Dr. Stella Peace has built a distinguished career spanning academia, industry, and technology, fueled by her passion for using science and innovation to drive transformation. Before joining Innovate UK, she was Chief R&D and Quality Officer at Nomad Foods, where she delivered a significant boost in innovation performance. With 20 years at Unilever, Stella led global R&D teams, spearheading innovations for iconic brands while working across multiple sectors and living in Japan and France. Her leadership style is authentic, collaborative, and inclusive, fostering environments where innovation and individuals thrive.

An accomplished chemist with a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from Durham University, Stella combines academic rigor with extensive international leadership experience. In addition to her role at Innovate UK, she continues as Executive Director of Healthy Living and Agriculture, focusing on innovations that improve lives and drive growth. With her vision and expertise, Dr. Peace is set to advance Innovate UK’s strategy, cultivating a culture of innovation that delivers meaningful impacts for businesses, society, and the economy.

Svein started his position as Managing Director of Nordic Innovation in 2017. Prior to joining Nordic Innovation, he held various positions in Innovation Norway, including Senior Vice President and Regional Director. Svein has also experience as CEO of The Norwegian Seafood Council and an advisor in the Norwegian Ministry for Local Government. He holds a master’s degree in economics from The University of Oslo.

Simon Villanueva, Vice President Legal and Public Affairs at Volvo Group UK has over 25 years of legal experience spanning various industries, from brewing, to telecoms, but with a clear preference for automotive.

He has been with the Volvo Group for over 15 years and his role now covers the UK and Ireland together with a number of countries in the South and West of Europe. In the UK he has an additional public affairs role leading the communication channels with government, a challenge in times of unprecedented technological change.

Simon is passionate about decarbonisation of the road transport industry, and wants you to be too.

Hlynur is the General Counsel of Kerecis. Kerecis is a pioneer in the use of fish-skin for regenerative tissue therapy and treatment of burns and other complex acute and chronic wounds including diabetic, venous, trauma and surgical wounds. Kerecis became Iceland’s first unicorn in 2023 when it was acquired by Danish medical device manufacturer, Coloplast, for $1.3 billion.

Prior to joining Kerecis, Hlynur was the Head of Logos Legal Services’ London office where he advised numerous investors on transactions involving Icelandic innovation. Hlynur holds a master’s degree in law from Reykjavik University and is a qualified Icelandic attorney.

Hlynur is on the board of the American Icelandic Chamber of Commerce, British Icelandic Chamber of Commerce and the Innovation & IP Council of the Icelandic Federation of Industries.

Sondre is a forward-leaning enthusiast for sustainable business with a Master of Science in Marine Technology and working experience as a Managing Director, board member, business development manager, discipline leader and technical consultant. He has extensive international working experience, both through projects and giving keynotes and moderating panels and conferences around the world, and has lived and worked in the US, UAE and Canada, in addition to Norway. Before joining TOMRA and the resource revolution, Sondre worked for 10 years in the maritime industry.

Sondre leads TOMRA Collection’s development activities in the UK. The UK is embarking on its journey to become more sustainable, introducing its own Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). 

TOMRA’s mission is to transform how we all obtain, use, and reuse the planet’s resources to enable a world without waste.

TOMRA was founded in 1972, based on the design, manufacturing and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Today, TOMRA provides solutions that enable the circular economy with advanced collection and sorting systems and food processing by employing sensor-based sorting and grading technology.

Paul Alexander is VP - Market Unit Head, Nokia UK&I & Head of Cloud Infrastructure, Europe. Having dived into Telecoms straight from university in the very early 90’s, Paul has witnessed first-hand the evolution of communications from the first generation of Mobile Telephony through to today’s increasingly complex and ever evolving communications landscape. Along the way, Paul has held senior leadership roles at WorldCom, Marconi, and Alcatel. Paul also heads Nokia Europe’s expansion into cloud networks, an area poised as the next major growth frontier in the communications industry.

David has worked in the Maersk organisation for over 30 years in a variety of roles and locations. Focussing on logistics and containerisation his career has taken him across the UK to Egypt and the East Mediterranean as well as a period at head office in Copenhagen. Now back in the UK David is involved in all areas of Maersk’s Integrator strategy and growth agenda with specific connections to sustainability and decarbonisation. Outside of Maersk David is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation and a member of both the Freight Logistics and Air Policy Groups.

Philip arrived in UK in 2001 taking the role as the first Managing Director for Sony Ericsson in UK/Ireland.

Since leaving his native Norway in 1992, the motto was to “see the world” with Ericsson Telecoms which lead to postings to Saudi Arabia ’92-’94 and Singapore ’94–’01.

Always excited by new building new products and services, Philip left big corporate in 2007 to set up his own consultancy.  By now having founded several start-ups in UK within telecoms, cyber security and artificial intelligence, Philip has accumulated a pretty good understanding of the Dos and Don’ts with regards to UK company establishments, funding opportunities and barriers to operational excellence.

In addition, Philip further serves on several company boards in various industry sectors covering cyber security, AI, mental wellness and stem cell treatment.