Capitalising on Northern England’s capabilities and investment.

Chair: 

Philip Carvil, Head of Clusters – North West, Business & Innovation Directorate, Science and Technology Facilities Council

Speakers: 

Sarah Gregory, Commercial Director, Slipstream Design

Kelvin Shek, Cluster Development Manager of Space Hub Yorkshire and Project Lead of Space North

Robin Sie-Verbruggen, COO, Resonance

12:00 – 1:00

PANEL 2 – Pitching Space: What makes a space business viable?

Our panel will describe their experiences in evaluating the health of space businesses, in raising capital, and the role of the Agency and wider stakeholder network in providing the optimum conditions for investment in the UK space sector.

Chair:

Bod Buckby, Head of UK Primary Markets – North, London Stock Exchange

Panel:

Sanjeev Gordhan, General Partner, Type One Ventures

Balazs Slezak, CEO, Wozify Engineering Group 

Simon Reid, Managing Director, UK branch of D-Orbit

1:00 – 1:45  
BREAK – Networking Lunch
1:45 – 2:50
Live Pitches
 
Up to eleven companies will be given the opportunity to pitch their business idea to the conference attendees.
2:50 – 3:00
Making Space for the Northern Powerhouse, and HMG’s Private Investment Framework for Space
 
Speakers:
 
Ruth Bretts, Deputy Head of Space at the Department for Business and Trade 
Duncan Hoyland, Partnership Manager at the Department for Business and Trade 
3:00 – 4:45
Pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings and networking
 
4:45 – 5:15
Keynote Presentation
 
Reserve Astronaut and Exploration Commercialisation Lead
UK Space Agency
 
5:15 – 5:30

Closing remarks for the day

Dan Jones, UK Space Agency

5:30 – 6:30

Drinks Reception