Voting open for techUK Main Board Elected Directors 2025
Voting is now open for positions on the techUK Main Board which arise from the annual rotation of Elected Directors in accordance with our Articles of Association.
With four Elected Director vacancies this year, each authorised representative (or their nominee) of a techUK member company can vote for up to four people. Please do take the opportunity to read the nominations and cast your votes below before 17:00 on 25 April 2025.
The Board represents the membership and nominations have been encouraged from SME members in all parts of the sector and all geographies of the UK. Details of current Board Membership is on our website.
Nominees will be informed of the results of the vote during May. The outcome will be made public in June, and the process culminates in ratification of new appointees at the AGM on 14 July.
Any queries concerning Board membership or the election process should be sent to [email protected].
Samuel Ajiboyede
Samuel Ajiboyede
Company location: London, UK
Global headcount and turnover: 104 employees, £5m
About the company: Zido leverages AI and energy innovation, developing conversational AI and sustainable solutions. Its Harnod Energy System (EcoRegen) (UK Patent Application No. 2501966.2) enhances EV range and optimizes energy efficiency for a sustainable future.
Current responsibilities: As a CEO, Samuel Ajiboyede leads high-performing teams, driving AI and energy innovation. He pioneers conversational AI, sustainable solutions, and intelligent automation, including the Harnod Energy System (EcoRegen) (UK Patent Application No. 2501966.2) to enhance EV range and energy efficiency.
Current involvement with techUK: Samuel Ajiboyede is actively involved with techUK, serving on the Smart Energy and Utilities Steering Board and the Skills & Diversity Council. Through policy engagement and publications, he contributes to shaping the future of energy, technology, and workforce development in the UK. His work focuses on decarbonization, affordability, accessibility, and reliability, while also advocating for diversity, inclusion, and skill development. Additionally, as part of the techUK Delegation to the US, he collaborates with industry leaders and policymakers to drive innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation on a global scale..
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board?
I seek a techUK Main Board role to contribute to the strategic direction, industry leadership, and governance that the board values. My expertise in AI, energy innovation, and digital transformation aligns with techUK’s focus on policy influence, technology adoption, and business growth. As a representative of SMEs, I bring a unique perspective and global experience, offering distinct contributions to shape the future of UK tech. My goal is to drive innovation, sustainability, and collaboration to strengthen the UK’s tech leadership.
Harry Mowat
Harry Mowat
Company location: Winchester, UK
Global headcount and turnover: 40 employees, £1m+
About the company: Greentree Software has been building ERP Business Software for more than 30 years. With 84 fully integrated modules, we offer a complete business solution to companies in the mid-market, selling through a network of partners.
Current responsibilities: Having established Greentree in the UK in 2009, I built the brand and created our network of reseller partners. As well as running the company I also have active involvement with our partners and customers.
Current involvement with techUK: Having been a member of TechUK since 2013, I a regularly participate in the SME events as well as being a member of the International Trade Programme, having many years’ experience working across the globe.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? During 12 years as a member, I am grateful that the TechUK team has helped us in many ways to establish ourselves as a key player in the UK ERP market. I feel it’s time to give something back by offering my experience to TechUK and the members.
I believe there is value in sharing my almost 40 years’ experience in the tech space, from establishing and building successful brands in the UK, to representing global players in our market.
Munish Goswami
Munish Goswami
Company location: Milton Keynes, UK
Global headcount and turnover: 9 employees, £2.5 million
About the company: We are a niche data analytics company, empowering customers with data insights, modernizing legacy systems, and optimizing cloud infrastructure for efficiency and scalability.
Current responsibilities:As Founder and Managing Director, I collaborate with the Operations Director to enhance operations, support the bids team in business development, and work with delivery teams to drive innovation and ensure value for our customers.
Current involvement with techUK: We are a TechUK member and I was one of the delegates in the TechUK's first ever delegation to India led by Sabina and Daniel.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? I aspire to be a techUK Director to drive innovation and contribute my expertise in cloud architecture, data analytics, and digital transformation. As a strategic leader, I have led legacy modernization, cloud optimization, and data-driven growth. My experience across operations, business development, and delivery ensures a well-rounded perspective. On the techUK Main Board, I will advocate for emerging technologies, industry collaboration, and digital transformation, ensuring the UK tech sector remains innovative, competitive, and future-ready.
Heather Cook
Heather Cook
Company HQ location: UK (remote)
Global headcount and turnover: 10, £2.5 million
About the company: Wellmind Health offers digital treatments for chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and addiction recovery. Our programs are drug-free, scalable, and clinically validated, providing effective health behaviour change in healthcare and workplace settings.
