AGF unveils ground-breaking headline programme

The Aerospace Global Forum (AGF) has unveiled its five-day headline main stage programme and Pioneers of Change, with Net Zero placed at the epicentre of the agenda, taking place 18-22 July in tandem with the Farnborough International Airshow.

Global industry leaders, chief executives, government professionals and climate change experts, will be discussing and debating future-focused (topics, and sharing best practices and insights across seven core themes: Space, Future Flight, Defence, Sustainability, Innovation, Future Workforce and Financing The Future on the main stage. AGF provides an exclusive opportunity for trailblazers and c-suite professionals, all with the unified purpose to drive actionable change and accelerate the transition to net-zero, to convene and take the step as a global ecosystem.

The Headline AGF programme includes:

Immediate Action At Every Altitude – The AGF opening session focuses on the need for immediate action now for the aerospace and defence industry, post COP26, at every altitude and across all domains.

• Guillaume Faury, CEO, Airbus
• Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA

Accelerating Sustainable Aviation & Targeting True Zero – As airlines search for ways to reduce their impact on climate, sustainable aviation fuels and new propulsion technologies have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions. But what is needed to mature and scale technologies?

• Professor Rob Miller, Chair in Aerothermal Technology and Director, Whittle Lab
• Laia Barbara, Community Lead, Sustainable Aviation, WEF
• Willie Walsh, CEO, IATA
• Warren East, CEO, Rolls Royce
• Jim Hileman, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Environment and Energy, FAA

Decarbonizing Aviation – Bringing Together An Ecosystem – Our industry made a clear pledge at COP26. Yet, the plan to achieve Net Zero in time has gaps. From uncertainty on the technology roadmap to funding the transition, and keeping travel affordable, industry leaders will debate the right path forward.

• Robin Riedel, Partner - Centre for Future Mobility, McKinsey & Co.
• JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO, Joby Aviation

How should the Defence sector respond to climate change? – The panel will focus on skills of defence innovation, climate resilience and sustainability and the responsibility of defence to show leadership within environmental and sustainability initiatives as well as an obligation to manage defence assets.

• James Clare, Director of Climate Change and Sustainability, UK MOD
• Charles Woodburn, CEO, BAE Systems

Industry 4.0: The Need For Speed – This session will discuss how the benefits of advanced manufacturing can drive faster turnaround times, more sustainable business practices, and better performance across aerospace and defence.

• Tom Gentile, CEO, Spirit AeroSystems

Ecosystems Thinking - Hyper-Scaling For Change – Led by CIONET, this session will see industry leaders from various sectors, including space, energy, retail, start-ups, technology government, and academia to discuss how to exploit technology as a key enabler to drive ESG goals.

• Roger Camrass, Research Director, CIONET International
• Stuart Birrell, CIO, EasyJet
• Elena Avesani, Global Sustainability Director - Head of Sustainability Strategy EMEA, Oracle
• Keric Morris, Executive Partner, Global Sustainability Strategy and UK Sustainability Team Lead, IBM
• Maureen Wedderburn, Non-Exec Chair, Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre Supervisory Board, CPI

Innovation Driving The Future Of Flight – This panel discussion will explore how innovation, technology, operations, regulations, policy, public attitudes, and a shared global goal can change the way we fly and help tackle climate change.

• Kerissa Khan MRAeS, President Elect 2022-23, RAeS
• Ben Diachun, CTO, Supernal
• Professor Fern Elsdon-Baker, Director of Research Institute for STEMM in Culture and Society

Leading The Future Workforce: Why Addressing Skills Gap & Culture Must A Be A Priority – Enthusing the future leaders and retaining, developing and attracting high-performance talent into an organisation is crucial. In this session, we will unpack the core leadership skills needed to lead successful digital transformations and pinch points on the road to accelerated NetZero boy 2030.

• Tristan Crawford, CEO, Aeralis

More speakers and sessions, as well as the full unpack programme, are to be announced next week.

www.aerospaceglobalforum.com/attend/agenda