Make UK National Manufacturing Conference

With over 20 years’ wind energy sector experience, Duncan now drives offshore wind supply chain capability and growth at The Crown Estate. He interfaces the national and regional agendas to promote offshore wind’s positive impact in local communities.

The Crown Estate established a £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator fund with the explicit objective of helping catalyse the UK supply chain for offshore wind. Duncan is keen to engage with companies interested in development funding for manufacturing facilities, with potential for future CapEx investment.

Tony is an internationally experienced technology director, managing director and chief executive with expertise in precision engineering, process engineering and machine tools technologies. He co-founded the UK’s Advanced Machinery & Productivity Institute in 2018 and is a lifelong advocate for the promotion of skills development in manufacturing and advanced engineering.

Starting as an apprentice in the UK Ministry of Defence, Tony worked from shop floor through various technical and manufacturing roles in industry while studying part-time, and joined the Longworth team in 1990 to undertake research in sustainable polymer filtration and reclamation of advanced materials. 

Awarded an OBE for services to the UK economy in 2016, Tony studied at Lancaster and Manchester Universities, and lives in Lancashire.

As Executive Director for Net Zero, Mike is responsible for leading Innovate UK’s activities to ensure the UK prospers from being the fastest transitioning economy to Net Zero.

To prosper we need to create value for the UK from the products and services that are needed to get to net zero as quickly as possible. It means inspiring, involving and investing in UK innovation to create green jobs, sustainable growth and exports. It means laying foundations for a clean economy in which towns, cities and regions across the UK can thrive.

Net Zero is a race against time not against each other and more of the same won’t do.  That means we must change the way we do things and that means we must innovate with urgency, because the clock is ticking.

Prior to this, Mike was Programme Director for the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to deliver the research and science that businesses needs to transform existing industries, create new ones and deliver economic impact, jobs and growth.

Before joining Innovate UK, Mike worked in the photonics industry for 10 years after graduating with a masters in physics from Imperial College, London. He is a board member of the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Aerospace Technologies Institute and a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.

Jon is the Co Chair of the UK Steel council recently established to develop a Steel strategy for the UK Steel industry.

One of the most widely respected figures in the UK Steel industry Jon has over 40 years’ experience in steel on both sides of the Atlantic. Following various engineering and operational roles in the UK Jon was seconded to the USA for 5 years when he was part of the leadership team that constructed and ran a mini mill in Alabama. Between 2000 and 2019 Jon led primary and secondary steel businesses in the UK and Continental Europe.  He was also a Non Executive Director of Sheffield Forgemasters from 2016 to 2018.

Jon was the Chair of UK Steel from 2013 to 2015 and jointly chaired a previous incarnation of the UK Steel Council with the Secretary of State for Business and Industry for two years. During this time Jon also chaired a group that formed the UK Metals Council.

He is currently the Chair of the Materials Processing Institute based on Teesside and a Main Board advisor to Emirates Steel.

He has a passion for developing the skills of young people and is The Kings Ambassador for Industrial Cadets, a scheme gives young people direct experience of industry. He is a Trustee of the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) who manage the Industrial Cadets programme.

Jon also chaired the Stakeholder Steering Group for “Transfire”, part of the governments Transforming the Foundation Industries Challenge.

Jon is a  Fellow of the Institute for Materials. Minerals and Mining and was awarded the Bessamer Gold Medal for outstanding services to the steel industry in 2019.

Rich heads AND Digital's UK Data and AI practice delivering impactful transformation: guiding clients through the complexities of rapidly changing tech.

Rich has dedicated years of his career to the manufacturing sector, most notably building Jaguar Land Rover's digital capability with a brand of transformation laser focussed on value delivery. As Director of Data and Digital he modernised JLR's technology infrastructure, talent strategy and approach to technical delivery.

Rich has a passion for opportunity creation, growing and nurturing talent. Working with TechWM over the past 3 years Rich has led the way in connecting the supply and demand side of the Digital Skills Gap. This includes curating the innovative ‘AI for Manufacturing Accelerator’ which transformed a pilot cohorts practical approach to AI adoption in their organisations.

Jo’s HR career as a generalist has spanned over 25 years, with experience at all levels of organisations. Jo has more than 15 years of experience in manufacturing and STEM organisations most of this time spent at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, where she latterly was part of the senior leadership team for Marshall Academy, the training and apprenticeship arm of Marshall. At Marshall Academy Jo headed up award winning Health, Safety and Wellbeing programs and managed the Aerospace Engineering degree apprentices supporting their development through the program to deliver extraordinary results and secure ongoing positions as design engineers within the organisation.

James Brougham is a Senior Economist within Make UK’s advocacy division. In this role, James drives the creation of economic insight, analysis of government & corporate policy, and maintains an economic outlook for the UK’s manufacturing sector. With daily sector engagement, James has a close and current knowledge of the industry’s pressure points, using this to work in partnership with government and industry stakeholders to reach the best outcome for businesses and the wider UK economy alike.”

With over 20 years of experience in HR and Employment Law, Sharon is a strategic and visionary leader passionate about developing and retaining talent, fostering a positive and inclusive culture, and driving organisational performance. She leads a team of experts who provide bespoke commercial solutions to clients and members across the UK and globally. Sharon delivers high-quality, innovative HR and employment law services that address Make UK's clients' complex and evolving needs. Drawing on her personal experience, she leverages these skills to help clients navigate the challenges they face. She also spearheads the development and delivery of Make UK’s HR consultancy products and services, including its many webinars and publications showcasing its thought leadership and expertise.

Roz is research and policy director at Green Alliance, supporting and overseeing the development of policy recommendations on decarbonisation, greening the economy and resources. She joined Green Alliance as head of policy in 2019. Before joining Green Alliance, Roz worked for the manufacturers’ association Make UK and spent nearly a decade as an environmental journalist.