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. We are delighted to welcome back Peter Collinson, founder of Dendrityca as this year's Conference Chair. 

Agenda

0800-0900 - Registration and Networking

Session 1 -  The Strategic Context for the Naval Enterprise

0900 - 0905 - Welcome to the SMI Conference 2025 - Tom Chant MBE, Chief Executive of SMI

0905 - 0910 -  Introduction to the Chair of the Society of Maritime Industries - Rachel Connor, Marine Marketing Director, GE Vernova

0910 - 0915 - Welcome from the Conference Chair - Peter Collinson, Founder, Dendrityca 

0915 - 0935 - The National Shipbuilding Office - Looking to the Future - Rod Paterson, Chief Executive, National Shipbuilding Office 

0935 - 0955 - The People Challenge – Ensuring Jobs & Growth - Jonathan Green, Head of Research, Prospect

0955 -1015 - The Strategic Defence Review Outcomes for the Royal Navy - Andy Mitchell, ROYAL NAVY – DEVELOP Deputy Director – Navy Capability Strategy

1015 - 1045 - Panel Discussion 

1045 - 1115 - Networking Coffee and Tea Break

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

1115 -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
• Professor 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.
• Richard Holland, Principal Engineer, Connected Places Catapult

1200 - 1315 - Networking Lunch Break

Session 3 - Opportunities in AUKUS

1315 - 1330 - AUKUS Geopolitical Context - Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE, Chairman of Council on Geostrategy Forum and Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics

1330 - 1345 - AUKUS Pillar 1 - Cdre Paul Carter, UK AUKUS Programme Director, Defence Nuclear Organisation

1345 - 1400 - ACIF: What it Means to Industry - Richard Powell, Chairman of the SMI Maritime Defence and Security Group. 

1400 - 1415 - AUKUS Pillar 2 - David Burton, Director ASW SDI and UK MBP Programme Director.

1415 - 1500 - Panel Discussion 

1500 - 1530 - Networking Coffee Break

Session 4 - Safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure

1530 - 1615 

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

• Mark Burnett - Director, Autonaut
• Michael Dodds - Associate Director, Royal HaskoningDHV
• Robert Courts  - Director, Ascalane Partners
• Matthew Bowden, Director and General Manager, Red Penguin
• Michelle Muxworthy, Compliance Leader, Port of Tyne
• Kirsty Johnson, Head of Maritime Resilience, Department for Transport 

Session 5 - How Would You Invest £1bn of Government Funding to Increase Productivity in UK Shipyards?

1615 - 1700

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.

Session Chair - Ross Elliott, Partner - Defence and Aerospace at PwC.

• Ilgi Kim -  Chief Commercial Officer - Babcock International - Marine
• Linton Roberts - Group Chief Technology Officer, APCL Group
• Damien Bloor - Advisory Partner - First Marine International
• Bernardo Hamester - Senior Project Manager - Wight Shipyard
• Stephen Appleby - Commercial and Supply Chain Director Future Business and Technology,
  Naval Ships, BAE Systems

1700 - 1705 - Closing Remarks 

1705 - 2130 - 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.