Martha Lane Fox, one of the UK’s most influential entrepreneurs and internet activists, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Dundee Economic Forum.
It's on Wednesday 18th June 2025, will feature a range of thought leaders and industry experts, with Martha Lane Fox delivering the pivotal address to a diverse audience of business leaders, policymakers, and innovators.
Martha Lane Fox is a trailblazer in both the digital and entrepreneurial realms. As an entrepreneur, she co-founded Europe's largest travel and leisure website, lastminute.com, in 1998. She helped lead the company to success, taking it public in 2000 and selling it in 2005. Her entrepreneurial journey continued with ventures like LuckyVoice, a karaoke business she co-founded and now chairs, revolutionising the karaoke industry.
Currently, Martha holds key leadership roles in several high-profile organisations. She serves as President of the British Chambers of Commerce, Chancellor of the Open University, and Chair of WeTransfer. She also holds non-executive directorships at Chanel and previously served as a Director of Twitter, until Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022.
Martha’s impact extends beyond business. From 2009 to 2013, she served as the UK’s Digital Champion and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Government Digital Service, transforming the delivery of public services. Her dedication to social causes includes her work as a patron of Day One Trauma, iamtheCODE, and Just for Kids Law.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Martha was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2013 and has since become a crossbench peer in the UK House of Lords.
Speaking about the Summit, Baroness Lane Fox expressed her enthusiasm for the event: "I am really looking forward to speaking at the Dundee Economic Summit and to have the opportunity to engage with its dynamic and innovative business community.
“The world is increasingly shaped by software, and it’s essential that we continue to adapt, collaborate, and drive forward new ideas in business and technology. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on how we can harness the power of these technologies into the economy to create lasting, positive change for businesses and communities alike."
Councillor Mark Flynn, Head of Dundee City Council, welcomed the announcement, sharing: “Confirmation of Martha Lane Fox as the keynote speaker for the Dundee Economic Summit 2025 is an exciting announcement for this city event. Her remarkable career, both as a pioneering entrepreneur and a digital champion, will help to provide invaluable insights for those attending the summit.
“This is a really important event which will bring together key experts and business leaders to focus on how collaboration can drive Dundee forward. Partnership is a key strength of our city, and it will be vital to help secure sustainable economic growth in the future.”
The Dundee Economic Summit 2025 promises to be an inspiring event, and we are excited to welcome Martha Lane Fox to share her insights on digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and the future of business.
Find out more and sign up for the Dundee Economic Summit 2025.