FinTech East has been created with the recognition that successful FinTech clusters need a home and voice. In 2024 Tech East commissioned Whitecap Consulting to evaluate the Norfolk FinTech ecosystem. Then in 2025 we layered Suffolk's ecosystem on top of that. Formally launching in April 2026 FinTech East is the result of a collaborative effort by business, academia and government creating the platform for growth.
James Allen
James leads Connected Innovation, one of the UK’s largest regional innovation networks, connecting 36 innovation hubs, universities, research institutes, two Freeports, and key business clusters across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. Connected Innovation has secured multiple innovation programmes.
Peter Basford
Peter is an experienced Company Director and Business Coach with over eight years at Business Growth Coaches Network Ltd, supporting SMEs to scale and strengthen their operations. He is also chair of FIPS and co-founder and Director of Innovation Labs Group, a platform dedicated to nurturing tech start-ups.
Isabel Blackman
Isabel is Relationship Manager for business, creative and digital at UEA responsible for FinTech industry engagement She is a member of the FIG board and was previously Head of Marketing for the Norwich BID (Business Improvement District). FIG is the established financial services network for Norwich and Norfolk.
James Blower
James has spent the past 18 years building and scaling the savings businesses of fintechs and challenger banks. He runs Savings Guru, a price comparison and information site for savers, leads the savings arm of top 10 UK fintech Zopa, created the original FinTech East concept and locally is Chair of Wroxham FC.
Petra Lahtinen-Kalsi
Petra is Business Solutions Manager at the University of Suffolk. Petra has 20+ years of financial services experience in London, Amsterdam and Dublin. At Citi she held a management role as Director, Corporate Banking, offering solutions and trusted advisory to MNC’s across Tech, Pharma and Consumer sectors in EMEA.
Fiona Lettice
Fiona is an experienced academic leader, innovation strategist and non-executive board member. She leads Cleantech East. As Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) at the University of East Anglia from 2016 to 2023 she led UEA's innovation capabilities. She is a founding board member of Tech East.
Julian Munson
Julian Munson is Head of Enterprise and Innovation at Suffolk County Council and responsible for initiatives supporting business start-ups, scale-ups, innovation and investment across key business sectors. Julian established Space East and Connected Innovation and the Polaris Lab in South Australia.
Tim Robinson
Tim is Chief Operating Officer of Tech East, the digital tech cluster organisation for the East of England. He is a board member of the UK Tech Cluster Group, the Culture Board and the Creative Industries Board. He is leading the charge on FinTech East having worked extensively with the FinTech community in Norfolk and Suffolk since 2022.
Chris Sargission
Chris is a seasoned business leader, spanning 'founder' thought to multiple CEO roles, with a track record in disruptive entrepreneurship, scaling start-ups, and successful exits, including a Norfolk FinTech Gamechanger. He advises organisations across sectors, currently leads Hethel Innovation Ltd’s ambitious growth.
Charlie Wright
Charlie is Senior Director, Operations for WorldPay, a market leading financial services company. Leading innovation and transformation in their Enterprise Division, deploying AI Tooling, Automation and Strategic Reporting tools for thousands of users. Previously he was COO at Epos Now in Norwich.
