Business leaders from across the North East have been given an exclusive insight into the tech-led future of the region at a live event in Newcastle.

The event was part of the Level Up campaign run by the Northern Echo's business brand, BUSINESSiQ. Hosted by Business Editor Mike Hughes, it was held at the stunning Spark offices of transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, one of the key partners in the campaign, which calls for jobs and investment across the North East.

 

 

The highlight of Level Up is a series of live events looking at key topics - this time our partners spoke about Digital and Technology and how their own businesses are planning a future with AI playing an increasingly key role.

Our campaign partners taking part this time were Sarah Daun, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson; Gary Carr, Regional IT director at Cummins; Dan Kitchen, CEO of razorblue; Marion Ingleby, Interim Head of Digital Services at Durham County Council; Colin Tempest, Director of Technology & Digital Solutions at Believe Housing and Tim Marsden, Knowledge Manager at North East England Chamber of Commerce.

The Northern Echo: Join our Level Up campaignJoin our Level Up campaign (Image: Newsquest)

After a short break for networking, four key leaders of AI-focussed businesses told us what the future held as it took a much more central role for the North East.

Eric Applewhite, Director Analytics at Deloitte; Caroline Churchill, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson; Dominic Lusardi, Chief Information Officer at SeerBI and Lucy Batley, Owner of Traction Industries agreed the next few months and years would change how many businesses operate.