Entry & Judging

Mark Walker

The Fintech Power50

Mark is an experienced technologist whose early corporate successes led him to form his own enterprise software company, producing and selling to Universities and institutions. A hands-on role, he executed this idea from concept to maturity, while also leading the international sales for an advanced engineering company before its M&A.

As a former Senior Adviser at UK trade & investment, he used his time to build contacts in technology, IoT and Smartcities sectors, as well as the investment and accelerator environment. Managing a team of seven, his role facilitated a good understanding of the London technology environment. He then continued his passion for supporting Start-up and Scale up organisations by joining London & Partners as the tech & urban specialist on the Mayor’s international business programme. Helping London companies internationalise.

He has now stepped out of the public sector, to continue supporting ideas, Start-ups and Scale-ups with several of his own ventures, including working with an amazing co-founder on a new style of award, accolade and accelerator programme The Fintech Power50.

Gavin Powell

General Secretary FinTech Wales

Gavin has over 20 years of experience with technology and innovation, working with small start-ups through to large multi nationals. Holding a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Gavin started as a technical expert in the field, progressing into funding acquisition and programme management. He has recently been appointed as the general Secretary for FinTech Wales

Sarah Williams-Gardner

Director of Public Affairs and a founding member of Starling Bank

Sarah is Director of Public Affairs and a founding member of Starling Bank, the UK’s 1st mobile only challenger bank, which was granted a banking license in July 2016. Formally Corporate Affairs Director IBM UK Ltd. Sarah’ interactions with Government have been both as a UK employer/investor and as a supplier. Having been CEO at Opportunity Now at the time of the equality reform Sarah has a variety of corporate affairs experience. Prior to this Sarah was an IBM Client Director and won many commercial deals implementing exciting new innovations programs. She is a mother and farmer’s wife passionate about STEM in education.

Andrew Probert

Co founder Admiral insurance and Confused.com

A qualified chartered accountant, having trained with KPMG. Held significant posts with a number of insurance and financial services companies until becoming a founder director of the Admiral Group plc on it’s start up in 1992. 

Retired  from the Admiral Group in September 2006  but retains membership of a number of subsidiary group boards. Until 2016 was  chairman of the largest insurance company within the group based in Gibraltar, and now primarily involved in the group’s European and US expansion on a part time basis. 

His career has entailed significant time spent appraising new business ideas and investments and involvement in start-ups. 

He manages his own portfolio of private investments and acts as a business angel on a small number of mostly South Wales based SMEs, as well as being a backer, along with Welsh Government and others of the Alacrity Foundation based in Newport, which takes post graduate  students into focused groups, to educate them and help launch start-up businesses and fund their ideas