Robert Courts MP
Minster for Aviation, Maritime and Security
Department for Transport
Robert Courts MP is the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security at the Department for Transport. He has been the Member of Parliament for Witney and West Oxfordshire in October 2016.
Michael Cervenka
President
Vertical Aerospace
President and board director at one of the world’s leading eVTOL start-ups and a pioneer in sustainable aviation.
Nicola Yates OBE
CEO
Connected Places Catapult
Nicola is the CEO at Connected Places Catapult. She was previously Chief Executive at Bristol City Council. Hull City Council and North Stropshire District Council amongst multiple successes in delivering local economic prosperity.
Rachel Gardner-Poole
Chief Operating Officer
Connected Places Catapult
Rachel has a wealth of experience delivering complex programmes and improving operational effectiveness through people, process and technology.
Prof Julia Sutcliffe
Chief Technologist
BAE Systems – Air
Julia is Chief Technologist for BAE Systems Air sector and has been at the forefront of research and development in autonomous systems and networked information systems in the defence sector throughout her career.
Rick Newson
Head of Rapid Capabilities Office
UK Civil Aviation Authority
Captain Rick Newson is Head of the UK Civil Aviation Authority ‘Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO)’ but was up until March 21 the Flight Operations Manager (Helicopters) for the UK CAA with responsibility for the global safety oversight of all UK helicopter commercial and public service air operations.
Corinne Matthews
Aerospace/Aviation Sector Lead
Heart of the SouthWest
Corinne Matthews is the Aerospace/ Aviation Sector Lead for the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership which encompasses Somerset and Devon.
Brad Miller
Managing Director
UK & EMEA Ferrovial Vertiports
Brad is responsible for delivering Ferrovial’s vision to design, develop, build and operate a modern network of Vertiports in the UK and across Europe, providing much needed clean, quiet and seamless connectivity for a more sustainable society.
Liam McKay
Director of Corporate Affairs
City London Airport
Liam has over ten years’ experience in campaigning and communications, and has delivered significant city wide programmes in his career to date.
Dr. Ruth Mallors-Ray OBE
Associate
Connected Places Catapult
Ruth has worked across multiple sectors to shape and frame proposals that seek to accelerate innovation through collaboration between industry, government and academia.
Andrew Chadwick
Aviation Technology Innovation Lead
Connected Places Catapult
Andrew Chadwick is a Chartered Engineer and is the Connected Places Catapult Aviation Technology Innovation Lead.
Andrew Rae
Professor of Engineering
University of the Highlands and Islands
Andrew is responsible for the University’s engineering research, and one of the architects of the Future Flight Challenge.
Sunil Budhdeo
Transport Innovation Manager
Coventry City Council
His role as the Transport Innovation Manager at Coventry City has helped in development of new technology for transportation.
Julia Jiggins
Head of Strategic Marketing – Aviation & Space
Thales UK
Julia is responsible for developing Thales UK’s marketing opportunities for future Aviation and Space products.
Robbie Bourke
Partner
Oliver Wyman
Robbie is a Partner at Oliver Wyman and leads the Oliver Wyman CAVOK division across EMEA. He has over 20 years experience as an Aviation professional and has held leadership positions at international airlines and OEM’s.
Prof. Fern Elsdon-Baker
Research Director Social Sciences
UKRI
Professor Fern Elsdon-Baker is the UKRI Future Flight Challenge Social Science Research Director.
Hammad Jeilani
Director of Co-Founder
Apian
He founded Apian, a medical drone logistics startup delivering faster, smarter and greener healthcare.
Dr. Yoge Patel
CEO
Blue Bear Systems Research
Dr. Yoge Patel is a renowned innovator and visionary in the field of autonomous and AI enabled systems.
Andy Clarke
Director for Integrated Transport
Costain
Andy has extensive experience of partnering with client organisations throughout the project lifecycle.
David Hyde
Aerospace and Drones
World Economic Forum
Darrell Swanson
Director
Swanson Aviation Consultancy Ltd
Darrell has over 20 years’ experience as an aviation consultant on airport masterplanning projects thru to airport acquisition advisory services.
