2021 Programme

Dr. Royston Jones is the Global CTO of Altair and Managing Director of Altair’s operation in the United Kingdom & Ireland. For over thirty years, Dr Jones has been involved in the application of CAE methods to produce design innovation. Dr Jones received a BSc., MSc. and PhD in Civil Engineering at University College Swansea. Dr Jones has published over forty technical papers and is a Visiting Professor in Structural Optimization at both the Universities of Swansea & Leeds and in 1996 was directly elected to Fellow at both the Institution of Civil (FICE) and Mechanical (FIMechE) Engineers.

Dragos Axinte is Professor and Chair of Manufacturing Engineering and Director of the Rolls-Royce UTC in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at University of Nottingham. Dragos is an active researcher in the areas of machining technologies and machine tools from where he developed an interest in developing robotic systems for in-situ repair of large and crammed industrial systems.

After the completion of his PhD and ten years in R&D in industry, Dragos was recipient of two NATO Advanced Research Fellowships in Italy and Denmark. He then, moved to the University of Birmingham to carry out research in high speed machining. Since 2001 he has been working at the University of Nottingham in the field of advanced machining operations and specialist robotic systems. Relevant to this event, he has expertise on continuum robots and parallel kinematic robotic systems used for in-situ repair and maintenance in hazardous and difficult-to-access workspaces such as, gas turbine engines, nuclear, off-shore installations.

Professor Axinte has currently in his research portfolio projects supported by various funding agencies (Horizon 2020, EPSRC, Innovate UK, ATI, industry). He has over 200 journal publications, 22 patents and he was the recipient of Rolls-Royce Innovation Award (2011) and Best Patent Award (2012). Dragos is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, and Fellow of the International Academy of Production Engineering (FCIRP).

Raphael Hallez is an aerospace testing specialist with nearly 20 years experience. He has been involved in many testing and simulation projects with aviation, space and defense companies and is currently in charge of the business development activities for the testing products.

Romano Tommaso is NDT expert and Quality Engineer Manager. After his graduation in materials engineering from Federico II University, he spent his entire professional career testing, checking and improving materials and components. Initially he was employed in the Ferrari in materials laboratory to for the characterization of innovative materials and later in Leonardo as head of the NDI area of the composites department. This experience has allowed him to define and obtain patents for integrated control devices in composite laminates.

Dr. Yves Govers joined the German Aerospace Center in 2005. He is currently deputy head of the structural dynamics and system identification department at the institute of aeroelasticity in Göttingen. Throughout his career he led several test campaigns such as the helicopter shake test on Airbus H145 and the aircraft ground vibration test on Airbus A350-900, A320 Neo or the world record plane Solar Impulse. Govers and his team are currently working on real time system identification methods for flight testing to support flight flutter tests and for the development of demonstrators exploring flutter suppression techniques.

Brett Muehlhauser is a Research and Development Technical Fellow at North Star Imaging working to continue advancements in Digital Radiography (DR) and Computed Tomography (CT) technologies and applications. Brett has been with North Star Imaging for 20 years performing R&D, applications engineering, writing DR and CT training curriculum and teaching these courses to a global audience. Prior to coming to North Star Imaging, Brett worked in the aerospace industry for 15 years performing product development, failure analysis and product evaluations. He has been an ASNT and NAS 410 Level 3 for the last 35 years and been actively involved in the development of ASTM standards for Computed Tomography and Digital Radiography.

Born in Bucharest, Romania, Luize graduated in 1982 from the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute (now Bucharest University) – Faculty of Aerospace, with the Engineer Diploma. She worked for INCREST – the National Research Institute in Bucharest until 1994 as an aerospace engineer. In 1992 she completed a post graduate certificate in Management and Administration of an Aeronautical Enterprise from ESC – Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Toulouse, France, following a scholarship granted by GIFAS. In 1994 she immigrated to Canada, working first for Pratt and Whitney Canada and then for the Canadian government as an aviation regulatory authority. She also worked for EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) in Cologne, Germany, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation in Nagoya, Japan. Presently she is working for Transport Canada as an Aircraft Certification Engineer. She has been a regulatory authority in civil aviation for more than 20 years.