Current responsibilities: As CEO of Wellmind Health, I oversee strategic growth, drive product development, and spearheads our domestic international expansion. I ensure the company's digital health innovations improve patient care and health services while maintaining clinical efficacy.
Current involvement with techUK: I’ve been deeply involved with techUK over the past four years, serving on the main board and contributing significantly to the health and social care council as an elected member. I actively represent innovators and SMEs, advocating for their interests and ensuring their voices are heard, both from a policy and operational delivery perspective. My role has involved shaping strategic decisions, supporting the growth of the UK tech sector, and fostering innovation across the industry. I have a particular interest in supporting the growth of the burgeoning digital therapeutics industry, where non-drug alternatives to support behavioural change and reduce addiction has so much potential to transform care and improve patient outcomes and drive down system cost.
My passion for techUK combined with my commitment to the UK health tech industry and SMEs have been evident throughout my tenure with the industry body. I have worked tirelessly to support the sector, providing guidance and expertise to help drive innovation and growth. My dedication to the cause, especially in these uncertain times, where austerity measures and a lack of investment in our industry has been unwavering.
Unfortunately, due to a move to a new business last year, I had to step down from my role on the techUK board, a position I would like to continue to serve as CEO of my new company. My legacy of support and advocacy for the UK health tech industry and SMEs continues to inspire and drive progress in the sector
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? I want to be a techUK director to leverage my experience in driving innovation and supporting SMEs in the UK health tech industry. My commitment to fostering collaboration and advocating for technological advancements aligns with techUK's mission. I aim to ensure that SMEs and innovators have a strong voice, promoting a thriving tech ecosystem. My passion for the industry and dedication to creating impactful solutions make me an ideal candidate for the role..
Andrew Burgess
Andrew Burgess
Company HQ location: London
Global headcount and turnover: 1 employee, £200,000
About the company: Greenhouse Intelligence is an ambitious AI consultancy. We provide strategic advice on AI to enterprises and not-for-profit organisations. We also deliver and implement value-led, ethical AI through a network of data scientists and developers.
Current responsibilities: As well as being the founder, I provide strategic advice and education on AI to senior leaders. I speak regularly at conferences and webinars, and am the author of The Executive Guide to AI.
Current involvement with techUK: I am an active member of the AI & Data Leadership Committee and am on the AI % Data Ethics Working Group. I regularly contribute to the consultations and always actively contribute to all meetings. I have provided case studies and content to techUK reports on AI. I will be part of the panel on an upcoming session on Small Language Models.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? AI can provide enormous value to businesses and society, but that needs to be balanced with the ethical risks of technology. Through my active roles in techUK, I have seen how the organisation can influence the agenda for good. As an AI strategist, ethicist and (most importantly) practitioner working across many clients from SMEs to international banks, I can bring a unique perspective to the Board, particularly now with AI dominating so much of the technology and political agendas.
Emma Smethurst
Emma Smethurst
Company HQ location: Southampton
Global headcount and turnover: 30 employees, £5 million
About the company: Etch helps established businesses unlock their full potential and regain market leadership by modernising legacy tech environments through digital customer experience (CX) capabilities and our proven EtchElevate™ process. This approach increases client win rates, strengthens customer relationships, drives revenue growth, and reduces costs to serve.
Current responsibilities: Head of Commercial, Digital Consultancy Leader, helping businesses modernise customer experience, regain market leadership, drive growth, and achieve operational excellence with Etch's proven methodologies.
Current involvement with techUK: No direct involvement as of yet, attending appropriate events.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? I'm applying to techUK's board to champion the vital role of digital consultancies like Etch. I aim to ensure their perspective shapes UK tech policy, driving innovation and growth. My expertise in digital transformation and emerging technologies, coupled with a focus on SME needs and ethical practices, will strengthen techUK's impact and foster a thriving digital economy.
Grace Almendras-Castillo
Grace Almendras-Castillo
Company HQ location: London
Global headcount and turnover: 10 employees, Pre-Revenue
About the company: Gifftid AI is an integrated, All in One AI Impact Growth Platform to secure capital, commercial and supply chain opportunities while informing decisions with SME data and evidence.
Current responsibilities: Grace Almendras-Castillo is the Founder and CEO of Gifftid AI, an All-in-One platform designed to unlock capital access, commercial partnerships, and supply chain integration for SMEs. With a deep background in healthcare, life sciences, and impact investing, I lead Gifftid’s mission to transform how small businesses access funding and scale globally.
