Celebrating STEM Excellence
Across the Oxford–Cambridge Arc
From global tech leaders to students, the Overt STEM Summit & Awards spotlights everyone shaping STEM across the Arc.
Why the Arc?
From Oxford to Cambridge, this is one of Europe’s most productive tech corridors, creating skilled jobs, attracting investment and delivering global solutions.
Summit + Awards
Two Platforms, One Purpose
The Summit turns insight into action, connecting educators, innovators, investors and policymakers on capital, skills and career paths. The Awards celebrate achievements that inspire talent, forge partnerships and strengthen the Arc’s reputation. Together we advance Collaboration, People and Opportunity.
Building on the Success of the MK STEM Awards
After two standout years in 2024 and 2025, the event evolves into the Overt STEM Summit and Overt STEM Awards for 2026, now Arc-wide. We honour people and teams, and convene the community to collaborate, share insights, and unlock capital, skills, and pathways for regional impact.
Meet some of our previous Sponsors
Meet the Team
Our board of experts are working hard to produce a groundbreaking STEM event for the Arc, by the Arc, and reflecting the distinct identity, potential and diversity of our region.
Meena Chander:
Meena is the CEO of Events Together and boasts an impressive track record in the global corporate events and exhibitions industry.
Six years ago, she launched the ‘This Is Us’ Conference, marking Milton Keynes’ first Diversity and Inclusion Conference. In 2023, she built on this success by introducing the ‘This Is Us’ D&I Awards. 2024 and 2025 saw the birth of the MK Stem Awards.
Continuing with the success of these events, in 2025, Meena launched the Overt Stem Summit and Awards, expanding out into the wider arc.
Jagdish Chander
Board Member
Principal Global Program & Change Transformation Lead
Digital
Eman Martin-Vignerte, Board Member
Director,
Robert Bosch UK
Political Affairs
Jacqui Gavin BEM, Board Member
Founder & Director,
5 Senses of Inclusion
Consultancy
Paul Minns, Board Member
Director,
Lucid Connect Ltd
Recruitment
Laura Giddings, Board Member
Founder,
The STEM Project
Local Government
Storm Rae, Board Member
Lecturer,
Cranfield University
Education
Brenda Jefcoate, Board Member
Consultant,
Civil Aviation Authority
Engineering & Consultancy
Dr Ajay Sharman, Board Member
National Lead,
STEM Learning
Not for Profit
Emma Kent, Board Member
Managing Director,
Initivo
Engineering & Consultancy
Sarah Thorne, Board Member
Found and Director,
Thorne Project Solutions
Project Management
Tony Lake, Event Producer
Founder and Director,
Production Live
Events Industry
Anne Walsh, Media & PR
Communications Lead,
Stratos
Marketing
MK Conferencing
The Venue
MK Conferencing is a top-class conference and meetings venue located just half a mile from Central Milton Keynes and one mile from the railway station, offering free parking for all guests!
The Summit and Awards will be held at:
MK Conferencing, Strudwick Dr, Oldbrook, Milton Keynes MK6 2TG
