This is the annual conference organised by the Foundation Future Leaders. It is open to all, and specifically targeted at early- to mid-career professionals from the civil and public sector, from industry and from the research community, with roles in science, technology and innovation.

At the conference, we will have a keynote address, and two plenary sessions focussed on a) developments in regional science and innovation, and b) barriers to success in UK science, technology and innovation. There will also be three breakout discussion sessions, focussed on health, energy and AI.

The conference is free to attend and all are welcome, either in person in Liverpool, or online.

Speakers include:#

Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair, Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council [TBC]
Professor Claire Ozanne, Vice-Chancellor, Liverpool Hope University
Liam Robinson, Leader, Liverpool City Council
Professor Richard Jones FRS, Chair of Materials Physics and Innovation Policy, The University of Manchester
Helen Turner, Director, Midlands Innovation [TBC]
Gareth Cross, Deputy Director of Science, Research and Evidence, Welsh Government
Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary, Prospect
Simon Hepworth, Director of Knowledge Exchange, Research England

Participating in person#

• The event is being held in the i3 Building, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool L16 9JD.
• A copy of the full agenda is available on the event page of the website.
• To register to attend in person, please click here.
• If you have any trouble registering for this event, please contact us on office@foundation.org.uk
• The event and reception are free, and we very much hope that you can join us.

Silman Fund#

The Foundation has a very small fund to support people with potentially additional costs of attending Foundation meetings to be able to participate – such as childcare costs or sign language interpretation – along with PhD students. All the details and application forms can be found here.

Participating Online#

• You can also participate online via YouTube Live.
• To register to follow the livestream, please click here.

Foundation Future Leaders scheme#

This event is being organised by the 2025 Foundation Future Leaders. This is an annual scheme which brings together early- to mid-career professionals in science and technology from the civil and public sectors; from industry; and from the wider research community.

Applications for the 2026 scheme are now open and the deadline is 25th November 2025.

If you would like to discuss the Foundation Future Leaders scheme, please contact Gavin Costigan (gavin.costigan@foundation.org.uk).