techUK is the UK’s leading technology trade body, championing how technology can power a better future—for the economy, society, and the planet. Katie Davies is Head of Energy and Infrastructure Policy and Rory Daniels is Head of Emerging Technology & Innovation at TechUK This joint presentation will provide insight into the UK’s evolving tech and energy landscape, a clearer view of emerging technologies shaping policy and industry, and the opportunity to engage with experts influencing government thinking

The healthcare industry is currently caught in "The Persona Paradox," a period of unprecedented change where AI’s role oscillates between a time-saving digital scribe and a life-saving specialist. By categorizing AI into two distinct "buckets"—Generative AI for reclaiming human connection and Predictive AI for spotting invisible clinical patterns—this session provides a clear framework for understanding how technology is already increasing cancer detection rates and drastically reducing emergency treatment times. However, rapid adoption brings significant ethical risks, specifically the "Black Box" of baked-in bias. This presentation highlights why high-tech tools require high-touch leadership. Matthew Philpott is the Executive Director of Technology at NHS England, leading national digital, data and technology operations across one of the world’s largest healthcare systems. With a career spanning the Home Office, NHS, and global telecoms, he brings real-world insight into how technology enables public services at scale — especially under pressure.

Rebecca is an independent scientific consultant with almost two decades’ experience specialising in human-relevant science and alternatives to animal testing. She holds an MSc in Toxicology (with Bioinformatics) and a BSc in Applied Biology, following a decade working in clinical data management and programming across Phase I–IV clinical trials. Her particular expertise is in non-animal New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), including advanced in-vitro and in-silico technologies, human blood and tissue-based models, organ- and tissue-on-chip technologies, AI, and the integration and analysis of clinical and other human-based data. She is particularly interested in how these technologies can be combined to create biologically relevant approaches to biomedical research and regulatory testing. She also works on the science and policy surrounding the transition to non-animal research, including emerging roadmaps and strategies in the UK, Europe and US. She has worked with scientific, commercial and NGO organisations and regularly contributes to research, conferences, webinars and academic events. This presentation provides some facts and figures on animal testing; the types of testing carried out on animals; which species of animals and how they are used. It also covers alternative scientific methods and replacing animal testing with modern technologies and finally covers why animal testing continues.

As Founder of UKIoT, a pioneering IoT company, Chris will share some unusual real-world examples — from monitoring blast freezers across Europe for Amazon to counting penguins in the Falklands — and explore how AI is transforming our understanding of sensor data.

Our usual end-of-year round up of topics and queries raised. If you'd like to suggest a question please contact the Chairman.