Aerospace Global News Theatre 2 – Tuesday 21st July 2026

10:45 – 12:00 – AGF Defence Summit

Panel: Fortifying the frontline: Allied deterrence and defence on NATO’s eastern flank

Jo Coburn, Former BBC Presenter & Journalist
Benedetta Berti, Secretary General, NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Sven Sakkov, Ambassador, Embassy of Estonia London
Clive Higgins, Chair and CEO, Leonardo UK
Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), NATO 

Bringing political leaders together to examine how NATO, the EU, and national governments are strengthening deterrence and defence along the Eastern Flank in response to Russia’s continued aggression, long‑term strategic competition, and the evolving security environment. The session brings together senior leaders shaping policy, capability development, defence industry mobilisation, and parliamentary oversight.

13:15 – 14:15 – AGF Finance Summit

Panel: The Future of Defence Investment: What Capital needs, What Governments must Change

Iain Martin, Founder, London Defence Conference
Joe Cassidy, Partner and EMA Head of Technology, Media & Telecoms, KPMG
Fiona Walters, CEO, Serco
Rob Murray, Chairman of the DSRB Negotiations, Chairman of the DSRB Negotiations
Stuart Foster, Head of UK Coverage, UK Corporate Bank, Barclays 
Nick Gilddon, Board Director, Vodafone UK

Geopolitical instability, rapid technological disruption and the re‑emergence of industrial‑scale warfare have forced governments to rethink how they fund, procure, and partner with industry. At the same time, global institutional investors, long cautious about the sector, are reassessing defence as both a strategic necessity and a potentially resilient asset class. This panel brings together leading voices from finance, government, and industry to examine what it will take to unlock the next wave of defence investment.

15:10 – 16:00 – AGN Session Sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald

Panel: Inside the eVTOL Market

Andres Sheppard, Managing Director and the Lead Equity Research Analyst, Cantor Fitzgerald
Adam Goldstein, Founder & CEO, Archer Aviation, Inc
Kyle Clark, Founder & CEO, BETA Technologies
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder & CEO, Joby Aviation
Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace

eVTOL leaders take a candid look at the path to commercial launch, from certification and customer demand to capital discipline, manufacturing readiness and market timing. Designed as a strategic market conversation, this session focuses on what will separate viable businesses from the rest of the field.

16:10 – 17:00 – AGN Session Sponsored by KBR 

Panel: The Readiness Imperative: Keeping Defence Ready in an Era of Constant Disruption 

Simon Joll, Defence Strategic Advisor, KBR
Geoff Maple, Strategic Development Director, KBR
Gerry Ewart-Brookes, Business Development Director for Defence, Unipart 
Giles Hartwright, Associate Partner, IBM

Recent geopolitical instability, increasing cyber threats, fragile global supply chains and growing military demands have fundamentally changed what Defence requires from its support enterprise. Readiness can no longer be viewed as the outcome of logistics alone. It depends on the ability to anticipate disruption, sustain supply under pressure, integrate digital decision-making and mobilise a diverse industrial ecosystem at pace.

This panel explores how Defence and industry can work together to create a support model that is agile, resilient and integrated. Drawing on the combined expertise of KBR, Unipart and IBM, the discussion will examine how sovereign capability, supply chain resilience, digital enablement and collaborative delivery models can strengthen operational readiness and provide the UK Armed Forces with a lasting decision advantage. 

*Schedule Subject To Change