Speakers

Air Commodore Patrick Shea-Simonds was initially commissioned into the Royal Anglian Regiment (1st and 3rd Battalion) following graduation from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After regimental duty and operational tours in the Army in Germany, UK, Northern Ireland and Bosnia he transferred to the Royal Air Force, joining the RAF Regiment in 1997. He subsequently served in the UK, NATO AWACS HQ in SHAPE, Iraq, Kuwait, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan. From 2010 to 2011 he commanded No7 RAF Force Protection Wing in Kandahar and in 2013 he was Deputy Commander Bastion Leatherneck in Regional Command South-West working with the US Marine Corps.

In addition to serving as the Personal Staff Officer to the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, he has completed two staff tours in the Directorate of Air Resources and Plans in the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), and tours at HQ AIR Command as DACOS Strategy and DACOS Force Protection Commitments. As Assistant Head of Capability Strategy in the Finance, Military Capability area of MOD during the Strategic Defence & Security Review of 2015 he examined the wider Defence capability portfolio. Thereafter he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) after which he returned to HQ AIR Command to become DACOS Capability Plans looking across the RAF equipment plan during the Integrated Review before completing a tour as Deputy Head of the RAF Rapid Capabilities Office exploring areas of innovation and future technology.

Promoted to Air Commodore he assumed the role of Head of Capability Futures and was awarded the OBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours list. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

30 years of international experience in investments with an expertise in aerospace defense and UAM with 15 years with Airbus and Monacair/Blade . Graduated from HEC I am a colonelle of the French citizenship reserve and fellow of the IHEDN. Awarded the Legion d’Honneur. CEO of Destinus France UK Canada and Africa

A strategic digital architect working in the Nuclear industry for 10+ years, responsible for developing, managing, and implementing the architectural strategy for Sizewell C (SZC). Guiding a team of multi-disciplined architects in developing and maintaining the enterprise-wide architectural landscape.

Extensive experience and understanding of all aspects and technicalities regarding IT system design and implementation in Construction and Engineering; Previously spent 16+ years in the finance sector with knowledge and expertise in Fleet Management, Financial Leasing and Asset Management.

I've spent my career working at the intersection of people, brands and transformation.

I partner with consumer goods, retail and home & lifestyle businesses to help them navigate change, drive growth and turn ambitious ideas into commercial reality. Whether the conversation is about innovation, sustainability, digital transformation or operational efficiency, my focus is always the same: understanding the business challenge first and then finding the right path forward.

What I enjoy most is building relationships and helping organisations see opportunities they may not have considered. Technology is a powerful enabler, but lasting success comes from aligning people, processes and strategy around a shared vision. I am passionate about helping organisations embrace change, innovate with confidence and create meaningful business outcomes.

Throughout my career, I've worked with global brands and industry leaders, supporting them as they respond to evolving consumer expectations, market disruption and increasing pressure to innovate faster, collaborate more effectively and operate more sustainably.

I'm known for my curiosity, commercial mindset and ability to connect people, ideas and technology. I believe the best results come from trust, collaboration and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking.

Charlotte Rhodes Head of Systems Engineering Discipline, Babcock Mission Systems, with over 26 years of experience spanning public and private sectors, Charlotte is a highly accomplished Systems Engineer with a passion for growing engineering capability and inspiring future talent. Charlotte currently serves as the Head of SE Discipline at Babcock’s Mission Systems, reporting to the Director of Engineering Capability. This pivotal leadership role allows her to shape and drive the SE strategy across the business. Her remit includes leading the discipline, setting and delivering long-term capability strategies, managing resources, and developing a growth roadmap to ensure Babcock remains at the forefront of innovation.

Previously, Charlotte spent 18 years with the Ministry of Defence and MBDA, where her career began on the prestigious Defence Engineering and Science Graduate Scheme. She gained experience across a range of domains including Marine, ISTAR, and Land, before discovering her passion for SE in 2012. Her MOD journey culminated in leading all SE activities for the Type 31 Frigate (T31) programme. At MBDA, Charlotte explored Model-Based Systems Engineering, enhancing her expertise in modern engineering. Charlotte holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, an MSc in Systems Engineering for Defence Capability, and is a Chartered Engineer with the IET.

