Speakers

Alex Ledley

Skills Academy Manager

CSA Catapult

My career has been a game of two halves. After graduating from Manchester University, I spent 10 years working in international sales within the TV distribution industry in London and Cardiff. 

After being made redundant in 2009 I moved into Higher Education (so I fully understand how we can upskill and reskill ourselves!). Fast forward 15 years, I have worked for a wide range of UK universities and research organisations, and managed several externally funded, multi-stakeholder programmes across all sectors. All of these have been to support skills development to ensure learners have the best career opportunities, and industry have access to the staff their businesses need.

My experience has always been at the exciting intersection between academia, research and industry; a privileged place where you get to work with both inspirational students and practitioners alike. 

Andrew Esson

Future Skills Lead

ORE Catapult

Andrew is Future Skills Lead at the ORE Catapult.  Based in Blyth, he works closely with industry stakeholders, education and training providers to support the development of a skills strategy and operating model that supports a future pipeline of talent into the Offshore Renewable Energy sector.

Andrew is a Chartered Engineer and fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.  Prior to joining ORE Catapult, he spent 34 years in industry, from graduate trainee to Managing Director, working in global engineering corporations and also local SME’s, in job roles including Head of R&D, IT Director, Operations Director as well as 12 years as a Managing Director.  Immediately prior to joining ORE Catapult, Andrew spent 4 years at Newcastle College as Director of Industrial Strategy, helping shape the college’s curriculum and capital investment across Energy, Engineering and Digital.

Anni Toner

Group CEO

Data-Shack

Anni is the Group CEO at The Data-Shack. A data scientist, six sigma practitioner, public speaker and author, Anni holds over 25 years' experience solving real life challenges at some of the most demanding plants and factories on the planet.   

From AI to smart factories, from drones and IoT to process improvement, Anni and her team have the expertise to deliver.   

Originally from South Africa, Anni is passionate about Data Science for Good initiatives including anti-rhino poaching targeting crime syndicates, women in STEM projects, and an active mentor to the young data scientists of tomorrow.   

Arash Ghazanfari

Chief Technology Officer

Dell Technologies

A highly experienced technology executive, Arash is focused on driving sales, business growth and supporting Dell Technologies’ go-to-market strategy. He is currently serving as a Chief Technology Officer, supporting the UK leadership and sales team members with strategic client engagements, involving executive stakeholders and partners. Arash helps drive the overall go-to-market strategy across the full breadth of the Dell Technologies ecosystem and its extended strategic partnerships in the United Kingdom.

Ashmita Randhawa

Lead

Digital Catapult, North East & Tees Valley

Dr Ashmita Randhawa leads the work for the Digital Catapult in the North East & Tees Valley and is a Visiting Professor National Innovation Centre for Data, Newcastle University. At the Digital Catapult, she and her team are responsible for helping develop innovation programmes to respond to the region’s challenges, and to provide access to infrastructure and specialist lab facilities such as the Advanced Media Production and immersive labs at PROTO, in Gateshead ; a place for businesses to innovate in a collaborative environment. A biomedical engineer turned social scientist; she has a passion for innovation and skills programmes, and has led Digital Catapult's work on foresighting capability needs in Advanced Media production. She holds a PhD in education focused on understanding how policymaking and systems can impact educational innovation. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the SKOPE Research Centre, University of Oxford, where she continues to collaborate on research related to innovation and skills.

Carlos López-Gómez

Head of Policy Links

IfM Engage

Dr Carlos López-Gómez is the head of Policy Links, IfM Engage, University of Cambridge. Policy Links is a not-for-profit innovation consultancy unit that works with governments to develop effective industrial innovation policies.

Carlos has extensive research and advisory experience in the fields of industrial and innovation policy. He has advised several national and regional governments as well as international organisations including UNIDO, OECD, ADB, UNCTAD and the World Economic Forum. He has published in academic journals, international organization reports, and specialised magazines.

Carlos started his career with quality control and automation engineering roles at Toyota and General Electric, and has work experience in Japan, Austria, Mexico and the UK. In 2015, he was seconded at Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and was a visiting researcher at the Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo. Carlos holds a PhD in industrial and innovation policy from the University of Cambridge.

He is a member of Downing College and Churchill College.

