Tech Policy Expertise: Start-ups and scale-ups

  • Emma Dunn

    Emma Dunn is the co-founder of Friday Initiatives, a data company building practical tools and strategies that help organisations understand, govern and get value from their data. Friday works across the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia, supporting clients from government bodies to high-growth startups. Emma’s work focuses on shaping Friday’s direction, translating complex data and regulatory issues into clear narratives, and guiding how the company engages with partners and stakeholders as it scales.

  • Mia Haffety

    Mia joined techUK in September 2023 within the Digital Infrastructure and Climate team(s) before transitioning to the Digital Economy team in April 2024.

    Before joining techUK, Mia worked as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) sitting within the Policy Unit.

    Outside of work, Mia enjoys running, yoga, bouldering and art.

  • Jessica Figueras

    Jessica is the co-founder of CxB (Cyber Governance for Boards), a non-profit network that supports boards and non-executive directors to strengthen oversight of cyber security, and works with government to support developing cyber resilience regulation. She is also a non-executive director (Governor) at the University of Westminster.

    Previously she was Vice Chair and a Founding Trustee at the UK Cyber Security Council, where she worked with government on the development of a new self-regulatory regime for the cyber security profession. She was chief executive of Pionen, a cyber security firm working with government and critical national infrastructure, and Chair of Trustees at NCT, the UK’s largest charity for parents.

    As a technology strategist, she has worked extensively with government and the technology sector over decades, in recent years focusing on cyber security, digital trust and the role of tech in civil society. She has published extensive research on the application of emerging technologies in the public sector and regulated industries, and her technical advisory work directly informed the UK’s ground-breaking online safety legislation and wider regulatory regime.

  • Catherine Colloms

    Catherine has over 25 years’ experience across the public and private sector, specialising in infrastructure, tech and telecoms. She has advised corporates on working in partnership with government to deliver major infrastructure and environmental, social and governance projects and brings stakeholders together to solve economic and social challenges and devise commercial and policy solutions to help address them.

    She spent 8 years on the executive of Openreach (BT) when it hyper scaled its full-fibre network, where she also headed their Gender network and led initiatives on diversity and culture as part of the company’s transformation. She is on the advisory board of Labour Digital and is a NED at Gigaclear, a rural altnet Telco and on DBT’s Industrial Development Advisory Council.

  • Helen Milner

    Helen has 40 years’ experience creating and leading internet-based organisations; driving innovation, delivery and systems change at scale. Working closely with people deep in communities, as well at the highest levels of government and industry. Helen is number 9 in Computer Weekly’s 2025 UKTech50 list, and their number 1 Female Founder. Outside of her work for Good Things Foundation, she is the Chair of environmental charity Subak, and a Non-Executive Director on the Board for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

  • Flora Coleman

    Flora Coleman is a seasoned global leader in public affairs, policy, and communications, with over a decade of experience shaping regulatory and reputational outcomes for some of the world’s most prominent fintech and technology firms. Most recently Director of Global Policy and Government Relations at Klarna, she led cross-functional teams on both sides of the Atlantic, driving strategy on AI, financial services, credit, and competition policy. Her earlier tenure at Wise saw her deliver a landmark win on cross-border payments regulation in the EU and spearhead the firm’s ESG and CSR agendas.
    Flora is widely recognised for her deep network and policy campaigns. She was recently named one of Europe’s top tech lobbyists by Sifted and has written on regulatory innovation in American Banker, arguing for proportionate frameworks for BNPL. She also addressed global consumer advocates on digital wallet safety at the 2023 Consumers International Summit in Nairobi.
    In addition to her executive roles, Flora serves as an Ambassador for InnovateHer, a Steering Board Member of the Startup Coalition, and an Industry Panel Member for Consumers International. Her portfolio reflects a consistent commitment to responsible innovation and stakeholder collaboration.
    With a track record across the UK, US, EU, and Australia, and a style that blends strategic clarity with delivery excellence, Flora brings valuable experience and perspective at the intersection of regulation, communications, and technology.

  • Ashlie Tarpley

    Ashlie Tarpley is an experienced consumer financial services attorney with over a decade of practice advising financial institutions and government agencies on complex compliance and contracting challenges. Her career spans litigation, regulatory counseling, and policy development, giving her a unique perspective on how laws and regulations impact day-to-day business operations.

    Ashlie’s experience includes:

    – Leading federal regulatory compliance examinations;

    – Counseling clients on privacy, data security, and financial services compliance strategies;

    – Advising on the rollout of innovative products and services;

    – Designing organizational policies and procedures;

    – Overseeing contracting programs and negotiating commercial agreements;

    – Developing and delivering compliance training; and

    – Shaping financial services and housing policy in government.

    In 2025, Ashlie founded Tarpley Templates and Legal Research (TTLR) to make high-quality legal support accessible to organizations navigating growth, innovation, and regulatory risk. TTLR provides attorney-drafted contract templates, practical legal research, and fractional counsel support tailored to tech-driven businesses.

    With her combined litigation, regulatory, and policy experience, Ashlie helps clients anticipate risks, structure stronger contracts, and build compliance frameworks that support sustainable growth. Through TTLR, she is committed to empowering organizations to negotiate smarter, comply with confidence, and achieve lasting success in an evolving financial and regulatory landscape.

  • Rumbidzayi Pfende

    Rumbi Pfende is a seasoned entrepreneur and leader with over 23 years’ experience scaling startups and driving growth across tech and media. She is the Co-founder and COO of MAMA.codes, the UK’s leading coding school for children, where she has helped over 5,000 young people—many from underrepresented groups—gain vital digital skills. A passionate advocate for inclusion, Rumbi has advised organisations including Lucasfilm on diversity and culture, and champions initiatives that widen access to education and technology. She is a thought leader, regularly sharing her journey as a Black female founder committed to building opportunities that empower the next generation.

  • Lu Jackson

    Lu Jackson is the founder of Craic™, the global operating system for comedy and leader in comedy industry technologies, including Craic CRM and Craic Health, the pioneering Comedy-on-Prescription® platform. She is also the founder and chair of CRAFT, the newly established national comedy council and first policy-driven organisation of its kind for comedy.

    A digital media and tech innovator with over two decades in createch, Lu previously co-founded VidZone, the world’s first online and mobile music streaming subscription service and the first independent digital music distributor globally.

    Now driving a cultural shift in comedy, her mission is to position it as both entertainment and a force for social impact and wellbeing.

  • Leah Friedlander

    Leah builds and maintains relationships with the coalition’s broad range of stakeholders, including Ministers, MPs and officials. Leah joined the Startup Coalition in 2021 following the completion of her Master’s of Public Administration from UCL in Digital Technologies and Policy. Leah has a background in US politics having previously worked on the US 2020 presidential election campaign and in the US Senate. Leah currently sits on the advisory board of Capital Enterprise.