Holding an Engineering degree in Electronics and Computer Science from a famous french engineering school, Noel Ballot, Executive Vice-President Sales & Marketing at Safran Data Systems, has been involved for more than 30 years in the AeroSpace & Defense Industry. Noel started his career as a specialist in Modal Analysis and Vibration Control systems, where he had the opportunity to spend close to 5 years in the USA working on major Test Ranges for testing major Aircrafts, Helicopters, launch vehicles and missile programs since late 80’s. With an interest in avionics systems, Noel has been involved in designing Mission Computers and Signal Processing systems on many international AeroDefense programs. After coming back in Flight Test in 1999 as a co-founder of an american company focusing into ground Flight Test Telemetry, Noel joined Safran Data Systems at the end of 2004 for promoting airborne and ground Flight Test equipment and Space Ground equipment worldwide, actively promoting new technologies and standards in the community in order to improve efficiency and safety while performing the tests.

Rashid Ali has many years of Industrial and academic teaching experience. Has worked as a consultant for many blue collar companies in automation and process control. His teaching experience is both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He strongly believes in enriching the student experience by adopting a holistic approach to teaching and learning, where experiential learning and research plays a pivotal role. He employes Project/Problem based learning in delivering Aerospace Curriculum. Over the last 12 years. Rashid Ali has built up research interests in the area of Autonomous Systems, he was e member of the Autonomy NTC, was a founding member of the Committee of the IMechE, which oversees a UAS competition in the UK. Aircraft Design and Application of control theory to UAS applications is the principal focus of research. He is presently involved in the following areas: - Implementation of a modified robust Kalman Filter for UAV flight control applications on DSP. - Propeller trailing edge noise reduction UAS Applications - Active configurable hybrid capacitor as energy storage element for UAS - Active PITCH Control Vertical Wind Turbines - Fuel Cell Design for High Altitude UAS Operation - Energy Recovery during Landing Phase of Flight Operation

Patrick joined Acra Controls in 2006, later acquired by Curtiss-Wright, where he spent 5 years in the Design Verification Department before moving to Applications and Support, he is now the Product Line Manager for Data Acquisition, looking over the data acquisition product lines in the Newtown and Dublin Business Units.

Holding an Engineering degree in Electronics and Computer Science from a famous french engineering school, Noel Ballot, Executive Vice-President Sales & Marketing at Safran Data Systems, has been involved for more than 30 years in the AeroSpace & Defense Industry. Noel started his career as a specialist in Modal Analysis and Vibration Control systems, where he had the opportunity to spend close to 5 years in the USA working on major Test Ranges for testing major Aircrafts, Helicopters, launch vehicles and missile programs since late 80’s. With an interest in avionics systems, Noel has been involved in designing Mission Computers and Signal Processing systems on many international AeroDefense programs. After coming back in Flight Test in 1999 as a co-founder of an american company focusing into ground Flight Test Telemetry, Noel joined Safran Data Systems at the end of 2004 for promoting airborne and ground Flight Test equipment and Space Ground equipment worldwide, actively promoting new technologies and standards in the community in order to improve efficiency and safety while performing the tests.

Dr. Temoc Rodriguez obtained his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cambridge. He has worked in several industries from automotive, oil and gas, industrial to aerospace in the area of power electronics and control systems design. He is currently a Chief Engineer on electric propulsion systems at Ricardo. Prior to this appointment he worked at Ultra Electronics where he led teams to deliver engineering solutions to customers, including Airbus, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Gulfstream, Embraer, and Mitsubishi.

Geoff Connolly is in his 53rd flying year. He began flying with the RAFVR with the University of London Air Squadron, he later joined the RAF and was an operational helicopter pilot before becoming a flying instructor, and then graduating from the 1986 Class at the Empire Test Pilots School.

Following several years as a military test pilot at MoD Boscombe Down, Geoff joined Bristow Helicopters as Deputy Company Test Pilot, initially with a 'day-job' as an aeroplane and helicopter instructor, teaching student commercial pilots: around which was fitted some flight test project and evaluation work. Gradually assuming a more active test flying role, he progressed to become the company's Flight Test Manager and its Head of Flying for the UK MoD. He also spent a period as part of a joint-venture project team, working on a major collaborative public-private contract initiative: the UK Defence Helicopter Flying School. Amongst other facets of work in this role, he oversaw and flight-tested the modifications and civil/military certification for militarised versions of a fleet of 50 aircraft, for single- and multi-engine training. Latterly he was also the Bristow Company Flight Safety Officer, carrying out investigations and supervising a safety database for worldwide operations. During this period he flew part-time with a police air support unit. In 1999 Geoff took a step away from increasing management duties and returned to full-time flying, as a Civil Servant with the Metropolitan Police, before setting up his Flight Test consultancy, working for a number of Part-21 companies, and returning to Bristow as a Consultant Test Pilot in 2002.