Chris Corken

Regional Director Midlands and East

Make UK

Make UK is the largest voice supporting UK manufacturing employers. Chris’s role as Region Director for the Midlands & East of England is to engage Make UK’s members and to assist them in advancing their business. By providing bespoke introductions, industry insight, a programme of events & networking opportunities, promoting their business and ensuring their views are heard with government at both a local and national level. Another key part of his role is to engage with stakeholders representing industry’s views. Including with the media, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the West Midlands Combined Authority, East Midlands Combined Authority, Midlands Engine and the Greater Cambridgeshire Greater Peterborough Combined Authority. Additionally, Chris is also responsible for Make UK’s Affiliate Partner network of sector-specific trade association and regional cluster networks across the country, ensuring all four corners of manufacturing are represented with the highest levels of UK government.

Chris Owen

Programme Director

Made Smarter East Midlands

Chris worked for Caterpillar Inc. for nearly twenty years, in a variety of international senior executive positions including Director of Manufacturing for Europe, Africa & the Middle East.  Chris also worked in the UK’s automotive industry for over 10 years, working closely with all the major OEMs and their supply chains to boost the competitiveness, productivity and economic growth of the UK’s automotive sector. Chris is currently the Programme Director for Made Smarter East Midlands, alongside his portfolio of Non exec Director roles for SME manufacturing businesses.

Daisy McAndrew

Event Compere

Daisy is a freelance radio and TV presenter, reporter and writer. She has 30 years’ experience reporting on UK politics, economics and business as well as the British Royal Family.

Daisy currently presents multiple shows on talktv including The Talk and 1st Edition. She helped launch talkTV in April 2022 by hosting her own prime time news and current affairs show at 10pm. Since September 2022 she has presented the Drive Time show and the 7-8pm show as well her regular shows. She is a well known face on American TV screens as NBC News’ Royal Commentator.

Before moving into broadcasting in 2001 she spent a decade working in Westminster, starting off as a 19-year-old MP’s researcher before writing for many newspapers from the Press Gallery, profiling MPs in The House Magazine – which she ultimately edited – as well as working for Lib Dem Leader Charles Kennedy as his Press Secretary. She was a consultant on the BBC’s A-Z of Politics and edited The Politics Companion, published by Chrysalis books.

David Atkinson

Regional Director and UK Head of Manufacturing

Lloyds Banking Group

Dave has 35 years’ experience in the banking industry, having joined Lloyds Banking Group in 1988, and has since held various client relationship management and senior leadership roles within the group.

Dave was appointed as a Regional Director for SME & Mid Corporates Commercial Banking back in 2011 and currently leads the Midlands & South Wales teams. He has also led the Manufacturing sector nationally since early 2014.

He sits on a number of committees and advisory boards alongside government & industry, supporting manufacturing & engineering initiatives and is proud to sit on the board of the MTC Training board

David Barrett-Hague

Head of Industrial Automation Marketing for UK & Ireland & Sustainability Ambassador

Schneider Electric

David has worked in the IT and industrial automation business for over 30 years, joining Schneider Electric in 2015. He is currently responsible for Industrial Automation marketing in UK and Ireland with a specific focus on how organisations can utilises software to start their digital transformation. Starting his career developing software at IBM gives him a keen insight into the benefits from digitalisation with integrated systems and how they can help everyone achieve their sustainability goals.

David Grailey

Managing Director, MTC Training

Manufacturing Technology Centre

David joined MTC Training in January 2022, bringing over 30 years’ experience in the UK education and skills sector to lead the organisation as it continues to help the UK’s manufacturing sector grow by training the next generation of future-proofed engineers and technicians.

David previously led two commercially successful qualification businesses. This included 13 years as chief executive of NCFE, one of the UK's largest awarding bodies for vocational, technical and academic qualifications. During his leadership, NCFE grew the number of student registrations from 75,000 to more than 616,000. The business was listed in The Times’ Top 100 Companies to Work For nine times, while significantly increasing profits and turnover. He also led the significant investment into setting up an apprenticeship End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), which delivered more than 7,500 assessments in its first full year in operation.

Before this, David was chief executive of Food & Drink Qualifications, the qualifications organisation for the food and drink manufacturing sector. Previously, he held a number of education and skills appointments, including at University College Salford. A former butchery apprentice himself, David went on to obtain an MSc from Cranfield University.

