Speakers

Kilwa has a structural mechanics background, and he got his Ph.D. from Helsinki University of Technology in 2006. He has been using Abaqus for over 20 years and is currently working as a Simulation Manager at PLM Group. He is also a co-Founder & Board Member at SoundlyFit.

I joined the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) at Daresbury Laboratory, near Warrington, Cheshire in September 2015 after completing my PhD in experimental physics based at Swansea University. I am part of the Accelerator Science and Technology Centre (ASTeC) where I work in the Magnetics and Radiation Sources (MaRS) group. I am also a member of the Cockcroft Institute. My work is in magnetic systems for particle accelerators, encompassing beam steering and focussing systems as well as magnetic undulating structures for producing synchrotron radiation. One of my main research interests is making particle accelerators more energy efficient by developing the technology to shift designs away from electromagnets towards using permanent magnets to generate the required magnetic field, whilst overcoming the limitations to field tuneability that are normally a consequence of using permanent magnet based systems.

Graduating from the University of Sheffield in June 2013 with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, Michael joined Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) as a graduate in September 2013. Throughout his 10 years within the business Michael has spent most of his time working in virtual engineering. Having pioneered simulation automation within the 3D Experience platform, Michael was promoted to Technical Specialist – CAE Automation in 2021. Michael is the business leader driving development of Simulation Templates and supporting the business’ transformation to better integration of CAD and CAE processes within Product Engineering at JLR. Michael is a member of the IMechE as a Chartered Engineer.

Tom received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin with a research topic of fracture and crack growth in polymers. He is a tire industry veteran known for his leadership in driving advances in modeling, simulation and workflows across a global organization. He joined Endurica in 2022 after a 35-year career at Goodyear. While at Goodyear, he held various technical and leadership positions with experience in product development, technology development, modeling and simulation, and materials characterization. He was a major contributor to multiple technical partnerships. He also enjoyed a two-year assignment at Goodyear’s technical center in Luxembourg as the Manager of Computational Mechanics. He has published many technical papers and received numerous awards for his technical achievements.

Henrik holds a PhD in Computational Mechanics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) on ductile failure in aluminium. After completing the PhD he joined Enodo where he has primarily focused on modelling of polymers for the offshore industry.

Gregg Hunt is a Business Development Manager at SIMUSERV, with nearly four years of experience selling engineering software. He holds a degree in Business Management from Swansea University, where he developed a strong foundation in sales strategy and account management.
Gregg’s career has centred on building and nurturing client relationships, driving business growth through both new customer acquisition and existing account development. His introduction to the engineering sector began in a previous role, where he specialised in CAD visualization tools and extended reality (XR) software, helping engineers collaborate more effectively with their CAD data in virtual environments. This experience sparked a deep interest in engineering and led him to join SIMUSERV, where he now focuses on simulation and advanced engineering solutions.

Andy graduated from the University of Birmingham, School of Metallurgy and Materials Science in 1990 after completing a four year MEng degree in Materials Science, his PhD research was completed in 1993.

Andy initially worked at the Defence Research Agency (now QinetiQ) before joining Airbus in the Experimental Mechanics group with a concurrent role in the Explicit Dynamic finite element group.

He joined GKN Aerospace and became part of the A380 wing cover static stress analysis team, supporting both first flight and production ramp-up.

In 2005, Andy rejoined Airbus, to become part of the nonlinear structural analysis team. Over the years, Andy has been involved with many challenging simulation campaigns and has had the opportunity to work with external organisations during a number of projects, the most recent of which being the ATi funded Smarter Testing project.

Bob has been using FEA since 1979 and Abaqus since 1993. He has made every mistake possible in that time – none of which will be discussed here today.

Per has worked with simulation at Tetra Pak for the last 15 years and currently serves as a Technology Specialist in the Sealing Technology department. This department is responsible for creating the welds that ensure the tightness of the packages. His main focus is on material modelling and the interaction between the filling machine and the packing material, specifically during the sealing process.

Alex joined Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in September 2015 as a degree apprentice. During his six years on the apprenticeship, he was based in the Digital Engineering Efficiency and Automation (DEA team), firstly working in the parametric CAD space, before moving into simulation automation within 3DExperience. After completing the apprenticeship with Distinction, and graduating from Warwick University with first class honours, he was promoted to Subject Matter Expert (SME) - CAE Automation in 2024. Alex is also a CAE ‘Super User’ at JLR, and actively supports others who wish to use 3DExperience for simulation.

Dr. Rudy Lapeer is an Associate Professor at the School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia in Norwich. His research interests include from a wider perspective, the FEM and soft tissue modelling, and more specifically, the modelling of the complex mechanical process of childbirth. With his team, he developed in the last decade the BirthView “digital twin” that is capable of simulating childbirth as it happens in reality.

