Greater Manchester’s thriving business and public service sectors are well represented in the Northern Leaders 2026 list.

Now in its third year, Northern Leaders celebrates 200 entries recognising people who are making the North a better place.

This year’s list features 93 new entries from the worlds of business, sport, politics, charity, education, philanthropy, property and beyond.

The individuals recognised come from across the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber.

One of the names on the list is Tom Dunlop, who swapped a successful badminton career for a career in law before founding Manchester-based legal tech company Summize.

Tom Dunlop, Summize

Tom Dunlop is the CEO and founder of Summize

The business has enjoyed a landmark year, raising $50m (£40m) in Series B funding and acquiring key assets and staff from Seattle-based consultancy InnoLaw Group.

Vicar’s daughter Laura Earnshaw is the founder and CEO of myHappymind, which secured investment from LDC last year.

Northern Leaders 2026

Earnshaw founded the business after seeing friends and family struggle with their mental health and face difficulties accessing the support they needed.

Jonathan Fitchew founded training provider Apprentify in 2019, having previously co-founded Pareto Law with Andy Sawer, who died from brain cancer in 2021.

Holly Bennett founded Make Events in 2012 and has grown it into a business generating multi-million-pound turnover.

Just married: Joel Bennett and Holly Moore

Over the past 14 years, she has worked with stars including Robert De Niro. Her success is all the more remarkable given her struggles with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), particularly between 2005 and 2011.

Earlier this year she married Joel Bennett.

Other Greater Manchester names recognised in Northern Leaders 2026 include:

  • 1. Lucy Bellamore: Highly regarded head of production at Gary Neville’s award-winning sports media platform The Overlap, which has continued to grow in 2026.
  • 2. Matt Carr: One of three brothers behind Carrs Pasties, a Bolton institution dating back to 1938, which is approaching £10m in turnover and employs 170 people. Away from the business, Carr is a director of Rock It Bolton CIC.
  • 3. Andrew Charnley: Appointed chief executive of AIM-listed Sancus Lending Group in July 2026.
  • 4. Bev Craig: Became Mayor of Greater Manchester following Andy Burnham’s resignation after becoming Prime Minister.
  • 5. Phil McCabe: Founded Manchester-based engineering, infrastructure and technology business Hybrid Solutions Group in 2013 and has grown it to 80 employees.
  • 6. Fergal O’Connor: Founder and CEO who chose Manchester over London when opening an office in October 2025.
  • 7. Beckie Taylor: Former CEO and co-founder of Tech Returners, who has built her career around breaking down barriers and driving meaningful change.
  • 8. Naomi Timperley: Has consistently used her networks and influence to connect Northern founders, entrepreneurs and innovators. She has also spoken openly about her experience of online stalking.
  • 9. Alice Webb: The former BBC executive has been tasked with leading both MediaCity and dock10, one of the UK’s leading television production facilities.

The headline sponsor of Northern Leaders 2026 is OBI, supported by law firm CG Professional, GM Business Growth Hub and Rochdale Development Agency.

Everyone featured on the list will be invited to the Northern Leaders 2026 awards evening at KPMG’s Manchester office on November 19.

Although the list comprises 200 entries, eight feature two people, bringing the total number of individuals recognised to 208, including 85 women.