Dawn Wilson

Head of Training Services

MTC Training

Dawn has over 11 years’ experience in the UK education and skills sector, prior to which she worked for Sage UK Ltd in their small business division. In her role at MTC, she oversees the research and development of training and apprenticeships based on the emerging needs of the UK manufacturing industry. By working closely with industry partners and customers, Dawn focuses on forecasting the skills and training required to plug gaps, enhance productivity and enable industry to keep pace with emerging sectors and technologies.

Elyn Corfield

CEO, Business & Commercial Banking

Lloyds Banking Group

Elyn Corfield is the CEO for Business and Commercial Banking responsible for serving all micro, small and medium sized business customers as they grow and evolve. Providing specialist sector proposition and supporting customer needs across all banking products.
Prior to her appointment in July 2022, Elyn has held a number of key leadership roles including her most recent as Managing Director of Consumer Finance, responsible for the Group's Credit Card, Unsecured Personal Loan, Motor Finance and Leasing portfolios in the UK.
Following the successful acquisition of MBNA by Lloyds Banking Group in June 2017, Elyn held the position of Managing Director for MBNA Credit Cards and has been a Board Director of MBNA Ltd since 2012.
Elyn joined MBNA in 2001 holding numerous roles including Chief Finance Officer, Business Development Finance Manager for UK Credit Card, and Europe Central Business Finance Officer.
Prior to MBNA, Elyn held a Finance career spanning 11 years at Lookers PLC, a large motor group covering the UK.
Elyn studied Business and Finance at Manchester Metropolitan University, and graduated in 1990. She qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 1996 and is currently a Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Elyn lives with her family in the North West and acted as Lloyds Banking Group's Ambassador for the North for three years. Elyn is a member of the MasterCard Advisory Board for Europe, was a non-exec Director for Marketing Cheshire and continues to be a trustee of the MBNA Foundation, a charitable trust.

Graham Hoare OBE

Chief Executive Officer

Manufacturing Technology Centre

Dr Graham Hoare has a distinguished engineering career and has made significant contributions to the global automotive sector for more than 27 years. He has held senior leadership and executive roles at Ford Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW Group, operating in North America and Germany in addition to the UK, and most recently at the UK battery start-up, Britishvolt.

He holds six engineering patents and was awarded the IMechE James Clayton Prize in 2013 for his work on the Ford Ecoboost three-cylinder engine, which was the International Engine of the Year between 2012 and 2014 and continues to receive worldwide acclaim for design and performance.  Graham is an active fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and a recipient of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the automotive industry.

As CEO of the Manufacturing Technology Centre, he brings his passion for innovation, transformation and change management, as well as his knowledge and automotive experiences.

James Selka

CEO

Manufacturing Technology Association

After serving a full technical apprenticeship James gained a BSc (Hons) from Buckingham University and has gone on to accumulate over 25 years of manufacturing experience, including 13 years as Managing Director of a specialist high precision, internationally trading, supplier of turnkey instrument sub-systems.

Prior to joining the MTA James was Production and HR Director at a major manufacturer of mechanical seals and support systems.

James is very knowledgeable about global manufacturing and has a strong interest in supply chains together with logistics. He is an expert on global advanced manufacturing and regularly participates in policy formation in the UK, Europe and further afield.

Helping young people to develop is also high on his agenda and he has been keen to introduce an in-house, fully certified apprenticeship scheme.

James is a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

Julie James

Minister for Climate Change

Julie James was appointed Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology in September 2014. In May 2016 Julie was appointed as Minister for Skills and Science. Julie was appointed Leader of the House and Chief Whip on 3 November 2017. On 13 December 2018 Julie was appointed Minister for Housing and Local Government. Julie was appointed Minister for Climate Change on 13 May 2021.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock

Managing Director

Professional Polishing Services

Kirsty is the managing director of Professional Polishing Services with 35 years’ experience in the metals sector. She consults internationally for the use of polished material in architectural projects and is the CEO of Women with Metal, which runs conferences and workshops for women and allies to further their careers.

Louise Ball

Commercial Director

BPP University

Louise Ball, Commercial Director at BPP University, started her career as an apprentice at Ingersoll-Rand and now holds over 25 years of experience in education and technology. Louise is a catalyst for driving transformative change and has supported thousands of individuals into long-term careers across multiple sectors. Currently, Louise is leading on an initiative to address the manufacturing sector's pressing skills shortage.

