SMI Conference 2025: The Future of the UK Naval and Maritime Security Enterprise

We are delighted to announce that the SMI Conference 2025 will take place on 1st April 2025 at the Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour Hotel.

The one-day event will bring together key stakeholders within the UK’s maritime defence and security enterprise to discuss future opportunities and build valuable connections. The SMI Conference 2025 will expand on the work of SMI's Strategic Defence Review and AUKUS working groups. In addition to the main conference programme, we will once again host an exhibition. 

Agenda

0800-0900 - Registration and Networking

Session 1 -  The Strategic Context for the Naval Enterprise

0900 - 0920 - Opening Remarks - TBA

0920 - 0940 - The Strategic Defence Review Outcomes for the Royal Navy - VAdm Paul Marshall, Director General Gateway, DE&S

0940 - 1000 - The National Shipbuilding Office - Looking to the Future - Rod Paterson, Chief Executive, National Shipbuilding Office 

1000 - 1030 - Panel Discussion 

Session 2 - Underpinning Defence and Security – Lessons Learnt from the Civil Maritime Sector

1100 -1200

How the civil maritime sector underpins the defence and security sector through innovation, investment, and strategic collaboration. 
The panel session will highlight best practices, shared challenges and practical insights for UK policymakers and organisations currently or aiming to work across both naval and civil maritime. 

• Steven Lee - Chief Naval Architect, Commercial Vessels, BMT
• Christophe Tytgat - Secretary General, SEA Europe
• Mark Downer - Managing Director, Griffon Hoverwork
• Chris Smith - Deputy Assoc Dean for Research (Industry) for the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at University of Exeter and Director of the Centre for Future Clean Mobility.
• Connected Places Catapult

1200 - 1330 - Networking Lunch Break

Session 3 - Opportunities in AUKUS

1330 - 1345 - AUKUS Geopolitical Context - Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE, Chairman of Council on Geostrategy Forum & Whitehall Briefings and Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics

1345 - 1400 - AUKUS Pillars 1 and 2 - TBA

1400 - 1415 - Underwater Group - TBA

1415 - 1430 - ACIF: What it Means to Industry - Richard Powell, Director for Strategic Engagement (Maritime), Qinetiq and Chairman of the SMI Maritime Defence and Security Group. 

1430 - 1500 - Panel Discussion 

Session 4 - Safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure

1500 - 1545 

A multi-stakeholder panel discussion covering the below topics and more:

• Mark Burnett - Director, Autonaut
• Michael Dodds - Associate Director, Royal HaskoningDHV
• Port's Perspective
• Robert Courts  - - Director, Ascalane Partners
• Michael Bowden, General Manager, Red Penguin

1545 - 1615 - Networking Coffee Break

Session 5 - How Would You Invest £1.8bn of the National Wealth Fund to Increase Productivity in UK Shipyards?

1615 - 1715

A multi-stakeholder panel discussion outlining the ways that investment could/ should be spent to empower the UK's shipbuilding enterprise. The panel comprises representatives from yards of varying sizes, all with engagement in the UK's naval shipbuilding pipeline. 

1715 - 1730 - Closing Remarks 

1730 - 2100 - Networking Reception with Buffet

Sponsorship & Exhibitions 

We are seeking sponsorship and exhibitors for the SMI Conference 2025. Details of available sponsorship and exhibition packages can be found here. Interested parties should contact Katie.Lafferty(at)maritimeindustries.org for further information.