Beyond technical expertise, Charlotte actively encourages the next generation of engineers, particularly those who may not yet recognize their potential. She is passionate about early careers, using her systems thinking mindset, enhanced by her dyslexia, which she proudly calls her superpower, to approach problems from unique and powerful perspectives.

Commander FLORENTIN: He joined the French Naval Academy in 2007 after completing a master degree in engineering at ENSAM PARISTECH. He was then deployed onboard of various kind of Navy ship: The helicopter carrier JEANNE D’ARC, A69 class COMMANDANT BLAISON, aircraft carrier CHARLES DE GAULLE, training ship JAGUAR. In 2015 after a successful selection, he joined, the Royal Navy Maritime Warfare School - HMS Collingwood - to be part of the British principal warfare officer course.

He was then appointed as gunnery officer onboard HMS DUNCAN for 18 month as the Ship was Flagship of Standing NATO maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). In 2020, he took command of A69 class COMMANDANT BIROT. Having passed the selection to enter the French War College, he joined Paris in 2022 and then was appointed as program officer in charge of Combat Management System for all surface ships of the French Navy.

In 2025, Commander Florentin has been appointed by the Chief of Naval Staff as CoDirector of the French Navy task force responsible for implementing cutting-edge technologies and methods to enhance naval operational superiority.

Daniel Stokes is a Digital Design Manager at Unilever, with over a decade of experience in the packaging design industry, he has collaborated with some of the worlds leading brands, ranging from fast consumer goods to luxury perfume and spirits.

Daniel graduated from Loughborough University in 2015 with a degree in Industrial Design and Technology.

Daniel champions the use of digital and data-driven methods in design. He is pioneering the application of digital and AI technologies in the design process for Beauty and Wellbeing at Unilever.

Debbie is a Chartered Engineer and Certified Programme Manager with 30 years’ experience in aerospace engineering, applied research, technology demonstration and major programme delivery, having held roles in the US and UK. As STEP Fusion’s Director of Engineering Programme, Debbie is responsible for the overall engineering programme in addition to developing links with industry to support STEP’s concept design. She previously worked at BAE Systems as Group Engineering Director.

Don Morrison is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Don joined Hexcel in 2007 as Director, U.S. Information Technology and later moved to Duxford, U.K. to serve as Systems Development Director where he oversaw the development of AX 2012. Prior to Hexcel, Don was a Director of IT Europe & IT Field Services with Novell, Inc. and Vice President-Product Management & Support for Message Transport Systems. Don has a degree in finance from Oregon State University and a degree in technology management from the University of Phoenix.

With nearly three decades of Defence experience, Donna is Babcock’s Chief Delivery Officer, leading globally across Delivery and Transformation, Project Management, Quality, Procurement and Supply Chain, Engineering, Cyber Security and IT.

She previously led the design, delivery and global rollout of Babcock’s enterprise wide Project Management Framework, raising capability and embedding consistent standards. Before joining Babcock, Donna held senior roles in aerospace and defence, including Vice President of Programme Management.

Alongside her Executive Committee responsibilities, Donna serves as the Executive Sponsor of the Babcock Forces Community Network (BFCN), championing inclusion and support for veterans, reservists and the wider Armed Forces community across Babcock.

Dr. Lina Čeponienė is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Informatics at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, she has taught in specialized areas including software modeling and model-based engineering across diverse study programs such as Information Systems, Software Engineering, Digital Transformation and System Architectures.

Her research and educational expertise spans from model-driven engineering and model-based system development to digital transformation in education. Dr. Čeponienė has published extensively on UML modeling, requirements engineering, gamification in education, and innovative approaches to upskilling. Her work emphasizes the integration of advanced digital tools and methodologies into engineering education, ensuring students develop future-ready competencies aligned with industry needs.

Fabian Romano Rusch is a PhD candidate and researcher at Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg, working at the Chair of Machine Elements and Computer-Aided Product Design under the supervision of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Mantwill.

He holds a B.Eng. and M.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering. His research focuses on Systems Engineering and sustainable design, aiming to enable more efficient and future-proof development of complex engineering systems.

Within the AEROSEC project, he aims to contribute to a new approach in engineering education and research by connecting students with emerging industrial challenges in aerospace and defense. His vision is to foster highly relevant, real-world research that supports the development of next-generation aerospace systems.

