Following the launch of a new FinTech committee in the North, Manchester’s inward investment agency MIDAS and North West business development organisation pro-manchester have announced have new experts to co-chair the group.
Kimberley Waldron, co-founder and MD of SkyParlour, and Mark Robinson, client director at Finch, have been appointed to head up the committee, which aims to address challenges and drive collaboration within the sector.
Together, Waldron and Robinson will help build a vision for the group, which is already set to be the most subscribed in the pro-manchester portfolio, and facilitate teamwork amongst the members.
Their agenda includes ensuring that the regional FinTech industry is recognised in the national and international FinTech markets.
Waldron commented: “I want to help create a committee that serves both the FinTechs and the ecosystem of businesses built around them.
In the next 12 months the industry spotlight will again be on balancing innovation with regulation and compliance. But focus will also need to be on ensuring the technology gets into the hands and businesses of users.
That’s down to communication and why a group like this, that gathers the full FinTech ecosystem, from tech development, finance, governance and marketing, is both unique and important.”
Robinson added: “FinTech is a huge part of the global tech sector and Manchester illustrates this better than most.
“So, a specific FinTech committee is a positive step for the region and as co-chair I look forward to working closely with my fellow committee members to get under the skin of the sector here in Manchester.”
Rachel Eyre, Business Development Manager for the Financial, Professional and Business Services sector at MIDAS, said Greater Manchester was recognised as the FinTech capital of the North, and local FinTech ecosystems and industry is evolving rapidly.
“I’m delighted that we’ve established such a strong group of professionals to drive the progression and expansion of the FinTech industry across the city region,” she said.
The first committee meeting will be hosted by DLA Piper on the 27th November, where the agenda is set to focus on key deliverables and ambitions for the rest of 2019 and 2020.