Dr. Robert Luo is a Principal CAE Engineer and a Chartered Engineer, the fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He has 30 years’ experience in Abaqus, published 3 books and 70 peer-reviewed journal papers in antivibration simulations. He is a SIMULIA Champion in 2021.

• R&D Engineer, Medtronic (2014-2025)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University College Dublin (2013-2014)
• PhD Student, Dublin Institute of Technology (2007-2013)

Zeyuan Miao is a researcher focused on developing surrogate modeling techniques to improve simulations. During his Master and PhD at the University of Manchester, Zeyuan concentrated on enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of predictions related to the structural integrity of weldments. By exploring methods such as automating data generation and integrating machine learning models like Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), Zeyuan aims to make simulations more efficient. Additionally, Zeyuan is interested in applying surrogate models to fusion power plant design and aspires to contribute to the advancement of simulation processes in diverse fields.

Aitor Muñoz Lao works as part of the Electromagnetic Simulation team at JLR as an EM Simulation Engineer. During his time at JLR, he has applied simulation to a variety of EMC/SI problems spanning kHz up to GHz including:​

Wireless Device Charging​

Virtual Radiated Immunity​

Radiated Emissions on PCBs​

SI/PI simulation on high-speed PCBs​

In the past, he worked as an EMC Engineer at 3C Test where he helped automotive customers test, understand and pass EMC testing.

• R&D Engineer, Medtronic (2020-2025)
• Postdoctoral Fellow and Assistant Professor, Trinity College Dublin (2015-2020)
• PhD Student, University of Galway (2011-2015)

Slawomir Polanski is an engineer with a passion for numerical simulations. The Master's degrees achieved both in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science fields made him realise that simulations are what he wants to do for a living. Currently working as a Senior Simulation Engineer helping engineers via consultancy services or teaching Abaqus, Python and Simpack. His main area of interest is creating custom simulation workflows, automation, scripting and linking different numerical solvers.

Dr.Bharat Singh Rawat is a research associate at the University of Liverpool/Cockcroft Institute where his responsibilities include conducting simulation studies to optimize beam transport from the low-energy ELENA ring to the AEgIS experiment at CERN, integrating beam and particle diagnostics efficiently, and developing schemes for trap injection, particle storage, and merging. He is currently focused on creating a Digital Twin of the experiment using tools such as G4Beamline, CST Studio, and MADX

Researcher in the field of biomechanics, working within the Medical School’s Diagnostic Imaging and Machine Learning group. Additionally, an active member of the Brain Lab at the School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering. Her PhD research focuses on the biomechanics of the stomatognathic system and spine, with a particular emphasis on understanding how the upper cervical spine position influences lumbar spine biomechanics and related pathophysiological processes. To achieve this, I utilize advanced computational modeling techniques and has proficiency using Abaqus, Hypermesh and FeBio.

John Sawyer is a Principal Engineer at AtkinsRéalis with over 30 years experience in Consulting Engineering. Although he trained as a Mechanical Engineer, receiving a B.Eng (Hons) in 1994 and a PhD from Monash University in 1997, his experience sits at the intersection of a number of disciplines, Explicit Dynamic analysis including Impact, Static analysis and Complex Contact Analysis, as well as Fracture, Fatigue, Thermal Analysis and many others areas he prefers to call himself simply "an engineer

Afonso J. C. Silva earned his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Aveiro in 2022. During his studies, he developed expertise in CAD, the mechanical behavior of materials, and numerical simulation, gaining proficiency in software such as 3D Slicer, MeshMixer, Hypermesh, Abaqus, and SolidWorks.

He is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Aveiro. Initially, his research focused on cork and cork composites for hydrogen applications, aiming to enhance safety. He is now conducting his doctoral thesis in biomechanics, titled "Biomechanical Study of Degenerative Spinal Pathologies and Their Effects on Whiplash Kinematics – DESPATCH."

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 world's 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.

Karolina is a Development Engineer at Tetra Pak, specialising in modelling and simulations within the Sealing Technology department. This team is responsible for ensuring the integrity and tightness of package seals. Karolina holds a Master of Physics in Computational physics from the University of Edinburgh. In her job she focuses on structural and thermal simulations, with a special interest in programming.