Gillian Argiolas is Head of Digital Capability Development at the NATO Communications and Information Agency in Brussels. She has over 20 years of experience in complex international defence acquisition and transformation programs in the public sector, with special focus on System of Systems Engineering, Portfolio and Program Management, and Organizational Change.

Always curious and optimistic, passionate in people and technology in equal amounts, she is a strong believer in the value of cognitive diversity, intrinsic motivation and organizational agility as key drivers to best develop the potential of people and enterprises both.

She holds master's-level degrees in Electronic Engineering, Defence Modelling and Simulation, and Leadership and Strategic Analysis, and is an alumnus of the prestigious NATO Executive Development Program. In her free time, she is a maker, a musician and the proud parent of two wonderful kids.

Jafar Jamshidi is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer (CEng, IMechE) with a multidisciplinary academic background, holding a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, an Executive MBA focused on Operations Research, an MSc in IT for Manufacturing, and a BSc in Industrial Engineering, Systems Planning, and Analysis. He also completed a three-year apprenticeship in manufacturing and toolmaking.

He brings over 15 years of industrial experience in high-value manufacturing, progressing from workshop technician to Lead Quality Engineer. In addition, he has more than 26 years of academic and research experience, contributing to numerous publicly funded and industrial research projects, particularly in manufacturing and assembly systems integration.

Jafar is currently a member of the Centre for Aeronautics, Propulsion and Power, where he leads several MSc modules, including Product Design Realisation (utilising the 3DEXPERIENCE platform), Initial Structural Layout, Major Structural Component Design and Manufacture, Manufacturing Technologies and Systems, Design for Manufacturing and Operations, Applied Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).

He actively collaborates with leading industrial partners and research organisations, including major companies across aerospace, automotive, energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors, as well as their supply chains.

Jean Benoit BENSOUSSAN graduated from ENSTA Bretagne as a naval and offshore engineer in 2012. He joined TechnipFMC in Oslo as a Rigid Pipeline Engineer to work on large and complex Oil & Gas projects, from design, fabrication to installation of offshore vessels. After more than 6 years in pipeline engineering and driven by the ambition to expand his role, Jean Benoit completed an MBA from ESCP Business School in 2019 before moving to GTT as a business developer to promote LNG as a fuel solution for container ship owners.

He joined Dassault Systèmes in October 2022, where he successively served as Marine & Offshore Industry Business Strategy Specialist and then Sales & Strategy Manager. Since January 2026, he has been appointed Marine & Offshore Industry Director, leading the overall industry team and driving Dassault Systèmes’ strategy and customer engagement across the global marine and offshore ecosystem.

Jennifer Young joined Harmattan AI as European Business Development Manager in June 2025. I’ve been involved in the defence industry for 10 years. In that time I have prioritised and focused on delivering meaningful capability at pace and scale, aligning appropriate technologies with the end user requirement to ensure positive outcomes for all parties.

Jeswin Joseph Chankaramangalam is a Program Director & NIAR Associate Director and leads multiple Digital Twin and Digital Manufacturing programs at the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University. Mr. Chankaramangalam has had growing roles within NIAR and has served in various continuous improvement programs, standards development and has set up technologies and successful laboratories.

He also serves as the Chief Architect for Model Based Systems Engineering for NIAR. Mr. Chankaramangalam has worked for NIAR for the last 21+ years during which he managed multimillion-dollar projects for the Composites Fabrication and Manufacturing labs, environmental-conditioning labs, Additive Manufacturing Labs, Digital Twin lab and Emerging Technologies Labs. He has written numerous in-house procedures for testing and operations. He was featured in a session for Dassault Systemes’ Science in the Age of Experience Conference for his work on a multi-variant sUAS (small unmanned aerial system). Mr. Chankaramangalam manages state-funded and industry-funded programs and is a subject matter expert in the field of advanced manufacturing, recycling of composites, additive manufacturing and machine learning methods for manufacturing. In his role, he assists the lab director with cutting-edge research in emerging technologies, with a focus in additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing technologies; and also assists in business development for the various industries that NIAR serves.

