Meet your Speakers for MENE 2025!

I’m the Director of Economic Growth and Innovation at the North East Combined Authority. I lead our work to ensure the region thrives by creating sustainable growth, focusing on sectors such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, life sciences, digital and AI, defence and space, and professional services. In addition, I lead the CAs work on housing and regeneration and culture and sport.

Managing Director of Analox, a UK-based (Stokesley) specialist manufacturer of gas sensing and analysis solutions serving Defence and Commercial sectors globally.

Rachel is a Chartered Chemical Engineer and MBA-qualified leader with over 20 years of global operational and strategic leadership experience across the oil and gas and heavy manufacturing industries.

As Vice Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF) and Co-Lead of its WOMEN initiative, Rachel brings a transformative and inclusive leadership approach—championing diversity, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen the UK’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

I am Associate Dean, Engagement, and Professor in Entrepreneurship at Durham University Business School, and Director (Business MM Engagement) of Durham University's Durham Energy Institute ("DEI").

I sit on the University's COP Steering group and am a member of the Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy. Winner of the Durham University Enhancing Learning and Teaching: Digital and Online Learning Award 2019-20, and Durham’s Academic Tutor of the Year 2024, I am trustee and Director of social enterprise, Acumen Community Buildings.

Senior PR Officer at Komatsu UK, based at the Birtley facility. Komatsu designs, manufactures and assembles heavy construction and mining equipment. 

As a TQM Master Trainer, I have the privilege of sharing knowledge at the Komatsu Way Global Institute, delivering annual training sessions to colleagues worldwide. Currently, in my role as a Public Relations Officer, I oversee customer events, corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, and STEM initiatives, blending creativity and technical insight to connect with our customers and communities.

Plant Manager at Highly Marelli, Washington. Highly Marelli specialises in the production of thermal management systems (HVAC) for the automotive sector.

Richard is a respected business leader with over 37 years’ experience in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. Richard retired as CEO of Berger Closures UK, in September 2024, previously serving as Berger Group Global Sales Director until December 2022.

He is now CEO of AspireX Business Consulting, advising and mentoring individuals, businesses, and organisations across the UK and abroad. As Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF), Richard brings a wealth of experience, insight, and regional pride—championing innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth across the North East’s advanced manufacturing community. 

My job is to meet people from companies of all sizes, and from all sectors, to understand the business conditions they face. I feed this intelligence back to our policymakers who use it to inform our policy decisions on things like what Bank Rate we set.

Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing with AMF partners TSG (Technical Services Group)

Responsible for Business applications presales, design and key account client roadmapping and technology strategy. Enabling achievement of the Applications team budgets through effective leadership of Specialist technology teams.