MTF CORE CONFERENCE

24.9.25 - 25.9.25

About the conference

VICTORIA BATHS, ManchesteR
8:30am - 5pm & Evening Social

Over two fast-paced days, immerse yourself in the future of tech as you engage with expert speakers, discover the latest innovations at the Tech Expo, and connect with fellow professionals during our evening socials. Whether you’re a CEO or a tech newcomer it’s the perfect opportunity to level up your knowledge and expand your network.
 
New for 2025: Our Innovation and Tech4Good Showcase will be showcasing technology that’s making a real difference, plus dedicated hands-on workshops will offer you the opportunity to tackle the issues that matter most.
 
More than just a conference, this is the place where real techies come to connect, learn, and collaborate

Orlando
Machado

Former Chief Data Officer
LEGO Group & Empiriq board member

Ron
Thompson

Former Government Executive
& Chief Data Officer, NASA & Empiriq board member

INTRODUCING OUR HEADLINE SPEAKERS

We are over the moon to announce our headline speakers for MTF 2025! Ron Thompson Ex CDO NASA will be flying over from Washington D.C for a live Q&A! Plus Orlando Machado the former CDO of The LEGO Group will be joining us for his own live Q&A before joining Ron Thompson on a panel to discuss their experience of adapting to change and the future of AI. 

What to expect

Our Core conference is designed to cater for everyone in the community and includes:

Discover our Main stage, built around what is currently urgent, topical and developing in the tech space. This can range from more socially conscious discussions to the more granular, techie topics. This year we are delighted to bring to our main stage two Keynote Speakers (to be announced!). Across the two days our main stage will feature 2 keynote talks with live Q&A, 10 tech talks and 2 panel discussions.

Step into our Tech Expo, where over 15 forward-thinking tech companies are ready to connect, inspire, and collaborate. Whether you’re looking to kickstart your career in tech or scale up your business, the Expo is your go-to space to meet the people and products shaping the future. With breakout areas designed for deeper conversations and plenty of time built into the agenda to explore, the Expo Hall is more than just a showcase — it’s a hub of opportunity, innovation, and connection.he festival to browse the expo! 

Discover the future of technology at our Tech and Innovation Showcase, where 15 pioneering companies come together to demonstrate how their innovations are transforming lives. From revolutionising education with immersive learning platforms to advancing healthcare through AI-driven diagnostics and wearable tech, this showcase puts life-changing technology front and centre

Inclusivity is at the heart of Manchester Tech Festival and we work hard to ensure all of our spaces throughout the festival work for everyone. That’s why we have a number of calm zones and mental health spaces giving you the opportunity to retreat and reboot in a calm, quit space away from the hustle and bustle of the festival. 

Introducing our Charity Workshop Room – a unique space where purpose meets practicality. Here, you’ll have the chance to take part in ten-minute speed networking sessions with a range of inspiring charities, each ready to share how you can make a meaningful impact through your business. Whether it’s supporting local communities, championing sustainability, or driving social change, you’ll discover simple, effective ways to embed charitable partnerships into your work – with minimal effort and maximum impact.nd real insights take centre stage.

New for 2025! The MTF event app is a virtual environment which puts you in the centre of the festival! Log on, explore sessions and choose your own agenda. Plus! Interact with other guests, access pre-conference content, pose questions to our speakers and more! The best part? You get access to the app for upto 6 months after the festival where all of our talks will be posted so you don’t need to worry about missing a thing! 

SPEAKERS

Discover this years speaker bio’s by clicking the images below!

Orlando Machado

Former Chief Data Officer
LEGO Group &
Empiriq
board member

Ron Thompson

Former Government Executive
& Chief Data Officer,
NASA & Empiriq board member

Kanika Selvan

Change Consultant & Managing Director
Beetroot Consulting

Purchase your pass

Tickets for our Core Conference are £36 each and include admission to the day conference at Victoria Baths and the evening social. Ticket prices also include access to the MTF event app for 2 months prior to the festival and 6 months after.

