The state of MarTech in the North East

Join us for an exclusive, in-person panel event, bringing together some of the leading minds, to cut through the hype and debate. #MarTechNE

The State of MarTech in the North East

The marketing technology landscape is changing at a pace we’ve never seen before! The rapid rise of AI and a constantly evolving Digital and Marketing marketplace aren’t just global trends—they are defining the future of business right here in the North East.

Are you prepared? 🧐

This practical, no-nonsense discussion will provide invaluable insights from industry leaders and will explore the key challenges and opportunities facing businesses today, moving beyond the buzzwords to discuss hot topics.

What to Expect

Opportunities to networking with like-minded professionals, fellow entrepreneurs and business owners from across the North East. Refreshments and panel speakers.

Speakers

Our expert panel, featuring some of the region's most influential industry figures will tackle the most pressing topics!

Michael Knowles is a former Google trainer and the founder of ROAR Digital Marketing, the search marketing agency he launched in 2016 and has scaled for over a decade with an uncompromising commitment to honesty, integrity, and performance.

With nearly twenty years in digital, Michael and his team help 7–8 figure B2B brands become market leaders through data-informed SEO and PPC that delivers measurable ROI. Known for direct thinking and zero fluff, Michael brings clarity, strategy, hard truth, and proven commercial impact to every stage, project and boardroom he steps into.

roardigitalmarketing.co.uk

Michele Gettins joined iamproperty in 2019 to lead and grow the group’s Marketing function. An experienced senior leader with a strong strategic marketing and commercial background in both B2C and B2B, Michele has a proven track record of delivering results.

Now as Chief Marketing Officer, Michele is accountable for building an A+ team and overseeing all aspects of marketing. She is passionate about putting customers at the heart of everything the business does, using customer and consumer insight to support innovation and brand differentiation as key drivers of business and category growth.

iamproperty.com

Ian Ferguson is an e-commerce SEO consultant with more than a decade of experience in technical SEO, UX and data-led optimisation. He was previously Head of SEO at Venture Stream, working with brands such as Barbour and Womble Bond Dickinson and later helped develop Typesmith.ai, an AI writing assistant for ecommerce. Today Ian supports retailers across the UK, specialising in Shopify and user-centric strategies that strengthen organic visibility and on-site performance.

He has spoken at BrightonSEO and the North East Expo, appears on industry podcasts including SEO Office Hours, Search with Candour, Keep Optimising and the SEO Charity Podcast, and contributes to community webinars and thought leadership. Ian also writes the SEO TL;DR newsletter and has been recognised as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Organic Marketing.

ferguseo.com

Samuel Marriott-Dowding is a multi‑award‑winning Founder and CEO of Marriott Communications, a strategic marketing and public relations agency that helps ambitious businesses, brands, and third‑sector organisations grow through powerful storytelling and purpose-driven communications.

At Marriott Communications, Samuel leads multi-channel PR, brand strategy, and digital innovation projects, helping organisations scale with clarity and confidence. His work spans high-impact campaigns for organisations including The United Nations, The Scottish Government, The Labour Party, Inclusion Scotland, and Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Passionate about modern leadership, Samuel combines creativity, commercial insight, and authentic storytelling to create ventures and campaigns that deliver measurable impact, elevate purpose, and resonate with audiences.

marriottcommunications.com

Nicola Halse, owner of Riverside Marketing Solutions, brings 30 years of experience in marketing, business development, and sales. As Marketing Manager at CyberNorth, she works closely with cyber security and tech organisations across the region to elevate their brand presence, encourage collaboration and promote the North East as a secure and thriving place to do business.

riversidemarketingsolutions.co.uk

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Who Should Attend?

This event is perfect for:

• Marketing Directors and CMOs
• Digital Marketing Managers and Specialists
• eCommerce Leaders
• Founders and Business Owners
• IT and Cyber Security Leaders
• Anyone responsible for driving business growth through digital channels or interested in learning more about the marketing and digital scene!

Grab your Early-bird ticket today!

If you'd like to be the first to receive updates and secure your place, email Caroline Hagan Consultancy and watch our for the hashtag #MarTechNE.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with your peers and get ahead of the curve!

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Our Sponsors

Zenith Systems • website

Your marketing technology is only as powerful as the foundations beneath it. As a managed IT service provider, Zenith Systems takes care of the essentials that keep modern companies moving.

Downtime, security issues and sluggish systems shouldn’t get in the way of opportunities. Whether it’s protecting customer data, automating backups, or fine-tuning tools like Microsoft 365 and your CRM, we handle the behind-the-scenes work that makes your technology perform the way it should.

When it comes to tech, we like to keep things simple, no jargon, no tech-speak, just clear, honest guidance from an experienced team who care about helping your business succeed.

Thank you to Zenith for supporting the event and being an enabler in this community!

Get Kraken CIC • website

Our goal is to reduce the digital skills gap, reduce loneliness and boost confidence.

We are dedicated to fostering economic empowerment and entrepreneurial development within disadvantaged communities. We aim to equip individuals with the necessary digital skills and resources to thrive as successful business owners, entrepreneurs and innovators.

We've proudly organised digital-focussed webinars and networking events across the region, reaching over 1,000 participants 💖

One of the few organisations in the North East that is a Databank and can provide free data in the form of SIM cards, for those who could benefit from being online for money, health and work opportunities.

We're donating spaces to encourage fellow non-profit organisations to be in the room with fellow businesses and tech-folk, to encourage knowledge sharing and create awareness!