He has contributed to the material characteristics and qualification efforts for both polymers and metals. He was part of the development team that developed a system for “Reverse Engineering of Composite Repairs”. He has also developed coursework for the FAA for the FAA CMfgT and CSET courses.
Mr. Chankaramangalam’s team won 1st place (gold) for the Air Force’s inaugural Advanced Manufacturing Olympics (AMO) competition that featured aerospace and aviation’s primes and OEMS. Mr. Chankaramangalam led the team to prove NIAR’s capabilities in Digital Twin, Digital Engineering and Reverse Engineering capabilities. Mr. Chankaramangalam was also given the title of “CATIA Champion” and “ENOVIA Champion” by Dassault Systemes for his contributions to the digital engineering industry and his expertise in data models for PLM, MES and Engineering systems.

Mr. Chankaramangalam is also the Vice President of the Wichita chapter for the Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering.

Jörg Wirtz. Joerg studied mechanical engineering with focus on Aeronautics at the TH Darmstadt and made his Ph.D. at the Technische Univestät München on the theme ‘A reference model for integrative definition of PDM’ in 2001. After this he entered Airbus (EADS) and kept several management positions in the field of engineering process, methods and tools, Configuration Management and Information Management within the divisions Defence& Space and Helicopters.

Since 2020 he is responsible for the digital common working environment (CWE) of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) at Airbus and other programs of the Future Air Power business unit.
Joerg’s approach is driven by the idea to optimize the product modelling effort and associated IT implementations efforts in large extended enterprise project

Marie leads Celtonn’s 6G vision with over a decade of telecom expertise. She has spearheaded multimillion-euro projects for the European Space Agency and Horizon Europe, driving innovation in D-Band high-speed data transmission.

Matt Tomblin is the Director for Automation at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), where he leads programs advancing automation and digital transformation for aerospace and defense manufacturing.

In the commercial sector, his team develops and deploys complex automated production systems for large-scale aircraft structures, including drill-and-seal cells, precision fastening, material handling, and integrated inspection solutions. These efforts focus on improving consistency, reducing variability, and enabling seamless integration into existing high-rate production environments.

Within defense programs, Tomblin has overseen automation initiatives supporting structural repair, sustainment, and inspection, including large-scale non-destructive inspection (NDI) cells and adaptable robotic systems designed for depot constraints. These solutions emphasize accuracy, repeatability, and flexibility to handle non-ideal conditions while improving throughput and data traceability.

Tomblin also drives NIAR’s digital factory initiatives, integrating automation with digital thread and simulation technologies to enable virtual commissioning, predictive analytics, and closed-loop quality control. These efforts create connected production ecosystems that reduce risk, accelerate deployment, and support scalable automation architectures across diverse environments.

Across these programs, Tomblin provides technical leadership and strategic decision support, shaping systems that balance performance, risk, and long-term ownership. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and an Executive MBA from Wichita State University.

Michael Lord is the Head of Engineering for the STEP Fuel Cycle. He is a a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Physicist with experience of leading multi-discipline technical, project and commercial teams. Experience of leading the design, development and integration of complex and safety critical systems both in the fusion energy and civil aerospace sectors. Academic background in Particle Physics through to practical operational experience with resolving aerospace issues. Comfortable in delivering at pace in customer-facing, high pressure operational environments including leading complex and sensitive discussions with regulators and airworthiness authorities.

Michiel van den Besselaar is a Key Account Manager at OMRON, where he has been active for 12 years. He is responsible for the TOYOTA account and focuses on building strong, long-term customer relationships. His personal drive is digital transformation in industrial automation, with a strong belief that the next major leap will come from the convergence of IT and OT.

Owain Mortimer is the Technology & Innovation Manager at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Focusing on innovation across the industry, including linked to energy, manufacturing and future of mobility policies, he is interested in developing policy to support the transformative technological solutions needed for a sustainable and successful automotive sector. Owain previously worked in local government on decarbonisation of transport and on UK climate and carbon policy more widely in the third sector.

Paul Oxley is Director General of ADS Skills, a newly formed department within ADS Group. Having assumed this role in January 2026, he leads efforts to address critical workforce challenges facing the industry through strategic collaboration with government, educational institutions, and training providers.

Previously, he was External Affairs Director at ADS from July 2022, where he worked across policy, public affairs, international relations, communications, and marketing. He has more than 15 years of experience in external affairs across the transport, health, and science sectors, and brings expertise in skills policy and workforce initiatives.