Kata Cserep
Managing Director, Aviation, Travel and Tourism
ICF
Kata Cserep leads ICF’s global aviation team of close to 100 expert consultants, serving clients in government, private sector, the investment community and industry associations.
Max Fenkell
Policy and Government Affairs Lead
Joby Aviation
Gary Cutts
Director
Future Flight Challenge
Gary leads the UK government’s Future Flight Innovation programme working across government and industry to create innovative aviation systems.
Emma Gilthorpe
CEO
JetZero
Emma was appointed CEO of the UK’s Jet Zero Council in March 2021, by the Secretaries of State for Transport and Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
Dr. Andy Jefferson
Programme Director, Sustainable Aviation
A&G Jefferson Ltd
Andy is an independent consultant and a Director of A&G Jefferson Limited, the consultancy he jointly set up in 2012.
Gary Elliott
Chief Executive Officer
Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)
Gary Elliott was appointed Chief Executive of the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) in April 2014, assuming responsibility for the strategic direction of the Institute and its operational performance.
Matthew Gorman MBE
Director of Sustainability
Heathrow Airport
Matthew is Carbon Strategy Director for Heathrow in the newly formed Carbon, Communications and Communities department. He has been Sustainability Director at the airport for the last decade, leading the team that developed “Heathrow 2.0”, the airport’s leadership plan for sustainable growth launched in 2017.
Rachael Everard
Head of Sustainability
Rolls-Royce
Rachael leads sustainability and ESG-related strategy for the Rolls-Royce Group and has been described as the driving force for the company’s action on climate change and decarbonisation. A chartered environmentalist, Rachael is a fellow of IEMA, and sits on the advisory board for We Mean Business.
Simon Earles
Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Director
Bristol Airport
Simon brings over 16 years of experience in the aviation sector, having also worked for Luton Airport, and is a qualified transport planner.
Captain David Morgan
Operations Flight Director
Easyjet
Captain David Morgan is responsible for safe, efficient and sustainable operation of aircraft across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Ricky Sandhu
CEO
Urban Air Port
Ricky founded Urban-Air Port© Ltd (UAP) after a distinguished twenty-year career in architecture, including sixteen years as equity Partner with award-winning architecture and design practice Foster + Partners.
Hazel Dempsey
Innovation Programme Manager
NHS Grampian
Hazel liaises and collaborates with a wide range of clinical and management staff in our organisation and other NHS regions, academics, industry representatives, and innovation bodies.
Andy Smith
Head of Sustainability Strategy
Logan Air
Andy specialises in airline network planning, fleet evaluations and revenue management.
Matthew Sattler
Infrastructure and Ecosystems Partnerships
Supernal
Matthew Sattler is a transportation and startup problem solver focused on fixing hard tech problems. Matthew currently leads Infrastructure & Ecosystem Partnerships for Supernal and is responsible for creating partnerships that will enable a future mobility ecosystem
Jenny Ward
Deputy Director Aviation Strategy
Department of Transport
Jenny Ward is the Deputy Director of Aviation Strategy, Consumers and Innovation in the Department of Transport.
Jason Fowler
Chair
British Aviation Group
Jason is also a member of the Aviation Export Board, bringing industry and government together on development matters.
Fiona Smith
Group Head of Aerodrome Strategy
AGS
She is an experienced senior leader with expertise and strategy specialism gained across 7 airports internationally and also for the UK CAA.
Tom Grundy
Chief Executive Officer
Hybrid Air Vehicles
Tom’s experience cover a range of senior engineering and programme leadership roles in the development and delivery of new products and services.
Prof. Mark Westwood
Head of Centre and Professor of Aeronautics
Cranfield University
The Centre for Aeronautics at Cranfield University is one of the world’s largest centres for postgraduate education and research in aircraft design, aerodynamics, advanced modelling and simulation tools and methods.
Henry Tse
Director New Mobility Technologies
Connected Places Catapult
He has over 15 years’ experience in the industry with extensive project portfolios at different stages of the lifecycle as well as experience managing complex collaboration and innovation projects.