Màiri McAllan

Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy.

Màiri McAllan is a former corporate lawyer and Special Adviser to the First Minister and was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2021 to represent the constituency of Clydesdale.

Ms McAllan, while practising law, specialised in energy and natural resources in a large Glasgow firm. She also cofounded the human rights organisation ‘Reblaw Scotland’ during this time.

Ms McAllan was  appointed Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition in March 2023.

Mark Pawsey

MP for Rugby and Bulkington

Mark grew up in a village just outside Coventry, with five brothers and attended Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby. He studied at Reading University where he obtained a degree in Estate Management. He then worked briefly in the property sector before moving into sales management. He started his own business, with his brother Mike in 1982 in Rugby, supplying packaging to the food service sector. The business grew to employ 30 staff before being sold to a FTSE100 company in 2008.

Before becoming an MP, Mark was a local Councillor in Rugby and held the Rugby Borough Council Housing Portfolio. He was selected by the Conservative Party to stand for the newly‐formed Rugby Constituency in 2007, securing his seat in the General Elections of 2010, 2015,2017 and 2019 when his majority increased to 13,447. Mark has been a member of Select Committees on Communities and Local Government and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and now serves on the Business and Trade Committee and the Energy and Net Zero Committee.  He has also acted as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ministers of Defence and BEIS, and to the Secretary of State in the Department of Work and Pensions. He chairs the All‐Party Groups for Packaging and Manufacturing.

Mark also chairs and plays for the Lords & Commons Rugby Team and highlights Rugby the town as the ‘Birthplace of the Game’ whenever he can. Mark is married to Tracy and they live in the village of Grandborough, close to Rugby.

Mike Wilson

Chief Automation Officer

Manufacturing Technology Centre

Mike Wilson has over 40 years of experience in the application of automation to manufacturing across a broad range of industry sectors and is widely recognised as one of the leading authorities on the application of industrial robot systems in the UK.

Mike is Chief Automation Officer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, leading the drive to increase the adoption of robotics and automation in the UK. He was awarded ‘The Manufacturer Top 100’ status as one of the top 100 people in UK manufacturing in 2018. He is also a Director of the Manufacturing Technologies Association, Council member and past Chairman of the British Automation and Robot Association and has previously been Chairman of the International Federation of Robotics. His book “Implementation of Robot Systems” was published in 2014.

Oliver Selby

Head of Sales

FANUC

With more than 20 years of experience in factory automation in the UK and Scandinavia, Oliver Selby brings a wealth of industry and product knowledge to UK manufacturing. He is passionate about strategically transforming the UK’s automation and manufacturing position on the global stage and this can be seen through his customer first philosophy, drive for education, and push to improve businesses efficiency and profitability using modern technology.

Paul Bates

Senior Product Marketing Manager

Epicor

Paul is a senior Product Marketing Manager with global responsibility for Sustainability in Epicor. Before that, Paul worked in a variety of Product and Marketing Management roles in the Telecoms, Finance, Cyber Security, and Cloud industries.

Paul McKnight

Head of Operations

VEX Robotics

Paul McKnight has been responsible for the VEX Robotics brand since its UK launch in 2012. VEX Robotics, the world’s leading educational robotics company, is committed to developing free STEM curriculum and software to allow teachers to engage students through robotics. Since 2012 he has overseen VEX 123, VEX GO, VEX IQ and VEX EXP join the original VEX V5 product line, while the geographic responsibility now covers Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Overseeing the development of partnerships with companies to broaden the brands reach through commercial and collaborative links the VEX brand has grown into a recognised and trusted platform for engaging students in STEM activities and adopted for the teaching of Computer Science, Design & Technology and Engineering.

Paul is passionate about engaging students in open-ended, design-based challenges and curriculum, encouraging innovative thinking and guiding students towards STEM related careers. He has been involved in launching and supporting the extra-curricular VEX Robotics competitions (presented by the Robotics and Education Competition Foundation) to over 30 countries across EMEA and impacting tens of thousands of students.

Paul has also been a leading advocate of the global Girl Powered initiative and supports the use of VEX Robotics in WorldSkillsUK and WorldSkills International competitions.

Rachel Sandby-Thomas

Registrar

University of Warwick

As Registrar at the University of Warwick, Rachel is responsible for the professional services of the University. Rachel joined Warwick after a long career in the Civil Service, the last 8 years of which were as a Director General in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills where she covered legal, corporate services and policy (skills, regulation, large and small businesses, local growth). She joined the Civil Service as a lawyer from Linklaters.

She is Chair of The Whitehall and Industry Group, Vice Chair of LEAP Confronting Conflict, and on the boards of Future Fit, the Royal Society of Arts Academies, and is on the Executive Committee of AHUA. She is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and the City of London.

She is a Companion of the Order of the Bath, was named in the 2016 FTSE 100 “Women to Watch” and The Times 100 “Most Influential Lawyers”, 2012.

Richard Browning

Founder and Chief Test Pilot

Gravity Industries

Gravity Industries designs, builds and flies Jet Suits, pioneering a new era of human flight. The company was founded in March 2017 to challenge the perceived boundaries in human aviation and to inspire others to dare to ask “What if?”.

Prior to founding Gravity, Richard was a Royal Marines reservist for six years and an Oil Trader with BP for 16 years. He developed business in many countries including Azerbaijan, Mozambique, Russia and
conducted trade relations with many more.

He discovered and implemented major new technologies in BP including turning a $30k ground-breaking trade flow analytics (ship tracking) platform into an award-winning venture, winning the BP Group
innovation Award and generating in excess of $50m within the first 3 months. This platform is still at the heart of the global commodity industry to this day. Richard has also been a key participant and investor in a number of successful start-up ventures externally and is a passionate STEM advocate.

Gravity has to date been experienced by over one billion people globally with Richard and his cohort of pilots completing over 150 flight events around the world and speaking at dozens of events from TED
Talks to XPrize.

When he is not flying around the world, Richard is in Salisbury with his wife Debbie and their two
children, Oliver and Thomas, kayaking and camping amongst other things

Robert Garbett

Chief Executive

Drone Major

Robert Garbett is one of the world’s leading Drone and Counter Drone experts, a global business consultant and a driving force in the delivery of the world’s first international drone standards. 

He is Founder and Chief Executive of Drone Major Group Limited, a world leading advisory, design, and implementation company delivering to defence, critical national infrastructure, and commercial organisations.  Leveraging a global network of suppliers to the drone industry, Drone Major is uniquely positioned to advise on the application and commercialisation of drone and related technology which is evolving at a dramatic pace, developing tailored strategies for companies and organisations around the world.

He is an experienced commentator and interviewee, advising governments and corporates on the commercial potential of drone technology, infrastructure requirements to support commercialisation and the national and international standards needed in light of the drone industry’s continued exponential growth. 

Robert Garbett works closely with the British Standards Institution (BSI), leading of the UK delegation of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Committee responsible for the development of the global drone safety standards. He is the only authority worldwide to be advising on standards in Britain, Europe and worldwide and is recognised as a leading authoritative figure and advocate for the global drone industry and its potential to transform economies.

Robert Garbett is also Chairman of the Drone Delivery Group Senior Advisory Board, the first industry body created to provide guidance on key issues facing the drone industry across all environments (land, maritime, air & space) to Government.

Rosa Wells

FE Principal & Dean for STEM

University College Birmingham

A former Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer, Rosa is now the FE Principal & Dean for STEM at University College Birmingham and a Board Director for Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of Technology. Rosa has been appointed Vice-Chair, National Network of Institutes of Technology and Deputy Chair, Education and Skills Advisory Panel for the Engineering Council.

Sean Culey

Head of Value Chain

Manufacturing Technology Centre

Sean Culey is an award-winning keynote speaker on supply chain transformation and disruptive technologies and the author of 'Transition Point: From Steam to the Singularity', an in-depth examination of the causes of technological progress and how the current wave of change will disrupt our business models, economy, and society. 

Sean has nearly 30 years of experience in supply chain and technology, working across multiple industry verticals, from FMCGs to the UN and Aerospace and Defence. 

He has been the CEO of a boutique consultant, CMO of a supply chain analytics company, and is currently Head of Value Chain for the Manufacturing Technology Centre. 

Sean is also a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University, where he lectures on disruptive technologies in the supply chain. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (FCILT) and the UK’s only certified SCOR Master Instructor. 

In a previous role worked for a Silicon Valley AI company in the new field of Decision Intelligence.