2023 Speakers

Laura McBrown

Award winning MD Laura McBrown has been part of the electronic manufacturing services industry for the past 20 years. A passionate ambassador for Manufacturing in the UK and women in business Laura is the, an EEF Regional Advisory Board Deputy Chair and a member of The Manufacturer Magazine’s Editorial Board.

Now running G&B Electronics, her family business, an electronic manufacturing service provider that specialises in medical devices, aerospace electronics and high end audio products, with her sister Kate. These two women are punching well above their weight, trail blazing the way that contract manufacturing can be approached by embracing a “servitzation” model and driving productivity up and down the supply chain.

Of course none of this is possible without a motivated team. The change to the company’s culture over the lasts 5 years to “Team G&B” has seen Laura and the business being recognised for a number of awards. We all know you can’t win them all but to have been shortlisted against companies such as Jaguar Landrover on more than one occasion is still a win in Laura’s eyes.

A compassionate leader and champion of best practice development Laura has developed a simple and practical approach to achieving manufacturing excellence.

Oliver Buhlinger

Oliver Buhlinger is the Head of Technology at i3 Group Solutions. He has been a STEM mentor and speaker, addressing skills and diversity challenges, and supporting students entering industry for over 8 years. He is a professional registration sponsor, helping Chartered Engineers and Engineering Technicians in their career development which has helped him gain valuable insights into recruiting into SMEs. Now at i3 Group he is spearheading their cultural change and recruitment drive, utilising the latest in digital twin technology.  Oliver is a chartered mechanical engineer with over 25 years’ global manufacturing and tech experience.

Donna Bruce

Donna has been living and breathing Northern Lights from a young age. She started working as a temp during school holidays and after finishing her education found herself working in the Sales Department. With her intrinsic knowledge of manufacturing she worked her way through the sales function up to Sales Director. Now, as Managing Director, she is using this wealth of knowledge to drive us ahead in our Hospitality & Residential markets. 

Claire Turnbull

I have 15 years’ experience working with industry leading, global consumer goods brands across a variety of sectors including medical devices and toys and across a variety of functions, including R&D and Project Management. I thrive on change and love an opportunity to find creative solutions to problems whilst hopefully taking the fear out of the process for the teams I work with through collaborative planning and execution. Now in my second decade with Illooms, I have established a thriving Project Management Office, which is the backbone of business change activity and since 2019, I have overseen the operational side of the business, including a manufacturing facility in Chain, a global supply chain and head office functions including R&D, Quality, Compliance, Logistics and Customer Service. 

Adam Crowe

Adam Crowe is an experienced data professional with a strong track record in designing and maintaining data systems for business success. He has led successful digital transformation initiatives in various industries, resulting in streamlined operations and improved customer service. Known for his practical approach and deep understanding of data-driven decision making, Adam offers valuable perspectives on driving business growth through data-driven strategies. With expertise in data analysis, digital transformation, and systems development, Adam brings valuable insights to discussions on leveraging data for success. 

Fiona Anderson

Organisation Development, Culture Change & Transformation expert – Founder of valuingYOU and My Change Expert – Trained by PWC: Delivered highly successful, multi-million £ cost benefits, cultural transformation leading to measurable increase in productivity and IT Implementation, within numerous sectors, UK and International. 

Steve Molyneux

Steve is an experienced manager with a background in FMCG and food manufacturing. Specialities: Experienced Shift / Production / Manufacturing Manager. Extensive knowledge and experience in driving/delivering various Lean / CI programmes. 

Andrea Wilson

Andrea Wilson is a Director of Hone-All Precision, a specialist SME based in Leighton Buzzard offering precision machining services in deep hole boring, deep hole drilling, CNC honing and CNC turning, with a skilled team of forty-two. Andrea has spent over 25 years working to improve the awareness, recognition, and image of the industry within the UK and has been active in influencing the Government’s approach and focus to ensure long-term manufacturing strategic planning and success. This included membership of the EEDA Manufacturing Panel, the Automotive Academy Steering Committee, the NSAM / SEMTA Skills Council for the Eastern region and the MTA Training & Education Committee. She was Chair of the Make UK Eastern Regional Advisory Board for over 10 years and still sits on the Make UK National Membership Board. She has also recently been appointed as a NED for SEMLEP. She is a passionate campaigner for a dedicated Minister for Manufacturing to represent engineering and manufacturing and improve the knowledge of, and support for, SME businesses within Government in the hope of changing the “one size fits all” approach once and for all.  

Asif Moghal

As Autodesk’s Director for Market & Industry Development, Asif leads a collaborative initiative focused on the digital transformation of the design and manufacturing industry. He’s worked alongside many inspiring SMEs that you might never have heard of and believes that digital transformation doesn’t have to be difficult, that people are the most important aspect of any transformation, and that design is equally as important as manufacturing. Asif feels that industry needs a clear vision of the future and a realistic strategy that’s free from hype, jargon and which also challenges the many boundaries that SME’s face 

Paul Moss

Paul heads up Business Development and Commercial Partnership activities at Intergage. He has more than 30 years’ experience in sales, business development, marketing and new product/services introduction for companies in the IT, industrial and telecommunications sectors. He has held Senior Director-level positions with some of the world’s most innovative B2B companies.