Philippe Koffi is a graduate of École Polytechnique (Class of 1994) and the École Nationale Supérieure de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (Class of 1999), and is a member of the French Armament Corps. He began his career in 1999 at the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), at the Naval Hydrodynamics Testing Facility, where he worked on the design of propulsion systems for surface vessels and on acoustic stealth studies for submarines.

In 2003, he moved to the Aeronautical Programs Directorate (SPAé) as an aircraft stealth expert, and in 2005 he became Head of the Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance Department.

That same year, he was appointed Lead System Architect for the nEUROn UCAV demonstrator programme, a role he held until 2008, when he was entrusted with overall programme management.

In 2011, he joined the Force Systems Architecture Directorate (SASF), where he contributed, alongside the Combat Engagement Systems Architect, to preparing the future of combat aviation. Following the Lancaster House agreements, he played a key role in developing and implementing the Franco-British roadmap for combat drones.

In 2014, he became Programme Director for FCAS and combat drones within the Fighter Aircraft and Equipment Management Unit, notably launching and leading the feasibility phase of the Franco-British FCAS programme, formalised by an agreement signed in Farnborough in July 2014.

In 2018, he initiated the Man-Machine Teaming project to integrate artificial intelligence technologies into the cockpit and to foster an innovation ecosystem bringing together startups, SMEs, and research laboratories.

In 2019, following the signing of the NGWS (Next Generation Weapon System) framework agreement, he took leadership of the Combined Project Team, a Franco-German-Spanish team responsible for programme execution. He successfully negotiated and secured the signing of Phase 1B of the NGWS programme, valued at €3 billion.

In May 2023, he became Combat Engagement Defence Systems Architect within the SASD and, in this capacity, serves on the NGWS and MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) Steering Committees. He notably secured the signing of the Franco-German Memorandum of Understanding in April 2024, paving the way for the launch of Phase 1.

Since October 2025, he has been Vice President Global Aerospace & Defense and Head of AI in Defense at Capgemini Invent. In this role, he is responsible for structuring offerings in defence AI, autonomous systems, defence simulation, and collaboration across complex programmes.

Prem Sundaramoorthy is a researcher and educator at TU Delft’s Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, where he specializes in Systems Engineering and Space Engineering. With several years of experience teaching at multiple international institutions, Prem is a leading advocate for innovative pedagogy and the integration of digital skills into the engineering curriculum. His work focuses on bridging the gap between complex technical systems and the talent pipelines required to sustain them.

Beyond the classroom, Prem is a Senior Comenius Fellow recognized for his leadership in educational innovation, including projects such as early warning systems to predict student performance and learning analytics dashboard that provide insight stretching beyond unidimensional grades. His unique blend of academic rigor and forward-thinking educational strategy makes him a key voice in the discussion on scalable upskilling and future workforce skills.

Currently an Associate Professor at the Aerospace Structures & Materials Department, Prem specializes in MBSE and Lunar exploration research, alongside a dedicated focus on innovative engineering education. He is also a core member of the Systems Engineering Platform at TU Delft.

Steve Howes is vice president, Aeronautics Operations, for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In this capacity, he is responsible for production, supply chain and quality performance and processes across the Aeronautics portfolio. Howes also has the responsibility to digitally transform operations and implement advanced manufacturing technologies needed for current and future customer missions.

Previously, Howes was vice president and deputy, Aeronautics Operations, responsible for leading the Corporation’s strategy development and implementation across Aeronautics Operations, with day-to-day-responsibility for the Production Operations system, including F-35, Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, Integrated Fighter Group and Aeronautics Fabrication and Tooling.

His earlier experience includes director of Special Operations Forces Global Logistics Support Services Operations at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. He then held roles of increasing responsibility within the F-35 program at Aeronautics, culminating in his role of vice president, F-35 Production Operations. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of the production system of the F-35 from build to delivery, including all domestic major component Production Operations in the F-35 value stream.

Throughout his career, Howes has led several critical initiatives for Lockheed Martin Corporation, including the transition of the F-35 program from low-rate production to full-rate transition, production affordability programs, expansion of the Production Engineering Professional Program, union stewardship and negotiations, and ramp-to-rate staffing improvement programs.

Howes graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and earned an Aerospace & Defense Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. A veteran and member of a family with deep military roots, he proudly served in the U.S. Air Force and Army National Guard.