As CEO, Grace drives strategy, product innovation, and market expansion, ensuring that Gifftid AI delivers AI-driven insights that make SMEs investment-ready and commercially viable. She spearheads enterprise partnerships, investor engagement, and policy advocacy, positioning Gifftid as a key player in the growth and impact economy.
I have decades of experience in entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, and digital health, previously founding and exiting Self Care Catalysts, a data-driven patient intelligence company. My expertise in AI, impact finance, and SME ecosystems has earned her recognition as a thought leader in tech-enabled impact markets. I also hold a patent on Health Storylines, the platform we built from my previous company.
https://patents.justia.com/assignee/self-care-catalysts-inc (under my previous name)
At Gifftid, I am focused on building a scalable, AI-powered infrastructure that helps SMEs overcome barriers to growth while ensuring investors and corporate buyers have the data, analytics, and decision-making tools to deploy capital with confidence. I hope to contribute to shaping the future of SME-driven in the UK and economies worldwide.
Current involvement with techUK: I am really happy to be a part of the the Growth Council where I regularly contribute to discussions and forums. I also take time to attend external meetings like the meeting held with the Bank of England in November 2025, that resulted to me being asked to be a regular SME market data contributor to the Bank of England. I also try to attend meetings where SMEs are involved even outside London. Gifftid has also hosted events like what we organized in February where we hosted over 30 in person investment industry leaders.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? If I become a Board Member, I will bring extensive expertise in AI, impact finance, SME growth, and digital transformation, making her a valuable addition to Tech UK’s leadership. As the CEO of Gifftid AI, I built a platform that empowers SMEs by providing AI-driven investment readiness, supply chain access, and commercialization opportunities. My depth of understanding of fintech, digital health, life sciences, and sustainability will enable me to contribute meaningful insights on how technology can drive economic growth and social impact.
My role at Tech UK would focus on advancing AI-driven SME enablement, helping businesses secure funding, scale operations, and integrate into global supply chains. I would advocate for open data policies, digital innovation, and alternative financing solutions to bridge the gap between SMEs, investors, and corporate buyers.
My leadership in AI-powered decision-making and impact investing can help shape policy recommendations that enhance UK’s competitiveness in digital innovation. I could work closely with investors, corporate ventures, and policymakers to ensure that UK tech SMEs remain at the forefront of AI adoption and digital growth. My commitment to leveraging AI for inclusive economic development can hopefully complement the already strong research, advocacy and policy-making expertise inside TechUK.
Sarah Blundell
Sarah Blundell
Company HQ location: Newbury, UK
Global headcount and turnover: 15 employees, £1.5 million
About the company: CyberHive is an innovative UK SME delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions that empower clients to confidently grow their businesses by proactively protecting critical data and infrastructure from today's complex and constantly evolving digital threats.
Current responsibilities: As COO, Sarah leads CyberHive’s strategic operations, managing commercial growth, business development, and organisational efficiency, ensuring exceptional service delivery and driving company performance to meet evolving client and market demands.
Current involvement with techUK: I have actively contributed to TechUK's mission, serving on both the Cyber Security Committee and the National Security Committee for the past two years. In 2022, I was honoured to win the TechUK Cyber Innovation Den, demonstrating my commitment to innovation and leadership within the UK's cybersecurity sector.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? I am passionate about promoting UK technology growth and the value SMEs bring, particularly strengthening their voice within the wider sector. As a TechUK Director, I would champion greater collaboration around innovation, market development, and digital resilience. I bring extensive strategic experience from leadership roles at CyberHive and a proven track record with TechUK committees, enabling me to support effective advocacy, foster meaningful engagement, and contribute valuable insights to shape policy decisions positively impacting our sector.
Alex Yip
Alex Yip
Company HQ location: Essex
Global headcount and turnover: 1 employee, Pre-Revenue
About the company: Puritan AI drives SME AI adoption across UK industries, offering strategic guidance and AI transformation. We have customers globally and collaborate with institutions like UCL, UOE, MSDUK, and Enterprise Nation to empower businesses for an AI-enabled future..
Current responsibilities: Alex leads Puritan AI’s strategic direction, overseeing foundation model selection and forging key partnerships to position the company as the go-to AI partner for SMEs. He played a pivotal role in the LBGUPS initiative, streamlining AI adoption for SME clients.
