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Manchester Digital has hired Niomie Haynes, Caroline Thee and Ella Gago-Brookes as it prepares for the Manchester Digital Festival scheduled for February 8–12, 2027. The appointments span ecosystem and membership work, innovation programmes and festival planning, according to BusinessCloud’s October 1, 2026 report.
Who are the three new hires?
| Name | Role | Responsibilities or background reported |
|---|---|---|
| Niomie Haynes | Head of ecosystem and membership | BusinessCloud reports that she brings 18 years of experience at The Very Group and, more recently, four years at the North West Cyber Resilience Centre. |
| Caroline Thee | Innovation programmes lead | Her background is in global politics, policy and funding. She will lead planning for the 2027 festival and the DigitalHER programme. |
| Ella Gago-Brookes | Ecosystem and membership lead | She will also support Manchester Digital’s events programme. |
These job titles and experience details were reported by BusinessCloud; the experience figures are not independently verified in that report.
What the appointments mean for the 2027 festival
Thee’s remit includes leading festival planning, while Gago-Brookes will support the events programme. BusinessCloud lists the festival dates as February 8–12, 2027. Readers planning to attend should confirm the schedule with Manchester Digital, since event dates can change.
Why Manchester Digital says it is expanding its team
Manchester Digital was celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. Its managing director, Katie Gallagher OBE, said the organization is “constantly evolving and changing to reflect the changes and needs in the tech sector.” She described the hires as bringing strengths across technology, policy, partnership building and community, according to BusinessCloud.
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