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2026 Festival

Home>Calendar of events>Our Future, Our North: From local roots to regional wealth

Our Future, Our North: From local roots to regional wealth Lord Jim O'Neill, Darren Pirie, Ben Pykett and Kiran Trehan

Panel discussion
This event has now finished.
  • Date and time: Wednesday 10 June 2026, 11am to 1pm
  • Location: In-person only
    Radisson Hotel, North St, York YO1 6JF
  • Admission: Free admission, booking required

Event details

How can York and North Yorkshire become the premier region for investment and new opportunities in the UK? Our expert panel explores how a ‘ground up’ approach – uniting local talent, businesses, government and universities – can spark a new era of regional success, creating better jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets.

Our event begins with a keynote address by prominent economist Lord Jim O'Neill who will discuss the conditions for growth. Afterwards, join our expert panel including Ben Pykett, author of the Demos/PwC Good Growth for Cities Index; Darren Pirie, Head of NatWest Group Accelerator and Strategic Partnerships; and Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York.

  • Keynote: 11am to 11.30am
  • Panel: 11.45am to 1pm

This event will now be held in the Radisson Hotel, North St, York YO1 6JF (map) and includes refreshments and lunch. 

This event is part of the Festival Focus series ‘Our Future, Our North: Building jobs and prosperity’ exploring how the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is driving economic growth, creating new job opportunities and benefitting the pockets of everyone in the North of England.

You may also be interested in ‘Our Future, Our North: Regional growth - the new tech trio’ and ‘Our Future, Our North: Good growth - from strategy to your street’ also on Wednesday 10 June. Come along to one session or join us for the whole day.  

About the speakers

Jim O’Neill, Lord O’Neill of Gatley, is an ex-Treasury Minister, former Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs and Crossbench member of the House of Lords. Until October 2014, Jim chaired the Cities Growth Commission in the UK, when it provided its final recommendations, which formed the impetus for the government’s policy on devolution as well as the concept of the Northern Powerhouse.

Darren Pirie is Head of NatWest Group Accelerator and Strategic Partnerships. The free Accelerator programme - offered through the Royal Bank, NatWest and Ulster Bank brands - supports entrepreneurs to grow and scale their businesses. 

Ben Pykett is a Partner at PwC, where he leads consulting work with local authorities and public sector organisations. Based in Bristol, he specialises in large-scale transformation programmes, helping places design and deliver sustainable economic growth, improve services, and respond to complex policy challenges. He has extensive experience working with senior civic leaders, including Chief Executives and elected members, and previously held senior roles in local government, including serving as a Deputy Chief Executive. Ben also plays a key role in PwC’s Good Growth for Cities programme, contributing insights on the drivers of economic success across UK cities, with a focus on inclusive growth and improved living standards.

Professor Kiran Trehan is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York. Kiran provides leadership and strategic direction in developing effective collaborations with key institutional partners, shapes the University’s relationships in York, Yorkshire and the wider North of England, and harnesses the institution’s research and teaching to help drive local and regional economic development.

Partners

Darlington Economic Campus University of York

Venue details

  • Wheelchair accessible