What's On

Ron Thompson

Ex-CDO
NASA

SESSION OVERVIEW:

Join our main stage for a live Q&A with Ex-CDO of NASA, Ron Thompson. 

Orlando Machado

Ex-CDO
The LEGO Group

SESSION OVERVIEW:

Join our main stage for a live Q&A with Ex-CDO of the LEGO Group, Orlando Machado.

AFTER PARTY

Our evening socials offer the perfect setting to forge new connections, exchange insights, and build valuable relationships within the tech community. With a vibrant atmosphere, delicious refreshments, and opportunities to engage with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and like-minded enthusiasts, this evening social is the ideal platform to relax, unwind, and expand your professional network.

Day 1 – Mother Marys 7-9 New Wakefield St, Manchester M1 5NP

Day 2 – Abel Heywood, 38 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ

 
I’ve never seen a conference with such a high level of visible diversity and inclusion, and I’ve never seem so many delegates that were positively BUZZING from all of the inspirational talks and stories. What a brilliant, brilliant day.

Thank you to all the organisers, I can’t wait for next year!
Paul O'Donnell
Attendee
So many ‘WIT’ events focus on how women need to lean in. They are all focused on how women need to change. My biggest takeaway from today is that we need to talk more about changing the system. Not about changing women in under-represented groups. Honestly the best conference I’ve been to for a long time.
Holly Donohue
Attendee
The unfiltered requirement did not miss. Each speaker brought their authentic selves to that stage and very moving stories. Thank you all for your honesty and openness. Thank you for the most inclusive agenda I’ve seen.

You understood that representation would matter, and rose to the challenge!
Natalie Navickas
Attendee

JOIN OR SPONSOR COMMUNITY

From an exhibition stand at our core conference to sponsorship of one of our mid-year events, MTF offers businesses of all sizes an opportunity to join together and engage with the Manchester Tech Ecosystem. 

From boosting brand awareness to securing your next big hire, our sponsorship packages offer a year of benefits designed to hit your business goals, regardless of your priorities!

Enquiry today or explore the different opportunities for MTF 2026

OUR EXHIBITORS

MTF Dish Track Sponsor Logo
OrlandoMachado_MTF

Orlando Machado

ABOUT

Former CDO, LEGO Group & Board Member Empiriq

Orlando Machado is a leading data scientist and AI expert, who has worked at the forefront of digital transformation for major global businesses. Starting his career in academia, he has spent 30 years helping organisations get value out of their data…long before ‘data scientist’ was crowned the ‘sexiest job of the 21st century’.

He was the first Chief Data Officer at the LEGO Group, enabling colleagues at the world’s most reputable brand to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies, whilst protecting the privacy of its most important consumers: children.

He previously led the UK data science and analytics teams for dunnhumby, best known as the data science arm of Tesco, and pioneers in the use of data to understand customers better. He has been Chief Data Scientist at online business MoneySuperMarket, and at insurance company Aviva.

Orlando is a Non-Executive Director at the University of Cambridge, and an advisor to Electrify Video Partners, a startup company that buys and grows YouTube channels. He was previously a Non-Executive Director of Neos, a security technology company acquired by Sky in 2021. Passionate about the advantages of a diverse workforce, Orlando has been a member of the Gender Equality Leadership Team at Business in the Community, and a Mentor for the 30% Club.

Orlando was named a ‘World AI Top 50 innovator’ in 2022, and in 2023 received the DataIQ Professor Derek Holder lifetime achievement award for long-standing contributions to the data industry. He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Warwick.
RonThompson

Ron
Thompson

ABOUT

Former Government Executive & Chief Data Officer, NASA

Ron Thompson is a distinguished technology leader with over 30 years of experience in the U.S. Federal Government. He has served in pivotal roles, including Chief Data Officer at NASA and Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

His contributions have earned widespread recognition: in 2023, he received the Technology Lifetime Achievement Award from the Government Business Executive Forum. He was also named one of the Top 100 Worldwide Data Activators in 2022 and featured on the Leading Data Executives list in 2021.