23.02.26, LONDON, Connected Places Catapult has published details of further speakers secured for the Connected Places Summit (18-19 March in London).

The Department for Transport’s newly appointed Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Patricia Thornley; Oliver Holbourn, CEO of the National Wealth Fund; and Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, are among the latest names confirmed to speak at the Summit.

They will join other leading speakers including Transport for London’s Commissioner, Andy Lord; Kellie Beirne, CEO of Cardiff Capital Region; and HS2’s Head of Innovation, Charlotte Hills.

Over two days, the Connected Places Summit will convene high potential businesses from across the UK to explore new market opportunities for unlocking sustainable economic growth in transport and construction. Sessions will focus on a range of important business and technology themes including, the future of data and digital infrastructure, clean transport, and innovations in planning and the built environment.

Delegates will hear from leaders from across the public and private sectors such as, Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham; David Hughes, CEO at East West Rail; Graeme Craig, CEO of Places for London; Dr Wei Yang OBE of the Digital Task Force for Planning; and Clare Wildfire, Global Cities Lead at Mott MacDonald.

With hundreds of businesses set to attend, delegates will hear from dozens of trailblazing business leaders, whose companies have been supported by the Catapult, such as Amit Bhave of CMCL, Rob Quinn of MakeSense Technology and Anna Jordan of Alchera Technologies.

“The Connected Places Summit will showcase business innovation shaping the future of how we will travel, live and work within a generation. Working with high potential SMEs on flagship programmes, including the Department for Transport's Freight Innovation Fund and the Department for Business and Trade's Digital Construction International Programme, is critical to growing the UK economy.

“The Summit is an opportunity to meet the UK’s high potential businesses and pioneering trailblazers in transport, construction and infrastructure. We are proud to be working with government, industry leaders and investors to help them scale and drive business and economic growth for the UK.”

Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer at Connected Places Catapult

Tickets are limited, find out more and register now: Connected Places Summit 2026.