The vast majority of the North is only able to bid for 20% of government housing investment. This means a huge missed opportunity to make smarter investments in northern communities where the economic and social impact will be higher.

• Nigel Wilson, Vice Chair, Homes for the North – Confirmed
• Anne Marie Lubanski, Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council - Confirmed
  
• Cindy Nadesan, Head of Strategic Accounts, Social Value Portal - Confirmed

 Education, Skills and Employment 

The future of the North lies in our own hands, and closing the education and skills gap between the North and London will begin to narrow the productivity gap. Continued prosperity relies on a workforce equipped with a high-quality education and the essential skills to succeed.

• Richard Crane, Head of Education & Skills, Durham County Council - Confirmed
• David Willett, Commercial Director, The Open University - Confirmed
• Annette Bramley, Director, N8 Research - Confirmed
• Raksha Pattni, Director of School Partnerships (North), Ambition Institute – Confirmed
• Stephen Gorard, Professor of Education and Public Policy, and Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute at Durham University – Confirmed
• Vicky Beer, Regional Schools Commissioner, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, Department for Education - Confirmed 

Improving connectivity across our transport system is essential to unlocking economic growth for the region. Improved connectivity, infrastructure and smart technology will help people and freight get to where they need to be and contribute further to the UK economy.

• Monika Buscher, Director of Research for the Department of Sociology, and Director of the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University. - Confirmed
  
• Peter Molyneux, Major Roads Director, Transport for the North - Confirmed 
• Tim Wood, Northern Powerhouse Rail Director, Transport for the North - Confirmed

The Northern Powerhouse acts as a magnet for inward investment and is recognised across the world as home to billions of pounds worth of opportunity. International demand for innovative products and services from Northern businesses is booming.

• Roger Marsh, Chair, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and NP11 – Confirmed
• Philip Thomas, Head of Northern Powerhouse Policy, BEIS - Confirmed
• Chris Beck, Director of Business & Skills, Tees Valley Combined Authority - Confirmed

The Chemical Sector is a key economic contributor in the Northern PowerHouse, accounting for £13.4bn GVA (48% of the total UK sector) and employing close to 30,000 people in highly skilled jobs. But what does the future look like for this sector in a Net Zero world? Sue Dunkerton, Knowledge Transfer Network Director will discuss KTN's role in accelerating innovation in the NPH Chemical Sector, and will be joined on stage by three companies pitching their highly innovative solutions. Will you be their next partner?”

Speakers include:

• Sue Dunkerton, Director, Knowledge Transfer Network
• Kevin Chown, COO, Kew Technology
• Barry Hedley, Chairman, Nova Pangaea Technologies
• Martin Atkins, CEO, Poseidon Plastics
  

Reaching the target of net zero UK carbon emissions by 2050 is a mammoth task, it's not going to be easy and is predicted to cost around £1tn. The North of England is home to 50% of the UK's nuclear projects and 30% of the UK’s renewable energy, so how as a region can we come together to combat climate change?

• Dr Tom Knowland, Head of Sustainable Energy and Climate Change, Leeds City Council – Confirmed
• Philip New, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Systems Catapult - Confirmed 
• Joe Howe, Executive Director and Professor, Thornton Energy Institute & Chairman, North West Hydrogen Alliance - Confirmed
• Deborah Trebilco, Director, Community Energy England - Confirmed