Hamid Serry is a Project Engineer with a specialty in software development. He is currently working with the Verification and Validation team at WMG to expand safety validation of autonomous cars, through the simplification of Flex1889 and other Scenario description languages into a graphical format, for the use of the general public. His experience spans creating and maintaining large database systems, developing and training machine learning models for computer vision and game development, with a background of a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Huw Sullivan leads strategy and engagement for Clean Energy at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) with a specific focus on Hydrogen. The MTC is engaged in multiple cross-sector initiatives supporting the growth of the Hydrogen economy, focused on the advanced manufacture and build of next generation solutions for hydrogen production, hydrogen distribution and storage and hydrogen end use.  Prior to joining the MTC Huw was head of Innovation at Cadent Gas, formerly National Grid Gas and was involved in some of the pioneering work associated with Hydrogen as a vector to decarbonise heat, including the gas blending Hydeploy project and the Hydrogen production, distribution and CCUS project HyNet North West.

Ian joined the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) as CEO in 2015 with over 25 years of automotive experience. During Ian’s tenure the APC has committed £1.5bn investment into zero and low carbon automotive innovation, with the resulting products reducing their carbon footprint and providing lasting economic benefits from UK 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 joined the Faraday Institution after six years in central government where he worked on designing and implementing innovation programmes in the energy sector. He was responsible for the government’s energy innovation programme in the Department of Energy and Climate Change and continued in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as Head of Disruptive Energy Technologies and Green Finance Innovation.

An internationally experienced Senior Executive with a specialisation in the automotive sector. Known for his exceptional ability to lead and motivate teams, Ian brings a wealth of experience that spans both large and small private equity, global groups, and a UK PLC. Ian's most previous role was Chief Financial Officer at Gordon Murray Group. 

Ian has played important roles in the turnaround of several prominent automotive companies, including SEAT, Bentley Motors, and Aston Martin. His financial acumen also extended to managing the profitability of proprietary supercar projects and 3rd party client programs.

Isobel is an experienced public policy professional, recently holding a number of senior roles which have involved delivering funding, reform and regulatory programmes to help transport achieve wider social goals and outcomes. These have included: airspace policy reform to maximise efficiency while managing noise impacts; the role of transport infrastructure in supporting housing delivery; meeting air quality requirements; and currently leading the Government’s self-driving vehicle agenda to deliver a comprehensive regulatory framework for self-driving vehicles and capture economic opportunities. Isobel began her career working in the Government Office for Science and has a long-standing interest in innovation and regulatory reform.

Jack is currently a Director at innovation consultancy Downham Hill and a non-executive Director at CENEX and at Business West. He recently left Johnson Matthey where he served as JM’s Technology Strategy Director and Chairman of Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd. In the public service arena Jack has chaired the UK Government’s Environmental Innovation Advisory Group, served as a Board Member of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, a member of the Sustainable Procurement Task Force, a Commissioner on the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance, a member of the Ecosystems Markets Task Force and is a long term member of the Aldersgate Group.

Professionally, he gained a BSc and PhD at the University of Exeter, worked at major scientific research facilities in France, England and at the University of California at Berkeley before joining the faculty at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. Jack then moved to British Petroleum where he spent 9 years leading different areas of BP's industrial research and development in catalysis. In 1993, he joined Johnson Matthey as Technology Manager. He was appointed Director, JM Fuel Cells, when the company created fuel cells as a separate business in January 2000. In 2013, he received an OBE for services to innovation in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List.

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.

As South Wales Director for the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Jacqui is working with partners to deliver a prosperous, productive and sustainable ecosystem across Wales. She is the current chair of £65m SmartNanoNI consortium. Previously the COO of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and Deputy Director of the £611m Faraday Battery Challenge with a background in the steel industry.

James Bennie is Ford UK’s esteemed Manager of Digital Manufacturing Engineering & Layout, with a 23-year tenure shaping the future of automotive manufacturing. A champion of Industry 4.0, his leadership in deploying digital manufacturing solutions and optimising plant layouts has been pivotal to Ford's European operations. James boasts an impressive academic portfolio with a Master of Engineering (Hons) from The University of Manchester and an MBA in Leadership Practice from The Open University. His expertise in program delivery and engineering management is matched by his commitment to innovation and excellence within the dynamic landscape of automotive engineering.

James is the Head of Technical Consulting for the Smart Mobility Living Lab, supporting clients across the mobility, insurance, energy and public sector to develop, test and validate new mobility solutions in the real world. James was the Solutions Architect for the design and build of the Living lab and was responsible for its technical delivery. Prior to working with SMLL, James has worked across on a wide range of Connected and Automated Mobility programmes, and Intelligent Transport Systems projects covering the design, implementation and appraisal of schemes. 

James Taylor was appointed Managing Director of Vauxhall in early 2023. Previously, he had combined roles as Acting Managing Director for Vauxhall and B2B Director for Stellantis UK, Vauxhall’s parent company overseeing automotive brands including Peugeot and Citroen. Having first joined the Vauxhall team in 1999, Taylor has been instrumental in directing many key divisions of the UK automotive company’s business and customer strategy. His work has placed him at the forefront of Vauxhall’s progress to become one of the UK’s leading automotive manufacturers, with roles spanning the development of the brand’s passenger car and van offering.

Since taking the reins as Managing Director, Taylor has overseen Vauxhall’s electric vehicle strategy, as the brand works towards offering fully electric versions of each car and van across its product range by the end of this year. Vauxhall is one of few brands currently offering a fully electric variant across its entire LCV line-up and has been named the UK’s best-selling electric van manufacturer for three years in a row. Throughout 2023, Taylor was at the forefront of Vauxhall’s business developments to support the UK’s electric vehicle journey. He has spearheaded Vauxhall’s ongoing innovative Electric Streets of Britain programme, which focusses on the acceleration of the UK’s on-street charging infrastructure, and was the face of Stellantis’ Ellesmere Port manufacturing plant’s transformation to electric vehicle production – the UK’s first electric only automotive manufacturing plant.

Dr Jennifer Channell is recognised as a leader in the battery industry. Jennifer is Commercial and Partnerships Lead for Anaphite Ltd where she leads the commercial and marketing functions to bring Anaphite's dry battery electrode process technology to market. Jennifer is known in particular for her work with UK Government's Faraday Battery Battery Challenge. Jennifer worked with the Faraday Institution to put the UK at the forefront of electrochemical and battery materials research and solidified this position in her role as Innovation Lead for Batteries during which she helped to grow the UK’s battery supply chain through investing in innovative R&D projects. She has also supported battery manufacturing skills development in the UK awarding funding to support upskilling and reskilling as well as new skills initiatives. Jennifer is also Project Director for Europe for the Volta Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing the global battery ecosystem through community. Jennifer is a thought leader and a strong advocate for the power of collaboration and innovation and regularly features during panel discussions at global battery events. Jennifer is also a Battery Ambassador for the Battery Associates and is a professional Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and IOM3.

Jeremy graduated from the Camborne School of Mines in 1985 with a BSc (Hons) in Mining Engineering and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.  Having initially worked in the South African gold industry Jeremy enjoyed a successful investment banking career before becoming the Chief Executive of Cornish Lithium Plc, a company that he founded in May 2016.  Since securing its first external funding in 2017 the company has grown significantly and now employs more than 100 people, most of whom are located in Cornwall.

A founder of Fusion Processing Ltd

Senior Manager, Ford Motor Co - based in UK and US

Innovation Leader, Visteon Corporation - global Tier 1 automotive supply