Dr. Lin Wang, a 2025 SIMULIA Champion, whose professional career began in 2008, is passionate about Computational Modelling and Simulation in research & development across various fields. In 2016, he joined DePuy Synthes (J&J MedTech), prior to which he has worked at Cummins Turbo Technologies, Durham University and Spincraft ETG. He also serves as board members of the IMechE Structural Technology & Materials Group and NAFEMS Computational Structural Mechanics Working Group. He is a certified 6 sigma black belt and a chartered engineer, member of IMechE. He holds a PhD of Mechanical Engineering from Durham University. Lin has 16 years’ experience with SIMULIA products (Abaqus, FE-Safe, Tosca) in solving challenge problems faced by academia and industry. In particular, he is an expert of using Abaqus to simulate highly nonlinear conditions and ultra-large material deformations. So far, he has published 19 peer-reviewed journal and conference articles as the first author with approx. 400 citations.

With a primary focus on 3D static and dynamic simulation of diesel engine structures during his 8 years with Caterpillar, the evolving energy landscape has provided the opportunity to explore battery pack simulation-led design and validation.

Joe graduated from Cambridge University and gained a PhD from Imperial College before joining Jaguar Cars as an aerodynamicist in 1998. Joe was responsible for the aerodynamic development of a number of Jaguar vehicles, using physical tests methods and CFD and eventually became the Technical Specialist for Aerodynamics at JLR. Joe then joined Exa Corporation in 2005, as their first UK employee, in order to focus exclusively on CFD with the PowerFLOW toolset.

At Exa Joe was heavily involved in the development and deployment of the PowerFLOW toolset for automotive and motorsport across the world. In 2017 Exa was acquired by Dassault Systèmes, as part of their SIMULIA Brand. Joe now manages a team dedicated to delivering automated simulation & optimization process’ to SIMULIA customers worldwide. This team has focussed on developing industrial scale automation solutions, such as the PowerFLOW Advanced Common Model process which is used at many automotive customers worldwide. This team is now dedicated to creating and deploying similar automated solutions using MODSIM technology.

Sajid Asif, an Industry Process Consultant at Dassault Systemes, leads SIMULIA EuroNorth's technical sales engagements, specializing in Electromagnetics technology across multiple industries. Previously, as an Antenna Engineer, he focused on designing, developing, and testing passive RF/microwave circuits and phased array antennas for Satcom and terrestrial applications. Alongside his industry work, he served as a Researcher and Lecturer at various academic institutions. Besides his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees, Dr. Asif also holds a PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering from North Dakota State University, USA. He is a member of IET and holds senior membership in IEEE.

Alain is the Worldwide Technical Sales Director for Fluids at Dassault Systèmes. He joined Dassault Systèmes through the acquisition of Exa Corporation, where he spent 17 years (2000–2017) in various roles, progressing from Application Engineer to Managing Director, leading the Technical Team for Ground Transportation across Europe and India.

Before his time at Exa, Alain worked for four years at Bombardier’s Industrial Division as a Test Engineer, focusing on snow grooming and off-road tracked vehicles. He holds a degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke in Canada.

Hélène BONNEFOND completed a PhD thesis in Fluid Mechanics in 2015 at ONERA, the French Aerospace Lab. She joined EOMYS Engineering in 2020, a company offering software and consulting services specialized in solving e-NVH problems in electrical machines and drives, as a software engineer.

EOMYS was acquired by Dassault Systèmes in 2024. Hélène is now an Industry Process Expert for SIMULIA Manatee software.

- B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (Institute of Engineering and Technology, India)
- Worked as Lead Engineer at Wipro Technologies, Bangalore, India (2006 – 2010)
- M. Sc. in Vehicle Dynamics (Coventry University, UK)
- Joined Simulia / Simpack at DASSAULT SYSTEMES in 2012
- Currently working as Senior Technical Manager for MultiPhysics including Multibody Dynamics, Electromagnetics and Vibro Acoustics

Dr Leon Cordingley has worked at Dassault Systemes for nearly 20 years. In his role as Industry Process Consultant he is responsible for supporting users of SIMULIA products, in particular 3DEXPERINECE and Abaqus. Leon has knowledge across a wide range of simulation capabilities, including composites, additive manufacturing, heat transfer, HPC and python.

Giovanni Fiore is an Industry Process Consultant Manager for Fluid Dynamics simulation within EuroNORTH. The activities of his Team range from vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics, particle simulations, to aerospace and life sciences applications. He has 15 years’ experience in CFD and aerodynamic correlation activities. He holds a PhD in Applied Aerodynamics and a MS in Aeronautical Engineering.

Santi holds a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and a master’s degree in Motorsport Engineering from Oxford Brookes. After three years in Airbus he joined the XFlow team, prior to the DS acquisition in 2016. Since then he has been investigating with our state of the art LBM methods and working with key customers in the Automotive, F1 and Aerospace industries as part of SIMULIA’s R&D Fluids organization.

