Technologists and leaders of innovation often don’t get the chance to raise their heads above the silos in which they operate.  The Innovators’ Assembly is designed specifically to raise one’s sights to a broader strategic landscape, to stimulate and inspire, and to enable effortless connections with accomplished peers.

Leaders operate within a web of “systems within systems” – the micro system of their internal models, their team, the organisation, their technology “tribe”, their industry sector (including customers and supply chain), and the macro system of the broader economy.

“As a leader’s responsibility grows, so must their grasp of the complex systems in which they operate.”

Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Founder, Active Insight, and facilitator of the Innovation Network.

This event is designed specifically to give you the chance to step back from your day-to-day activities with the certainty that you will gain valuable insights.  You’ll learn about the paradigm shifts in manufacturing and candid stories about leaders’ experiences of bringing technological developments to commercial fruition.  You’ll engage in gently facilitated dialogue with esteemed peers.  And you’ll be sure to bring back priceless wisdom to your organisation and the innovators you lead.

Meet and interact in real time with acknowledged experts and respected peers.  Where you can explore together the possible implications of disruptive technological developments.  Where valuable CPD will be a natural outcome.  And without even trying, you’ll enrich your personal network and perhaps even find potential collaborators.

Imagine new applications for in-house technologies

Anticipate customer needs

Consider new segments

Spot opportunities in disruption

Enhance the value that your organisation adds

Make a real difference to your organisation and to yourself as an innovator and a leader

Nothing beats meeting peers face-to-face in terms of quality dialogue and relationship-building.  There is now a wealth of research to prove that virtual gatherings pale in comparison.  At the Innovators’ Assembly you will meet and have quality interactions in real time with a wide range of acknowledged experts and respected peers.  You’ll dialogue together, gain valuable CPD, enrich your personal network, and maybe even find potential collaborators.  To help optimise your experience and your connections, there will be a unique and gently facilitated process to support you.  By the end of the day you’ll have had quality interactions with at least 16 other participants.

SPEAKERS

In 2019 we had a tremendous line-up, with world-renowned thinkers and industry practitioners, including:

Ken Webster, Past Chief Innovation Officer, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, now Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Circular Economy, University of Exeter.

Ken spoke at our event last April 2018, and made a big impression with his paradigm shifting messages around the concepts of the Circular Economy, specifically in relation to product innovation and manufacturing.  We were delighted to invite him back.  Being both an economist and sociologist, Ken’s perspective is unusually both broad and deep, and the chance to have him stretch your brain is not to be missed.

Stafford Lloyd, Innovate UK and the Horizon 2020 Project National contact point re ICT and Future & Emergent Technologies.

Stafford has a background in high-tech start-ups (e.g. Riversimple) and is now with Innovate UK.  Stafford made sense of the complex web of Government entities and funding opportunities designed to champion technology excellence and market success within UK Manufacturing.

Malcom Earp, Chief Commercial Officer, the Ultimate Battery Company

A committed futurist and active innovator, Malcolm helped launch the world’s 1st real time electronic auction in 1993, the first automotive website in 1997 and the UK’s first automotive digital retailing channel. His current projects include leading a team of automotive futurists planning e-mobility for 2030, supporting the piloting of a robotic charging system for EVs, and the launching of an energy storage technology that could reduce the cost of EVs below that of ICE vehicles.  Malcolm shared insights on how the systemic context shapes innovation, particularly int he context of battery innovation.

Ben Watson, Innovation Leader Global, 3M

As a member of the international consortium tasked with constructing global standards for innovation, Ben unveiled the new Innovation Standards at the event, and explained how they can help your organisation.

Andy Withers, Technical Director, Rotork Controls

Andy shared his current experience of reconfiguring innovation teams and NPI practices in Rotork to incorporate Agile principles for the benefit of creativity and customer response times.

Mohan Ahad, Knowledge Transfer Advisor at the KTN.

As an R&D Systems Engineer (and genuine rocket scientist), then international business consultant, Mohan applies his tech savvy and strong links with the investment community to support the commercial development of key emergent technologies in aerospace, satellite communications, medical devices and alternative energy. Most recently he brings his extensive expertise to bear as a Knowledge Transfer Advisor for the KTN, and at the Innovators’ Assembly he shared where best to seek innovation support for your organisation, given its stage of development and its markets.

To see the June 2019 event outline click here.