'Why Wales?' Breakfast Briefing on Place-Based Investment and Regional Growth
Featuring the Welsh Government and Cardiff Innovation Network
Join us for a timely panel discussion exploring how place-based investment can drive sustainable economic growth in Wales. Delivered in partnership with the Cardiff University Innovation Network, the event will be hosted at the sbarc|spark campus at Cardiff University.
Building on the momentum of the Welsh Government’s Investment Summit (December 2025), this session brings together policymakers, academic leaders and industry voices working in Wales to examine how local ecosystems can unlock long-term regional growth. Topics include:
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Why place matters in investment decisions
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The role of anchor institutions like Cardiff University in driving innovation
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How public-private-academic partnerships support long-term growth
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Attracting and retaining investment through strong regional ecosystems
This event is being hosted by Cardiff University with registration managed via their platform: please register via this link.
Speakers
Neil is an experienced leader working across government, business and civil society nationally and internationally. He joined WIG as CEO in 2023 at a time when the charity’s purpose of improving cross-sector collaboration and leadership to boost investment, economic growth and prosperity has become ever more important.
Neil is also Chair of the WorldSkills Global Research Council, having served eight years as CEO of WorldSkills UK, championing the productivity benefits of international benchmarking to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education to world-class levels, working with governments, education and industry partners.
Neil was previously Deputy Director-General and Chief Operating Officer at the UK business organisation the CBI, working for 12 years at the highest level of the business and government interface nationally and internationally. Prior to that he worked on European employee relations in global IT services and publishing, following completion of his PhD on race discrimination in the workplace in Germany. Neil was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to LGBT diversity and inclusion.
Please note all attendees must register in advance to attend WIG events.
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