SMI Annual Conference 2026
We are delighted to announce that the SMI Conference 2026 will take place on 17th February 2026 at the University of Strathclyde Technology & Innovation Centre.
SMI Conference 2026 Agenda - 17th February 2026
Time | Session Title | Speaker |
0800 -0900 | Registration and networking | |
Session 1 - Strategic Update and Future Opportunities | ||
0900 -0910 | Welcome to the SMI Conference 2026 | Tom Chant MBE, Chief Executive + Rachel Connor, Chair, SMI |
0910 -0915 | Introduction | Dr Peter Collinson, Founder Dendrityca + Chair of ACUA OCEAN |
0915 – 0935 | National Shipbuilding Office: Delivering for the Future | Rod Paterson, Chief Executive, National Shipbuilding Office |
0935 - 1010 | Glasgow Maritime Case Study -From Type 26 to Tomorrow’s Fleet: Innovation and Partnership in Advanced Naval Shipbuilding | Sir Simon Lister - Managing Director, Future Business, BAE Systems Naval Ships |
1010 - 1030 | Networking Break |
|
Session 2 - Sovereign Capability and Industrial Resilience | ||
1030 – 1040 | Keynote | Minister Chris McDonald, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Industry), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Business and Trade |
1040 – 1055 | The Role of Exports and International Markets in Sustaining Domestic Sovereign Capability | John Howie MBE, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Babcock International Group |
1055 – 1110 | Creating a Sovereign Defence Capability | Derek Jones, Chief Commercial and Business Development Officer, Navantia UK |
| 1110 – 1120 | Delivering Sovereign Maritime Capability and Industrial Resilience | Tom Trent, Business Development – UK & Europe, Saronic |
1120 – 1130 | Scaling for the Future Force | Ken Houlberg, Chief Executive, OCEA UK |
1130 - 1140 | Redefining Sovereign Capability- Building Maritime Resilience through Skills | Graeme Thomson, Chief Executive, Ferguson Marine |
1140 - 1215 | Panel Discussion |
|
1215 - 1315 | Lunch Break | |
Session 3 - Autonomy, AI and Digital | ||
1315-1325 | REACH Remote: Redefining Offshore Operations Through Autonomous Innovation | Marthe Kristine Sand, Portfolio Director, Kongsberg Maritime |
1325 -1335 | Safety Considerations of Operating an Autonomous Fleet | Stanley James BEng (Hons) MIET – Specialist Safety Engineer, L3 Harris Maritime UK |
1335 - 1345 | From Data Backbone to AI Future: Enabling Autonomy Through Decades of Maritime Insight | Garry Clarke, Chief Product Officer, SpecTec |
1345 - 1355 | REPMUS Project 2025 | Maverick Piccininni, Director & Head of Sales - UK, Exail |
1355 - 1405 | Sustainable Seismic Field Trial – The Transition Towards Autonomy | James Southgate, Technology Development Principal, bp |
1405 - 1430 | Panel discussion | with participation from Tian Gan, Research & Innovation Associate, Centre for Assuring Autonomy |
1430 - 1450 | Networking Break | |
Session 4: Clean Maritime Innovation and Global Competitiveness | ||
1450 - 1500 | Leading the Maritime Transition: Innovation, Efficiency, and Environmental Stewardship in the UK | Tristan Matthews, Head of Marine Division UK, Ireland & Nordics, Alfa Laval |
1500 - 1510 | Unlocking Innovation in Maritime: Lessons from Across Transport | Simon Graham, Head of Innovation, DeCourcy Alexander |
1510 - 1520 | A Collaborative Model for Maritime Decarbonisation: Developing an Ultrasonic Monitoring System for Ammonia Fuel Tanks | Aleksandra Adamowicz, Mechanical Engineer, Coltraco Ultrasonics |
1520 - 1530 | Revolutionising the Ship’s Electric Grid: Active Stator and HALO | Jon Childs, Marine Application Engineering Leader, GE Vernova Power Conversion & Storage Ltd. |
1530-1540 | From Silos to Systems: Rethinking Maritime’s Fragmented Digital Ecosystem | Martin Saunders, Managing Director, Rivertrace |
1540 - 1600 | Panel Discussion |
|
Session 5 - Offshore Energy Transition and Critical National Infrastructure | ||
1600 -1610 | What the Energy Transition Means for Maritime: Energy, Infrastructure, Supply Chains and Opportunity | Guy Arnold, Deputy Director - Supply Chain Strategy and Delivery, GB Energy |
1610- 1620 | Critical National Infrastructure for the Energy Transition: The Crown Estate Perspective | Leo Bertels, Senior Manager - Routemap Economic Development, The Crown Estate |
1620 - 1630 | Winning the Energy Transition: Growth Opportunities for Maritime Supply Chains | Zoe Barnes, Board Director, Offshore Wind Growth Partnership |
1630 - 1655 | Panel Discussion |
|
1655 - 1700 | Closing Remarks | Rachel Connor, Chair – SMI and Marine Marketing Director at GE Vernova. |
SMI Conference 2026 Sponsors
We are delighted have the support of the below companies in delivering the SMI Conference 2026: Glasgow.
- Diamond Sponsor - L3 Harris, BAE Systems
- Platinum Sponsor - Truflo Marine
- Gold Sponsor - GE Vernova
- Silver Sponsors - Exail, Kongsberg Maritime and Thales UK
- Bronze Sponsors - Alfa Laval, Chess Dynamics, OCEA UK and Roxtec UK
Glasgow 2026 Programme
Monday 16 February
1800- 2030 - Welcome Networking Event in partnership with Malin Group.
Join us at the Radisson Blu for networking drinks and canapés plus lightening presentations from new SMI members. There will be an opportunity to meet the teams behind the Scottish Marine Technology Park and The Maritime Supply Chain Innovation Centre (MSCIC) projects who will be exhibiting at the welcome reception. The MSCIC will be located on the banks of the River Clyde and delivered through collaboration with University of Strathclyde and West Dunbartonshire Council. One of six ambitious projects set to be funded through the Glasgow City Region Investment Zone, the MSCIC will be an agile, outcomes-focused SME that accelerates manufacturing supply-chain readiness for defence programmes.
1800 - Welcome and refreshments
1900 - Lightening style pitches from new SMI members
1930 onwards - informal networking
Tuesday 17 February
0800 - 1700 - SMI Conference 2026 at the Technology & Innovation Centre, featuring a maritime exhibition.
1900-2000 - SMI Conference 2026 Drinks Reception at the Radisson Blu - Megalithic Suite
2000 - 2300 SMI Conference 2026 Gala Dinner at the Radisson Blu - Megalithic Suite - after dinner speaker Paul Sweeney MSP for Glasgow (Region).
Note that there is no requirement for black tie at the SMI Conference Gala Dinner. Dress code is businesswear.
Wednesday 18 February
- 0830 - 1200 - BAE Systems Govan Shipyard (max capacity 50)
- 1300- 1530 - Ferguson Marine (max capacity 20).
| Date | Tuesday 17 February 2026 |
| Venue | University of Strathclyde Technology & Innovation Centre |
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