Aerospace Global News Theatre – Day 4

10:00 – 10:20

Keynote: “Investing in Innovation”
Meghan Welch, Managing Director, KPMG US LLP

This session will explore success stories and challenges faced by companies engaged in such a strategic investment. It will provide insights into how companies identify potential investment opportunities, establish partnerships, and integrate innovative technologies into their operations. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape of innovation in the A&D industry and the strategies employed by companies to stay at the forefront of technology.

10:30 – 10:50 

Keynote: “The Theory of Winning: Transforming Defence with Technology that Does Not Exist”
Dr. Keith Dear, Managing Director, Fujitsu’s Centre for Cognitive and Advanced Technologies

This keynote will explore the role of technology in defence, arguing that we should determine how we want to fight and drive technology, development to support that strategy. He will highlight the importance of understanding operational challenges for developing effective technologies, the complexities of modern warfare, and the role of data-driven insights. Keith will explore future technological advancements, such as quantum computing and autonomous systems, and provide strategic insights for defence organisations to prepare and adapt to maintain a competitive edge.

10:50 – 11:35 

Panel: “The UK and the Defence of Japan: Turning the Hiroshima Accord into Action”

Moderator: Dr. Keith Dear, Managing Director, Fujitsu’s Centre for Cognitive and Advanced Technologies
Al Brown, Director of the Neurosymbolic Artificial Intelligence, Fujitsu’s Centre for Cognitive and Advanced Technologies
Sophia Gaston, Head of Foreign Policy and UK Resilience, Policy Exchange
Alessio Patalano, Professor of War & Strategy in East Asia at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London

As global security dynamics evolve, the strategic partnership between the UK and Japan stands as a critical axis for regional and international stability. This panel will explore how the Hiroshima Accord’s commitments can be translated into actionable defence projects, enhancing the defence capabilities of both nations through advanced technologies and collaborative strategies.

11:55 – 12:25

Fireside Chat: “The Action Plan: Utilising Unmanned Aircraft to Shape a Sustainable UK Ecosystem”

Jenny Ward, Deputy Director, Aviation Safety, Innovation and UK Department for Transport
Carla Toomer, Project Manager, Solent Transport

Join us for an engaging panel session on the UK Future of Flight Action Plan, designed to support the UK flight industry in becoming a sustainable and thriving ecosystem. We will outline the exciting vision for unmanned and autonomous aircraft, highlighting their potential to revolutionize air travel. The discussion will cover innovative sustainable transport solutions, including the latest advancements in drone technology. Learn how these drones can significantly improve medical logistics for the NHS, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of medical supplies. This session will provide a comprehensive look at the future of aviation and its impact on our world.

12:35 – 13:20 

Panel: “How can AI answer aerospace’s greatest challenges sustainably?”

Zoe Jackson, Vice President Manufacturing and Aerospace and Defence Growth, Capgemini UK
Dr. Maria Nelson, Head of Innovation & Sustainability, Aerospace Technology Institute
Mike Dwyer, Vice President, Head of Intelligent Industry, Capgemini UK
Ian Hampson, Vice President, Head of Aerospace and Defence, Capgemini UK
Mark Roberts, Deputy Head Capgemini Global Generative AI Lab, Capgemini Engineering
Dr. Thanos Margaritis, Head of AI, Neutral Concept

In a partnership between Capgemini, Cambridge Consultants, and the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), we’re taking a deep dive into the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in solving the aerospace industry’s toughest trials. Discover how AI can ensure supply chain resilience during the forthcoming ramp-up in production. Learn about AI’s capabilities in optimising in-flight operations – whether that’s improving route mapping or lowering carbon impact through contrail reduction – as more aircraft take to the sky. While unpacking these benefits and many more, we’ll delve into the different types of AI, from automation to machine learning, and consider what it all means for humans.

13:30 – 14:10

Panel: “An Outreach Curriculum – saying the same things, in the same way, to maximise our impact”

Dave Edwards, Chief Executive, Royal Aeronautical Society
Israil Bryan, Director of Boeing Global Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Boeing
Janine Hornsby, Marketing Manager, Marshall Skills Academy
John Chinner, Head of Outreach and STEM Engagement, Airbus
Leonor Gomes, Education and Skills Manager, Royal Aeronautical Society

The Aerospace, aviation and space industries are small in comparison to many, yet utterly vital to the movement of people and goods and to making the planet smaller. As with other industries, there are already challenges in finding the next generation to join us and we need to work far more collaboratively if we’re able to ensure that we are able to speak to every child in every school about the excitement and growth that a career in our sector can bring to them. A group of UK organisations have come together to try to work on an outreach curriculum that would provide the bedrock for all engagement that would allow our message to be consistent and amplified to try and reach every child in the country. Psychology suggests getting the same message to the same child seven times in their primary education makes the message stick – is it time for the sector to test the theory?