Having worked at the North East Chamber of Commerce for 7 years, 6 of which were in the membership team supporting hundreds of businesses across the region before joining the international trade team in April 2025. Michael’s primary focus is the ensure the Chamber are delivering the right support for businesses trading internationally which includes training, consultancy, events, audits, documentation, customs, knowledge sharing and expert advice.

Dr Natasha Boulding is the CEO-founder of Low Carbon Materials (LCM), a climate tech company and Earthshot Prize finalist developing world-leading material-based solutions to decarbonise our built environment. Natasha has patents in the area of advanced materials and started her career in academia, both in the UK and internationally. She sits on the UK Government’s Circular Economy Taskforce, the board of the UK Green Building Council start-up division, as well as holding board positions for Durham University Enterprise and The Northern Net Zero Accelerator. She has been recognised by Forbes 30 under 30, has won Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation award which highlights top female entrepreneurs in the UK and has led LCM to win multiple global and national awards.

Dr Callum White is a Senior Advisor for Net Zero Construction and Maintenance at National Highways, working at the intersection of infrastructure innovation, decarbonisation, and delivery. He is responsible for driving delivery of the National Highways Net Zero Plan across construction and maintenance, and is a member of the organisation’s Innovation Board, helping to shape funding decisions, technology roadmaps, and the transition from research to business as usual. Callum works across multiple directorates to develop robust carbon performance metrics and reporting frameworks. Prior to joining National Highways, Callum completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge focused on digital technologies and sustainable concrete, leading to the invention of a new measurement technology with a strong emphasis on real world impact and commercialisation. He brings a blend of technical expertise, systems thinking, and practical delivery experience to addressing the infrastructure sector’s net zero challenge.