He is EASA and Transport Canada (TC) Compliance Manager, and a visiting Flight Test Instructor, at the International Test Pilot School in Canada, and remains a Compliance Verification Engineer (Flight Test) for Bristow's EASA Part-21 approval. Geoff has led the Safety Audit Team for each Farnborough International Airshow since 2010, and was contracted to do so again for the cancelled 2020 show.

Geoff has over 11,000 hours flying experience, gained on over 80 types of helicopters and aeroplanes. He holds UK ATPL (H) and CPL (A) pilot licences, and a TC CPL (H). A highly experienced instructor on light aeroplanes and helicopters, he retired in 2019, from his role for 15 years as an EASA/UK Flight Examiner and Type Rating Examiner for Helicopters. He also has 9 years’ experience as a Flight Test Instructor.

Geoff is an Associate Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, an Upper Freeman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, and an Associate Member of the British Helicopter Association.

Geoff previously served as a member of the UK Flight Safety Committee and of the UK Airprox Board. He currently serves on the BHA/CAA Onshore Committees, and the Air Pilots International Technical Forum (previously the Technical Committee). He is the Regional Safety Officer (London and South East) for the General Aviation Safety Council, and in this volunteering role helps present CAA-sponsored Safety Evenings at airfields and flying clubs. He is in current flying practice on helicopters and light aeroplanes.

Stephen started his working career as a scientist working at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, primarily building and operating large pieces of scientific infrastructure, but also working as a visiting professor at University College London.

In 2011 he founded Cella Energy to make hydrogen storage materials and develop the lightweight power systems that use the materials. The company had collaborations in the aerospace and automotive and defence sectors. During that time he raised around $10m from: High Net Worth, Strategic and Venture Capital Investors.

Since leaving Cella he has been running a consultancy business called Krino Partners, which works with SME and UK university technology transfer offices to provide interim management and the expertise needed to find the funding and establish new technology businesses.

In April 2019 he set up a new business called Q5D Technologies which uses robotic tools automate the addition of electrical function in the automotive, aerospace and other sectors. He recently raised seed funding and is busy growing the company.

Simon joined QinetiQ in 2010, having completed 25 years in the Royal Air Force where he gained significant operational experience from Gulf War 1 through continued operational deployments to the Middle East and other global operations. With a background in avionics engineering and flight engineering, Simon has supported safety and airworthiness across the air domain, as well as combat air support UK MOD Air Systems, ranging from Spitfire and Hurricane through to FCAS AP. This is in addition to RPAS platforms, with further international combat air systems programmes from the concept and in-service phases of life.

Nick joined QinetiQ’s predecessor (A&AEE) in 1993 and graduated from ETPS in 1997 as a Flight Test Engineer (MAA Class A). Nick was UK Flight Test Engineer on the Boeing X-32, Experimental Joint Strike Fighter and led the production of first Release-to-Service of the Eurofighter Typhoon. More recently Nick was instrumental in leading the introduction of the Test Aircrew Training programme which modernised and enhanced the training of Flight Test Professionals at ETPS.

Dr. Mogire currently holds the position of EMEA Technologies and laboratory manager at Buehler based at one of our world-wide solution centres in Coventry, United kingdom. Evans and his team in Germany and France, provides consultative and technical support on various materials preparation, testing and analysis requirements for customers across Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa markets. Evans also holds a visiting academic position with the University of Warwick supporting academic and research activities within Warwick manufacturing group (WMG), University of Warwick, on Steels, additive manufacturing, composites, batteries materials among others. Evans is also an active member of IOM3 structure and properties of materials committee, a fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) and a technical member of ISO standards organisation (BSI) for indentation hardness testing.

Rashid Ali has many years of Industrial and academic teaching experience. Has worked as a consultant for many blue collar companies in automation and process control. His teaching experience is both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He strongly believes in enriching the student experience by adopting a holistic approach to teaching and learning, where experiential learning and research plays a pivotal role. He employes Project/Problem based learning in delivering Aerospace Curriculum. Over the last 12 years. Rashid Ali has built up research interests in the area of Autonomous Systems, he was e member of the Autonomy NTC, was a founding member of the Committee of the IMechE, which oversees a UAS competition in the UK. Aircraft Design and Application of control theory to UAS applications is the principal focus of research. He is presently involved in the following areas: - Implementation of a modified robust Kalman Filter for UAV flight control applications on DSP. - Propeller trailing edge noise reduction UAS Applications - Active configurable hybrid capacitor as energy storage element for UAS - Active PITCH Control Vertical Wind Turbines - Fuel Cell Design for High Altitude UAS Operation - Energy Recovery during Landing Phase of Flight Operation

With over thirty years of experience working with ceramic and mineral based solutions across a range of applications. Much of his work has been around solving problems associated with the use and manufacture of ceramics. Richard’s current role as Principal Consultant Materials enables him to assist projects and teams across the group and support client challenges across many industries.

