30 July 2026

Frontiers of Innovation: The Relaunch of the North East Group

Organised by:

County Durham, UK

Prices start from £0

Synopsis

The North East of England has long been a place where science, industry, and ingenuity intersect. From the innovations that powered the Industrial Revolution to the rise, and recent collapse, of heavy industries such as steel and shipbuilding, the region’s identity has been shaped as much by disruption as by discovery. That legacy continues to influence how the North East responds to today’s scientific, industrial, and societal challenges.

The North East Group Steering Committee are delighted to announce Frontiers of Innovation: The Relaunch of the North East Group. This reception looks to bring together voices from across research, manufacturing, industry, and policy to mark the relaunch of SCI’s North East Regional Interest Group. The evening will consist of a networking reception with refreshments being served, along with addresses from key figures in the North East region.

Against a backdrop of economic transition and pressing challenges around productivity, sustainability, and supply chains, the North East Group will create a space for discussion and forward‑looking thinking. The North East Group looks to position the North East, not simply as a region reinventing itself, but as one uniquely equipped to shape a more resilient and innovative future for science and industry in the UK.

Attendees

This event is open to SCI members only and will be of interest to:

Industry in the North East
Academia in the North East
Other SCI Technical Interest Groups

Confirmed Speakers

Harry Swan, CEO
Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd

With over 24 years of management and new product development experience in the chemical industry, Harry is a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record in the development and successful commercialisation of advanced materials and speciality chemicals.
With a degree in Plant Sciences from Durham University in 1998 and early career experience with Monsanto Plc. as their Scientific Affairs Manager and Regester Larkin Ltd. as a specialist public relations consultant, Harry joined Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. in 2002 to launch the new Carbon Nanomaterials Business. In April 2006, he took up the position of Managing Director and embarked on a multi-year turnaround of the 4th generation family business, bringing it back into sustained profit in 2009 after surviving the Global Financial Crisis. He became the owner and CEO of the business in 2018 following the death of his father, Tom Swan OBE.
During his time leading Thomas Swan, Harry as modernised the Company’s assets and systems, invested heavily in new product development, achieved 100% renewable electricity supply to the business through a dedicated anaerobic digestion facility, implemented a cultural change to bring positivity and professionalism into the heart of the organisation and assembled a highly experienced senior management team with the sole purpose of delivering significant growth over the coming 5 years.

Liz Twist MP
Member of Parliament for Blaydon and Consett

Liz Twist was first elected as Member of Parliament for Blaydon Constituency in June 2017, having previously worked for the trade union UNISON and latterly as a cabinet member on Gateshead Council. She was re-elected following boundary changes in July 2024, as the Member of Parliament for Blaydon and Consett Constituency. Liz currently chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Suicide and Self-Harm prevention, and has previously chaired the Rare Diseases, Water, and Parks & Green Spaces All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs). Between July 2024 and September 2025, Liz served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. Liz completed a Fellowship programme with the Industry and Parliament Trust with a focus on mental health in the workplace and has been Chair of the IPT since July 2024.

Programme

The reception will start at 17:00 and finish at 20:00.

Accessibility Grants

SCI accessibility grants are available to support SCI members with disabilities, long term health conditions, those who require a carer, and members who are nursing parents to attend SCI events. Download an application form to apply for a grant.