Current involvement with techUK: Alex currently serves as Vice Chair of the AI and Data Analytics Leadership Committee, contributing to key policy papers with a focus on micro and SME support. He provides strategic insight on how AI enablement varies globally, recognising that requirements and support levels differ significantly across regions.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? Serving as a TechUK SME representative is a strategic priority for me, as it offers a platform to contribute meaningful thought leadership and influence at board level. I bring a distinct perspective shaped by hands-on experience in AI development across Asia, which could informs governance, subcommittee engagement, and oversight frameworks. This role enables me to help drive more inclusive, actionable support for SMEs and Micro companies while strengthening their engagement in the digital economy.
Heather Xiao
Heather Xiao
Company HQ location: London
Global headcount and turnover: 1, <£1 million
About the company: Horizon Zero is a pioneering research and advisory firm focused on ecosystem driven smart data framework, helping ecosystem stakeholders to strategize open data sharing capabilities, business models and navigating regulations to transform customer experiences and unlock new business opportunities.
Current responsibilities: I'm the founder and CEO of the company, responsible for leading and engaging ecosystem partners in developing the research framework, lead the related strategy consulting for banking, energy and telco sector clients, and engaging public sector organisations to support its policies and thought leadership development.
Current involvement with techUK: My company joined techUK last year and I'm an active member, especially in supporting techUK's data and AI policy initiatives.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? I would love to bring to TechUK my deep passion and expertise in emerging technologies, particularly Smart Data, Open Banking and AI - spanning technology, business models, and regulation. I am committed to driving open data sharing and AI innovation to enhance the UK digital ecosystem, benefiting both consumers and businesses. With over a decade of leadership in financial services, aviation, and consulting, I've spearheaded industry-wide initiatives such as contributing to UK Open Banking Future Entity Working Group, Smart Data Council, and chaired key forums such as UK Open Banking Participants Forum, offering strategic insights into data, AI and digital innovation.
Costas Demetriou
Costas Demetriou
Company HQ location: London
Global headcount and turnover: 245 employees, £25 million turnover
About the company: Wifinity designs, builds and manages high performance connectivity networks for UK businesses. We are specialists in hard-to-reach, complex deployments. Our customers are in defence & public sector, oil & gas, holiday & leisure parks and multi-user residential developments like build-to-rent, student housing, later living & single family accommodation.
Current responsibilities: As CEO, Costas provides sets Wifinity's vision & strategy; is responsible for company leadership & management; strategic direction, senior relationship ownership, M&A, strategic growth, product & proposition leadership & investor accountability.
Current involvement with techUK: New member as of 1 April 2025.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? Wifinity is a high-growth, UK mid-market company (winning Lloyds Mid Market Business of the Year 2025), our customers are exclusively UK-based, and our technology underpins major infrastructure projects for the MOD, wider defence sector, public sector, oil & gas and other industries.
As the CEO behind Wifinity's rapid growth, Costas is looking to champion the UK tech industry on a global stage. He will collaborate with Board peers to support their growth, develop joint business opportunities with other TechUK members, use his relationships with senior public sector stakeholders to affect policy and drive industry change in major UK infrastructure projects,
Well-advanced in our own net zero journey, we can also champion digital transformation & sustainable and responsible technology.
Nathan Swift
Nathan Swift
Company HQ location: London
Global headcount and turnover: 13 employees, £11.7 million turnover
About the company: Swift Strategies is client-side digital and technology delivery partner. We help our clients solve the stickiest, trickiest, most complicated digital and technology transformation projects that no one else wants to take on.
Current responsibilities: I am responsible for running and growing Swift Strategies. What started with 1 person (me!) four years ago has grown to roughly 100 people (13 perms and 85 deployed associates), delivering complex change to Central Government, Higher Education, and Education Services Sectors, amongst others.
Current involvement with techUK: While we have only just become a techUK member ourselves, we have been working as a bridge between UK Public Sector and the wider technology and digital supply chain via techUK since 2020. We have been central to market engagement with hardware manufactures, resller and professional / managed services provides for our clients (Department for Education - Get Help with Technology Programme which delivered 1.95m laptops to children in England during the Coronavirus Pandemic; and the Government Property Agency - their Strategic IT Procurement Programme for commodity building/property technology and most recently the GPA's GovPass market engagement). Market engagement we have facilitated between the Public Sector and industry has helped shape policy, enabled creative problem solving in unprecedented circumstances and has driven significant innovation.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? After more than a decade in client-side interim senior technology, transformation and delivery roles in Central Government, I have a unique perspective on how the UK Public Sector works and the opportunities and challenges they present. I believe the techUK Main Board could benefit from this experience and perspective of a client-side SME digital and technology delivery consultancy. My focus in recent years has been delivering compelling and high value outcomes for our clients in both the public and private sectors by creating ecosystems of like-minded technology providers, resellers, SaaS vendors, integrators and client-side capabilities to solve problems holistically to help clients deliver their strategic ambitions.
Andrew Jones
Andrew Jones
Company HQ location: Cheltenham, UK
Global headcount and turnover: 9 employees
About the company: The Cyber Scheme train and assess technical consultants at the highest levels defined by NCSC for the CHECK and Cyber Advisor schemes, and as a Licensed Body for UKCSC, can assess individuals for Professional Titles.
Current responsibilities: I focus on improving professional standards for the technical community including creating technical assessments, advising on standards for the UK Cyber Security Council and forming strategic direction in defence posture for UK and overseas entities.
Current involvement with techUK: The Cyber Scheme has been a member of TechUK for 12 months, and our involvement is growing as we engage with the team on priorities we can contribute to. We have contributed articles for insights and industry views, for example on the convergence of OT/IoT and IT and its implications for industry. We have also taken part in the Tech Together Talking 5 podcasts, and are contributing to the research project with the Department for Business and Trade on government procurement. In addition the team regularly engage with the webinars and live events, and this is an area we wish to participate more in as our membership matures.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? 40 years’ experience working commercial, UK Govt and Foreign Govt (liaison) roles. I was recently Chairman of the Professional Standards Working Group for UK Cyber Security Council. Experience covers policy development, operational delivery, crisis management, complex project/programme delivery, training, and business change in the Security/intelligence, Cyber Security and Information Assurance domains. I can provide an objective opinion that straddles both government and commercial objectives, ensuring quality as the technical and cybersecurity industry grows to maintain UK as a global leader.
Praveen Karadiguddi
Praveen Karadiguddi
Company location: Staines, UK
Global headcount and turnover: 150 employees, £31m turnover
About the company: Scrumconnect is Britain’s fastest-growing SME digital consultancy. We deliver user-centric digital transformation for public sector clients including DWP and HMCTS. The bespoke solutions we build improve the public services that millions of citizens rely on.
Current responsibilities: As CEO, I set our strategy and I’m accountable for Scrumconnect’s growth. But I’m very hands-on too. I love working alongside our people so they're happy and feel supported to do whatever’s best for clients.
Current involvement with techUK: I personally introduced techUK into Scrumconnect.
We are an active, enthusiastic and engaged member, regularly contributing towards forums on digital transformation, procurement, and SME inclusion. My team is already engaged with relevant techUK industry heads for ensuring Scrumconnect plays an even bigger collaborative role.
Personally, I participate in techUK discussions aimed at influencing government policy, ensuring SMEs are fairly represented and considered in technology decisions. My involvement extends to shaping practical recommendations and highlighting the importance of diversity and innovation.
I use Scrumconnect’s frontline experience with major public sector clients to offer unique insights as a successful SME, and I am often lobbying techUK and advocating for initiatives that support smaller tech businesses and will help them thrive.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? As an immigrant BAME entrepreneur, I founded Britain's fastest growing SME IT consultancy, building it ground up to become a major public sector digital transformation partner. I am passionate about cheerleading SME voices, mentoring new entrepreneurs, and campaigning relentlessly for greater ethnic and gender inclusivity. By combining my existing contributions to techUK, government forums and the Sunday Times, with my experience of leading large-scale government transformations, I hope to shape techUK’s policy-outlook and drive SME representation on the Main Board.
Jason Kay
Jason Kay
Company HQ location: London, UK
Global headcount and turnover: 150 employees, £50 million turnover
About the company: At Mercator Digital, we help public sector organisations deliver user-centric digital services that drive positive change. With 20 years’ experience, we tackle complex challenges, balancing innovation and citizen-focused outcomes to create lasting impact for communities and government.
Current responsibilities: As Chief Strategy Officer at Mercator, I drive business growth, market expansion, and strategic direction, aligning digital transformation initiatives with industry needs. I lead stakeholder engagement, innovation, and policy influence, ensuring impactful contributions across public and private sectors.
Current involvement with techUK: I am a member of TechUK’s Central Government Council, working with industry and government leaders to shape digital transformation. I contribute to policy discussions, advocate for innovation, and help address challenges in public service delivery, procurement, and technology adoption.
What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? I am passionate about driving change at the intersection of technology, policy, and public service. With extensive experience leading digital transformation across public and private sectors, I bring strategic leadership, deep public sector expertise, and a track record of delivering innovation at scale.
As a TechUK Director, I will help shape policy, drive industry growth, and champion technology’s role in delivering real impact. My experience influencing government strategy and fostering industry collaboration ensures I can add value to the Main Board and TechUK’s mission.