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. With thanks to our valued sponsors.

SMI Conference 2026 Agenda - 17th February 2026

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 and Rachel Connor, Chair, SMI and Marine Marketing Director at GE Vernova. 

0910-0915 - Introduction - Dr Peter Collinson, Founder Dendrityca and 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 Plus Q&A  -Sir Simon Lister, Managing Director, 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 Dr Tian Gan, Research and Innovation Associate, Centre for Assuring Autonomy, University of York

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 - Revolutionizing 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, MD, 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 and Partner at Everoze. 

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 to have the support of the following 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

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

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 Glasgow - Megalithic Suite
• 2000 - 2300 SMI Conference 2026 Gala Dinner at the Radisson Blu Glasgow - Megalithic Suite - after dinner speaker - Paul Sweeney MSP for Glasgow (Region)

Wednesday 18 February 

Optional visits to local shipyards

• 0830 - 1200 - BAE Systems Govan Shipyard (max capacity 50)
• 1300- 1530 - Ferguson Marine (max capacity 20). 

**Shipyard tours are now full**  

Contact the SMI Conference event team at tide@maritimeindustries.org 

SMI Conference 2025 Highlights

Check out the video below from this year's SMI Conference 2025, Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour Hotel.