CyberNorth & Check Point bring summit to Newcastle

CyberNorth and Check Point will host the Cyber Leader Summit in Newcastle, bringing Check Point's summit series to the North East for the first time.

Part of the wider TechNExt programme, the event will bring together cyber security professionals, technology leaders, policymakers and innovators. The Newcastle edition follows previous summits in London and Manchester.

For CyberNorth, the move marks another sign of the North East's growing role in the UK cyber sector. The organisation supports around 600 businesses and more than 5,000 active professionals across the region, with links to sectors including FinTech, space, maritime and defence.

Check Point, which sells cyber security products and services to businesses and governments, said the summit would focus on issues including AI, quantum technologies, ethics, resilience and skills. Speakers are expected from regional and national organisations, including the BBC.

Regional profile

The summit is backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which has promoted stronger cyber practices and wider AI adoption across UK regions. Its support adds a national policy dimension to an event centred on a regional technology cluster.

Jon Holden, Chief Executive Officer of CyberNorth, said: "Bringing the Cyber Leader Summit to Newcastle in collaboration with Check Point is a huge moment for the North East cyber scene. The fact that this nationally recognised roadshow is coming to the region, following events in London and Manchester, is a clear indication of the growing reputation and capability of the North East. The region is home to exceptional cyber talent, innovative businesses and a highly collaborative ecosystem. Through key events such as the Cyber Leader Summit we're able to bring together industry leaders, innovators and future talent to help strengthen the region's position as a key player within the UK cyber security landscape."

The North East has sought to raise its standing as a cyber security centre as part of a broader effort to expand the regional technology economy. CyberNorth added that its relationships with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Business and Trade have helped raise the area's profile in the UK and abroad.

Sector links

Its network extends across critical national infrastructure, quantum and other technology fields, giving it reach into both established industries and emerging areas. That cross-sector presence helps make events such as the Cyber Leader Summit useful platforms for introductions, partnerships and discussion between public and private sector participants.

Charlotte Wilson, Head of Enterprise at Check Point Software Technologies, said: "We're delighted to bring the Cyber Leader Summit to the North East in partnership with CyberNorth and as part of TechNExt 2026. The summit is designed to encourage meaningful conversations around the challenges and opportunities facing cyber security today, from AI and quantum technologies to ethics, resilience and future skills while creating opportunities for collaboration across the wider ecosystem. The North East has a vibrant and fast-growing cyber community, and it's important for us to support and engage with the organisations, leaders and emerging talent helping shape the future of the industry."

The event reflects a wider trend of national and international cyber security companies looking beyond London for industry engagement. Regional clusters have become more visible as employers, investors and policymakers respond to demand for cyber skills and the spread of digital risk across sectors.

That has also sharpened attention on how local ecosystems connect with national strategy. In this case, the summit's agenda is expected to cover both current threats and longer-term issues such as skills development and the effect of emerging technologies on resilience.

A spokesperson at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: "At DSIT, we always look to support the regions in their pursuit of improved cyber security practices and, increasingly, their focus on AI development and its adoption. To strengthen resilience across the UK, it is essential that the regions continue to upskill their businesses and the next generation of professionals in these frontier technologies. That a global leader in cyber tech and AI has chosen to bring their senior leader summit to the North East, is a great indication of the calibre of businesses and potential of the region. I wish the event every success."