Sebastien obtained his mechanical engineering degree from EPFL in Switzerland in 2001. He began his career at MTU Aeroengines in Munich, focusing on aerodynamics and structural analysis. Later, he assumed various Technical Director roles at EXA Corp in Europe. In 2014, Sebastien became the Managing Director for the Aerospace Industry, a position he held until the integration of EXA into Dassault Systèmes in 2019. At Dassault Systèmes, he served as SIMULIA Head of Aerospace and SIMULIA GEO Leader EUROCENTRAL until July 2023, when he transitioned to the role of SIMULIA VP Sales and Marketing.

Roles Portfolio Manager for Dassault Systemes in the UK. More than 25 years industry experience covering topics such as Process Automation, Test Data Management, Data Acquisition, Simulation Process Data Management and Signal Processing

Jonathan is currently Director of High Tech Industry Enablement at Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA where he is responsible for technical content, advanced engagements and new methodology. Previously he has held leadership positions at a Silicon Valley start-up and at CST where he looked after North American sales prior to its acquisition by Dassault Systèmes in 2016. Jonathan has an engineering background in electronics and electromagnetic simulation and holds a B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering.

Ben Pine has worked for Dassault Systemes SIMULIA for almost 6 years. He works on electromagnetic simulations, especially in the areas of particle accelerators, MRI, permanent magnets and superconductivity. Before joining Dassault Systemes, Ben worked at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK for 15 years, as an Accelerator Physicist with the ISIS Spallation Neutron Source. Ben got his DPhil in Particle Physics from Oxford University in 2016.

Cagatay Serin is Senior Director of Global Marketing at SIMULIA and part of the brand’s worldwide leadership team. Based in Sheffield, he brings nearly 30 years of international experience in strategic sales, marketing, and business development.

Before joining Dassault Systèmes in 2011, he held senior leadership roles including Deputy General Manager and Managing Director, leading high-performing teams in advanced engineering software.

Today, Cagatay drives SIMULIA’s global marketing strategy—aligning brand and business goals, growing customer engagement, and championing the creation of strong user communities to establish SIMULIA as a true love brand in the simulation industry.

He holds engineering degrees from Istanbul Technical University and Northeastern University in the US.

- B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (Pune University, India)
- M. Tech. in Automotive Engineering (VIT University, India)
- Worked as Senior Engineer at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India (2013-2016)
- Worked as Technical Lead at Tata Technologies Ltd., India (2016-2017)
- Worked as Senior Adams Analyst at Horiba Mira Ltd., UK (2017-2023)
- Joined Simulia/Simpack at Dassault Systemes in Feb 2023
- Currently working as an Industry Process Consultant for Multibody Dynamics

Christopher Shaw is a Senior Industry Process Consultant Fluids Specialist in Dassault Systemes SIMULIA. He is an expert PowerFLOW CFD user with 10 years of experience across a range of CFD topics including automotive aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, cooling airflow and water spray management. He has consulted for various Automotive OEMs on various CFD applications and specialises in the field of Computational Aeroacoustics. He has additional experience in fan and HVAC aeroacoustics and supplements this with a thorough understanding of process automation in PowerFLOW

Eric joined Dassault Systèmes in 2017, initially as a Research Engineer, and has since transitioned into the role of an Industry Process Consultant. Prior to his tenure at Dassault Systèmes, he amassed valuable experience in the naval, energy, and space sectors (PRINCIPIA SAS, Naval Group SA, ArianeGroup SAS). Eric has 15 years of simulation-related experience in computational solid mechanics and co-simulation-based multi-physics modeling. He holds both a Master of Science and a Doctoral degree in Applied Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering.

Jamie graduated from Coventry University where he studied Automotive Engineering Design before joining Perkins Engines in 2004.

Jamie then joined the Red Bull F1 team within the structures department working on composite and metallic components and assemblies. He went on to create and lead the FEA tools and process development group ultimately looking after the strategic decisions for the structural teams across the entire Red Bull Campus Group.

He is driven by a philosophy of efficiency and maximising technologically innovative solutions and was heavily involved in best practice creation, optimisation and workflow management with HPC and specifically targeting optimal job submission profiles to maximise operational efficiency.

Jamie joined Dassault in January 2023 and works within the global Industry Process Success Transportation & Mobility group, developing, enabling & deploying structural workflows for the automotive sector.

As a SIMULIA Industry Process Consultant at Dassault Systèmes Sheffield, Matthew supports EuroNorth customers across industries in adopting simulation-driven solutions using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. With over two years of experience and a background in General Engineering (Energy & Sustainability) from the University of Sheffield—including a Year in Industry—Matthew leverages multi-brand solutions to bridge simulation technology with real-world engineering challenges. Predominantly, Matthew has applied V+R solutions with Test Manager and Process Automation technologies for customers within Aerospace & Defence and Energy industries.