Aerospace Global News Theatre 2 – Thursday 23rd July 2026

10:15 – 11:00 – AGF Technology Summit

Panel:  Beyond Protection: How Collaboration, Data Sharing and Innovation Can Strengthen Security and Resilience

Ian Andrews, Vice Chair, National Preparedness Commission, Babcock
Chris Skilton, Director Consulting Services, CGI

In an increasingly interconnected world and our over reliance on technology across industrial systems, the risks and threat landscape is complex. Are we too focussed on securing our systems and could this be a barrier to innovation? Could collaboration and increased information and data sharing unlock new capabilities that could result in reducing risk and building security and resilience?

11:10 – 12:00 – AGF Technology Summit

Panel: Strategies for Cross-Sector Cyber Risk

Mahesh Harvu, Industry Transformation Advisor, Microsoft – Aerospace & Manufacturing
Gareth Hetheridge, CIO, Leonardo UK
Mike Short, Advisor, World Mobile Stratospheric

Aerospace and defence organisations now depend on deeply interconnected digital, energy, telecoms and supply networks. This C-Suite leadership discussion looks at how leaders are governing cyber exposure across these dependencies, balancing accountability, investment and resilience while preparing for increasingly complex and systemic sources of disruption.

12:15 – 13:00 – AGF Technology Summit

Panel: AI & Quantum: Breakthrough Revolution or Breakpoint Reality?

Karina Robinson, CEO, Redcliffe Advisory & Founder of The City Quantum & AI Summit, Redcliffe Advisory
Gerald Mullally, CEO, Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC)

This panel explores the strategic intersection of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and geopolitical sovereignty through the specific lens of aerospace and defence. Recognizing the urgent global tech race, a prominent group of DeepTech founders, investors, and innovation executives will move past industry hype to address the concrete economic and security realities of the next decade. The conversation aims to bridge technical milestones with financial strategy, tackling critical bottlenecks such as the need for unified EU-wide standards, avoiding fragmentation that excludes small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), and designing mission-driven public-private funding models. Ultimately, the session serves as a roadmap for how the UK, Europe and the US can successfully fund, regulate, and scale breakthroughs in “Quantum/AI” to secure a leadership position in innovation over the next ten years. 

*Schedule Subject To Change