Dr Neville Young is Director of Enterprise and Innovation at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber. He has a real interest and track record in supporting the delivery of high-quality research and innovation that improves patient outcomes and drives health system efficiencies.

Neville is focussed on helping innovative businesses succeed and grow. He is a National Institute of Health Research i4i reviewer, a Board member of the NHS Innovation Accelerator and of Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park, Vice Chair of the NHSE funded Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Cancer Programme and Chair of the National Pathology Imaging Collaborative steering committee. He also acts as an advisor to the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub in Canada.

He created Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber’s Propel@YH digital health accelerator programme. Now in its sixth year, the accelerator supports both UK-based and international businesses to succeed in the UK health market.

He also has an interest in supporting international activities, promoting export opportunities for UK-based innovators and creating a safe landing space for successful international companies looking to enter the UK market via the Propel@YH International Boot Camp.

Neville has worked as an academic researcher, a drug trial manager, a consultant, as a director for a health tech start-up and is focused on helping to identify and support the ‘pull’ from the healthcare systems for innovative health technologies.

He completed his doctorate in Molecular Embryology from Kings College London, before working at the Institute of Cancer Research in London and then the Institute of Molecular Biosciences in Queensland, Australia before returning to the UK and developing a career focussed on supporting innovation across the breadth of Health and Life Sciences industry.

Tracy Brabin is the Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire, who was re-elected with more than 50% of the vote in May 2024. Tracy has served as the first Mayor of West Yorkshire since 2021 and was the first ever woman Metro Mayor in England. She Chairs the UK Mayors Network, the group of 12 Metro Mayors in England. During her re-election campaign, Tracy pledged to improve access to culture and grassroots sports for all children, to develop a new strategy to reduce serious violence, and to create a 'region of learning'. In her first term, Tracy took the decision to franchise the bus network and is committed to having spades in the ground for a new tram system by 2028. Prior to her election as Mayor, Tracy was the Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen, from 2016 to 2021 and spent three decades working in the creative industries.

Leeds Beckett University is harnessing the power of ideas to change the world for the better. We engage in research and knowledge exchange to address three core global challenges where our expertise, networks, and approach can drive meaningful change: sport and healthy communities, greener, sustainable communities, and inclusive, prosperous communities.

Becky joined Humber and North Yorkshire Health ICB in April 2023. Previously, she worked with the Innovation, Research and Life Sciences team at NHS England, after completing her PhD in oncology and molecular biology at the University of Hull and postdoctoral research at the University of Manchester.

Doctor Kieran Baker, Chief Digital and Information Officer at NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, has over 10 years’ NHS experience working within digital, data and technology across a number of different organisations, including NHS Trusts, national teams and commissioning. Kieran is also currently an honorary senior lecturer within the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research at the University of Sheffield.

Deb Hetherington, Leeds-based innovation ecosystem specialist, is Executive Director of Leeds Digital and a champion of
research in innovation and AI. She connects people, ideas, and opportunities to drive collaboration, growth, and impact—transforming health innovation through cross-sector partnerships and future-focused strategies.

Nicola Kingswell is the scientific director and co- owner of Labskin Limited, where she manages the strategic direction of the company, as well as day to day operations. Nicola is responsible for leading R&D activities to drive innovation in the company, in line with client requirements. Nicola is an experienced protein biochemist and cell biologist. She has held positions at some of the world’s largest companies (Intertek, Labcorp, Eurofins) and some of the world’s smallest companies (start ups and spin outs).

Vee is the Co-Director for the NIHR Leeds Healthtech Research Centre focussing on accelerated surgical care. She is responsible for the operational and strategic delivery of the HRC’s aims and objectives. She has a proven track record of working cohesively to build interdisciplinary partnerships and training networks to accelerate the translation of innovation into the NHS.
Vee will introduce the Accelerated Surgical Care HealthTech Research Centre funded by the NIHR, and how it works with medical device, diagnostic and digital health technology companies to develop, evaluate and validate new medical technology and diagnostics.

Gemma leads the South Yorkshire Innovation Hub which is responsible for advising and guiding the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and its partners as well as place partnerships on the development, adoption and spread of research and innovation across South Yorkshire.

Henry has been Chief Executive of the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC) at the University of Huddersfield since April 2025. The centre provides office and laboratory accommodation for innovative businesses across several sectors, and links them to the R&D expertise of the university and other providers of specialist support. Businesses from across the region can also benefit from access to the centre’s leading-edge technology and equipment, particularly in the area of additive manufacturing. A second centre will open in 2026 focussed on health and wellbeing innovation (the Health Business Innovation Centre), which will be housed within the second building on the University’s National Health Innovation Campus.

Matthew has a PhD in quality of life measurement and an MSc in Health Economics from the University of York. He has led more than one hundred economic evaluations for NICE, SMC and AWMSG industry submissions as well as health technology submissions in various international settings. Matthew’s work at YHEC includes economic evaluations, model adaptations, quality of life research and applied methodological research for clients in both the public and private sectors. He was Scientific Lead for NICE’s Economic and Methodological Unit, an Expert Adviser for the NICE Centre for Guidelines and is a former member of NICE’s Public Health Advisory Committee. Matthew is an Honorary Professor at the Department of Health Sciences (University of York). He is on the editorial board for Global Health Economics and Sustainability (GHES), was formerly on the editorial board of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) and is a Trustee for OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity.

Dr. Justin Whatling, CEO of Optum UK, is a global healthcare and IT leader. He drives innovation, transformation, and strategic growth across major organisations. With expertise in clinical informatics, AI, and population health. Justin has held key roles at Palantir, Cerner, BT and national advisory boards.