Simon Coward

Simon Coward is the Director at the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub in Ulster University.
Simon brings a wealth of experience and nearly 30 years of insights in manufacturing to the role of Director of the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH). As a graduate Chemical Engineer, Simon worked in the oil/gas, chemicals and nuclear industries in the UK and Italy, and following further training (at Cranfield University) set up and grew manufacturing businesses supplying the construction, FMCG and automotive sectors.

Moving from the private sector to local government, Simon led the growth of engineering and manufacturing clusters in East Anglia – including building incubation and growth in space, creating sector networks and local manufacturing groups, and developing business support programmes.

Tim Lawrence

Tim joined Digital Catapult in September 2021 as Director of Digital Supply Chain and the Made Smarter Innovation hub. Tim has extensive experience in improving global businesses and supply chains working within the Automotive, Consumer Goods, Aerospace, Defence, Construction, Life Science and Industrial Sectors. His experience includes 25 years in supply chain consultancy, leading global companies to deliver transformation in their business and operations focused on strategy, operating model and organisational design, digital supply chain, restructuring and performance improvement. He has extensive global experience having worked across 16 different countries in Europe, US and Middle East advising over 50 different companies in that time. An inspirational thought leader, Tim develops leading insights into global supply chain management, digital and manufacturing and is regularly quoted in the press and speaks on these topics at conference platforms across Europe.

Joe Walton

As a Director within Page Group – Michael Page, I provide an honest and consultative approach to our Manufacturing customers across the Midlands region. It is imperative each role is dealt with individually to determine the right strategy to market across Senior Appointments or Operational/Technical Department Lead roles.

Joe joined Page Group in 2011 with a remit focused on the full manufacturing spectrum making him a specialist in this sector from Engineering, Manufacturing, Technical and the wider Supply Chain. With extensive experience in this area Joe is focused on understanding the businesses and people he works with to deliver the right solution for them. Engrossed solely within the Midlands region Joe has built a strong network of Manufacturing Professionals who he endeavours to support through their career. Following building teams in the Michael Page business across Logistics, Engineering and Manufacturing and Procurement and Supply Chain Joe’s passion has always been on delivering personally for his customers with a best in class service which is where he is now positioned with in Michael Page Brand part of Page Group

Jon Weller

Jon graduated University with both an BEng Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Design Engineering. He started his career working within the food sector as a project lead, and later transitioned into a bespoke automotive design and build organisation following his passion. He joined Michael Page 18 years ago to begin his recruitment career establishing himself both internally and external as an industry specialist

Leading the Manufacturing division, his focus is Procurement, Supply Chain, and Logistics. He supports assignments ranging from junior management to exec level within the Northern region for business profiles ranging from SME to global organisations.

Kate Price-Thomas

James Crosby

Dr. James Crosby is Head of Sustainability for Commercial and Industrial Energy Supply and Usage at Advantage Utilities. With a Ph.D in Geochemistry, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences from the University of Cambridge, Dr. Crosby now offers business support to a range of companies who are looking to achieve net-zero and manage their energy cost through sustainable energy solutions.

John Patsavellas

John Patsavellas is a senior lecturer in manufacturing management at Cranfield University having joined the UK’s most iconic postgraduate university following a career in the manufacturing industry spanning sectors as diverse as steel, food, paper products, pharma, fashion, building products and sanitaryware ceramics. He has been a boardroom director since 2004. John has an honours degree in mechanical engineering design from the University of Huddersfield, an MSc in manufacturing systems and management from the University of Bradford and an MBA from the University of Kingston. He has worked around the world, managing, buying, moving and building factories and deploying advanced technologies. His special interest and expertise lie in driving optimum efficiencies by the successful integration of people in the modern industrial reality, as well as designing the future aspects of sustainable productivity in high-value manufacturing. John received the 2014 IMechE Manufacturing Excellence award for innovation in products and services. He has been the president of the European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute (ERFMI) in Brussels, an active member of the All-Party Parliamentary Manufacturing Group (APMG) and an industrial visiting fellow of the School of Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire. John is a member of the IET’s Manufacturing Policy Panel and the IET’s Production and Design Sector.

Ian Parker

Ian is a commercially orientated Chairman, Chief Executive and Transformation Leader who works with businesses under corporate, family and private equity ownership. His forte is industrial/engineering, manufacturing and related services SME businesses that are based in the UK and have an international dimension. He brings a collaborative approach to successful business leadership, guiding management teams and engaging with key business stakeholders, customers and third parties at all levels to deliver sustainable business outcomes. Ian has first-hand knowledge of being under the spotlight when things don’t go to plan and the particular challenges such events can bring to owners, customers, funders, management and employees. Ian has an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and an Honours BSc (Biochemistry) from the University of St Andrews. He is also a Fellow of The Institute for Turnaround (The IFT) and has served as Chairman of the IFT Midlands Region and the IFT Manufacturing and Supply Chain Special Interest Group (SIG). He is also a Member of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation.