David Wong is Head of Technology and Innovation at SMMT, the UK’s automotive industry body that represents the interests of more than 800 members including all major vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers, aftermarket businesses, technology and engineering firms, mobility start-ups and self-driving vehicle technology developers. David is SMMT’s lead on connected and automated vehicles, electric and fuel cell vehicles, autotech and future mobility innovation. He also sits on the UK Automotive Council Future Technology Group and is a board member of greentech consultancy Cenex and advisory board member of PAVE UK. He was a member of the UK Government’s Future Communications Challenge Group, which advised on 5G strategy, and the multi-sectoral EV Energy Taskforce.

Diogo is Innovation Lead for the Faraday Battery Challenge, a £610 million programme supporting the UK’s battery ecosystem. In this role, he leads the business investment stream, working to scale new innovations that address both UK and global supply chain needs. Diogo holds a PhD in electrochemistry and brings more than 10 years of experience in developing cutting-edge battery technologies, including Li-ion cathodes, Li-S, and beyond Li chemistries.

E. ZAHONERO-ZAHONERO is a Project Manager at Applus+IDIADA, specialized in the e-powertrain department. He has a wide academic and professional background within the automotive sector as he has been involved in different topics, such as thermal management, dynamometer testing, emissions related testing, dynamic simulation and currently, e-powertrain topics. Those activities have been carried out in France, Germany and currently in Spain.

Edgar holds a Mechanical Degree by Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain ending in 2015. Afterwars, he ernoled in Powertrain Engineering Master at IFP School, France ending in 2017. Finally, a specialized master degree in Technology of Electric Vehicle in Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain. He has a deep understanding of development process and testing solutions for different aspects on the drivetrain. Currently, his daily tasks are mainly centred on e-powertrain technologies, developing new testing solutions, methodologies but also offering solutions to clients adapted to its requests. 

Elliot is Managing Director IPG Automotive UK and Senior Consultant in IPG’s Global Consulting Team. After a decade in physical test driving all over the world at JLR, he moved into simulation, building their first Electronic Stability Control Virtual Engineering team in 2011.

Elliot then went on to lead a centralised Simulation Strategy and Tools Team before moving to IPG Automotive in 2019. He is currently responsible for leading a team of highly capable driving simulation engineers, scientists and software developers to support UK and global customers in rapidly accelerating their virtual test driving capabilities.

Freddie Mehta, Senior Solutions Manager, leads the Solutions Management efforts at Secondmind. He brings almost two decades of automotive industry experience having worked with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, engineering consultancies and telematics organisations. His expertise is in translating machine learning and AI-speak into industry language, especially for functional areas where he had a direct impact such as CAE, calibration, systems engineering for electrified and conventional powertrains.

Fred is responsible for developing the Company’s plans to build, own and operate a renewable hydrogen facility in Immingham, UK. He has worked for Air Products for over 25 years. He started his career in engineering design, operations support, project and construction management and has since progressed through business development and commercial roles in France, Switzerland and the UK. Fred, is a chartered engineer and a member of the Institute for Chemical Engineers.

Dr George Beard is Head of New Mobility at TRL. George has 12 years’ experience conducting social and behavioural research and evaluation in the transport sector across a variety of areas, including studies of active travel and micromobility safety, electric vehicle adoption, and evaluations of future transport schemes, cycle training and road safety interventions. George is Chair of the ITS UK Active Travel Forum, a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society, and a member of the International EV Policy Council. https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-beard-62354727/

Graham has a broad R&D background, primarily in academia. Past research topics include dynamics modelling, optimisations, aerodynamics and ADAS simulation and testing. Since joining Cenex as Team Leader in 2023, Graham has led on a range of V2X related projects in both R&D and consultancy. The VBEV projects combined V2X with maritime, demonstrating how technology transfer from the road can accelerate decarbonisation in other sectors. 

