Expert Talks - Leeds
Digital transformation sounds exciting on paper - but in reality, it’s messy, complex, and often far from linear. The hardest parts rarely make it into the case studies. We want to talk about what really happens behind the scenes.
Join us for a candid evening hosted by Dave Cox from Equal Experts, with special guests Richard Baines (Deputy Director for Digital Delivery, DEFRA) and Lucy Auckland (Product Director, Awaze). Together, they’ll share honest reflections on the challenges, setbacks, and lessons learned from driving change across both physical and digital products.
Whether you're leading change or learning from it, your experiences can help others navigate the realities of meaningful transformation.
Date: Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
Location: The Terrace, 3 Wellington Place, Leeds LS1 4AP
Agenda:
Open:
5.45 pm - Doors open / food, drinks and networking
6.30 pm - Expert Talks opening remarks
Talks:
6.45 pm - Richard Baines
7.05 pm - Lucy Auckland
Networking / Q&A:
7.30 - 7.45 pm - Networking and discussions
7.45 - 8.15 pm - Q&A
Meet the panel and explore their talks:
Richard Baines, DEFRA
Deputy Director for Digital Delivery
Richard is a Deputy Director for Digital Delivery at DEFRA. He leads the Animal & Plant Health and Livestock deliveries within the department, and is currently playing a key role in transforming the operating model for Digital delivery across the DEFRA group.
Prior to joining DEFRA, Richard led a number of Digital services at HMRC including its third-party API Platform, Digital Forms and its wider integration estate. His background is in Product Management and takes a keen interest in Platform Engineering.
Lucy Auckland, Awaze
Product Director
Lucy is a Product Director with over two decades of experience across multiple sectors with experience in technology transformation focusing on enabling innovation, growth, and delivering lasting business impact. Cross-industry expertise and passion for tech-driven change.
David Cox, Equal Experts
Product Strategist
David works in Product at Equal Experts. With over the last 20 years of experience across Publishing, government, Retail, Energy, Financial Services and more, David is particularly interested in how new ways of thinking can help solve the hardest problems. He is opinionated on the topic of 'low-hanging fruit' and is always asking if the right things are being done for the right reasons in the right way.
Gain insights from industry leaders - our speakers will share honest reflections on the highs and lows of digital transformation, from navigating complex challenges to lessons learned the hard way.
Explore the real story behind transformation - discover how teams are adapting across physical and digital products, and what it really takes to make change stick. To register for Expert Talks please fill out the form at the top of the page.