As a highly experienced Geologist, Richard holds a Degree in Geochemistry and a Geology PhD. He is a chartered scientist (CSci) a fellow of the Institute of Minerals, Materials and Mining (FiMMM), a council member and current President of the Western Institute of Mining and Minerals of IoM3 and a MIRefEng (Member of the Institute of Refractory Engineers).

Raphael Hallez is an aerospace testing specialist with nearly 20 years experience. He has been involved in many testing and simulation projects with aviation, space and defense companies and is currently in charge of the business development activities for the testing products.

Sarah is a materials scientist at Renishaw plc., providing materials consultancy and analysis for materials selection, product returns and materials technologies for all of Renishaw’s product divisions. Sarah's research background is in material science and engineering in atmospheric corrosion using high speed synchrotron tomography to understand and visualise growth kinetics

Born in Bucharest, Romania, Luize graduated in 1982 from the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute (now Bucharest University) – Faculty of Aerospace, with the Engineer Diploma. She worked for INCREST – the National Research Institute in Bucharest until 1994 as an aerospace engineer. In 1992 she completed a post graduate certificate in Management and Administration of an Aeronautical Enterprise from ESC – Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Toulouse, France, following a scholarship granted by GIFAS. In 1994 she immigrated to Canada, working first for Pratt and Whitney Canada and then for the Canadian government as an aviation regulatory authority. She also worked for EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) in Cologne, Germany, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation in Nagoya, Japan. Presently she is working for Transport Canada as an Aircraft Certification Engineer. She has been a regulatory authority in civil aviation for more than 20 years.

Holding an Engineering degree in Electronics and Computer Science from a famous french engineering school, Noel Ballot, Executive Vice-President Sales & Marketing at Safran Data Systems, has been involved for more than 30 years in the AeroSpace & Defense Industry. Noel started his career as a specialist in Modal Analysis and Vibration Control systems, where he had the opportunity to spend close to 5 years in the USA working on major Test Ranges for testing major Aircrafts, Helicopters, launch vehicles and missile programs since late 80’s. With an interest in avionics systems, Noel has been involved in designing Mission Computers and Signal Processing systems on many international AeroDefense programs. After coming back in Flight Test in 1999 as a co-founder of an american company focusing into ground Flight Test Telemetry, Noel joined Safran Data Systems at the end of 2004 for promoting airborne and ground Flight Test equipment and Space Ground equipment worldwide, actively promoting new technologies and standards in the community in order to improve efficiency and safety while performing the tests.

With over thirty years of experience working with ceramic and mineral based solutions across a range of applications. Much of his work has been around solving problems associated with the use and manufacture of ceramics. Richard’s current role as Principal Consultant Materials enables him to assist projects and teams across the group and support client challenges across many industries.

As a highly experienced Geologist, Richard holds a Degree in Geochemistry and a Geology PhD. He is a chartered scientist (CSci) a fellow of the Institute of Minerals, Materials and Mining (FiMMM), a council member and current President of the Western Institute of Mining and Minerals of IoM3 and a MIRefEng (Member of the Institute of Refractory Engineers).

Rashid Ali has many years of Industrial and academic teaching experience. Has worked as a consultant for many blue collar companies in automation and process control. His teaching experience is both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He strongly believes in enriching the student experience by adopting a holistic approach to teaching and learning, where experiential learning and research plays a pivotal role. He employes Project/Problem based learning in delivering Aerospace Curriculum. Over the last 12 years. Rashid Ali has built up research interests in the area of Autonomous Systems, he was e member of the Autonomy NTC, was a founding member of the Committee of the IMechE, which oversees a UAS competition in the UK. Aircraft Design and Application of control theory to UAS applications is the principal focus of research. He is presently involved in the following areas: - Implementation of a modified robust Kalman Filter for UAV flight control applications on DSP. - Propeller trailing edge noise reduction UAS Applications - Active configurable hybrid capacitor as energy storage element for UAS - Active PITCH Control Vertical Wind Turbines - Fuel Cell Design for High Altitude UAS Operation - Energy Recovery during Landing Phase of Flight Operation