At AESIN, we are shaping the future of intelligent vehicle systems. Using my experience in electronics and engineering leadership, honed through hands-on delivery, I am supporting UK organisations in the thick of developing advanced automotive technologies. Leading collaborative efforts, we strive to accelerate the industry's growth by fostering cooperation and integration of cutting-edge electronic systems.

Previously, as Chief Engineer at WMG, University of Warwick, I led teams to pioneer and use research facilities like the WMG 3xD Simulator to tackle some of the most challenging research questions . My focus was on solving real-world problems, enhancing product quality, and reducing development effort. My tenure there was marked by driving significant advances in sensor, verification and validation technologies for future mobility solutions.

Dr Hadi Moztarzadeh is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE) with over 20 years’ experience in both academia and industry. At the APC, he oversees a portfolio of insight and foresight and technology strategy as well as the Automotive Council Roadmaps. Hadi has led the development of the Automotive Council UK roadmaps 2024, where he has worked closely with the Automotive ecosystem, including industry and research and innovation organisations and policy and funding bodies.

Automotive Trends Strategist across both APC and Zenzic. Helena has worked as a market and competitive intelligence analyst since 2007, both in agencies and as internal market analyst, with the majority of her time as an automotive analyst. Judit Soria submitting on their behalf.

Ian joined the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) as CEO in 2015 with over 25 years of automotive experience. During Ian’s tenure the APC has committed well over £1bn investment into zero and low carbon automotive innovation, with the resulting products reducing their carbon footprint and providing lasting economic benefits from jobs and inward investment.

A key objective has been to bring partners from industry, academia, and government together to spur collaboration and accelerate the delivery of green automotive technology. Ian and the APC team were instrumental in the development, launch and now delivery of the Automotive Transformation Fund announced in 2020. 

As well as his work at the APC, Ian played a key role in establishing the Faraday Battery Challenge and Driving the Electric Revolution where he is currently a board member for both and is also a director at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).  Ian’s ambition is to see a new generation electric vehicle supply chain, at scale, anchored in the UK.  

Ian is Technical Director of aHV Solutions - a Manchester based business that provides design and test services to companies developing the next generation of high voltage power electronic systems for electric transport. aHV has clients across the aerospace, automotive and marine sectors. Ian is also part-time Professor of High Voltage at The University of Manchester where he leads a team of researchers focused on developing an improved understanding of the ways we can deliver power dense yet reliable high voltage solutions.

Dr Isabella Panovic | Innovate UK – Programme Manager (Zero Emission Road Freight) Dr Isabella Panovic is a Programme Manager at Innovate UK, facilitating the delivery of the UK Government’s £200m Zero Emission HGV & Infrastructure Demonstrator programme. The programme aims to increase HGV operator confidence and government understanding of various zero emission HGV technologies and their infrastructure. Prior to joining the Land & Maritime Transport team at Innovate UK, Isabella has worked in R&D policy for several years to support development of other net zero technologies, such as offshore renewables and decarbonising heating and cooling. Isabella also completed a PhD at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, focussing on biorefineries and the chemistry of biomass.

Jacob has worked in the sustainable transport industry for over ten years, with a focus on enabling the transition to zero-emission vehicles. Beginning in local government, Jacob gained hands-on experience of local EV charging infrastructure delivery, before working for Energy Saving Trust, where he supported public and private sector organisations to reduce harmful emissions from transport. At REA, Jacob co-ordinated an industry group representing and advocating on behalf of the UK EV charging companies. At Cenex, Jacob now leads a team of specialists that deliver policy, strategy and implementation support to public and private sector organisations who are looking to offer electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Jamie is Global Head of Regulatory & Public Affairs at Oxa. He leads work in Oxa to engage regulators and governments around the world, communicating the importance of safe autonomy delivering social good. Jamie also chairs techUK’s Self-Driving Vehicle Working Group, which seeks to promote the ADS developer industry and ensure autonomy achieves something for everyone. He previously worked in the UK Department for Transport's Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles where he led the team developing future legislation and regulation, including the Law Commission project and the Automated Vehicles Act.