BPF Industry 4.0 seminar - speakers

Steve Brambley, GAMBICA

Steve Brambley is Director of Public Affairs at GAMBICA, the Trade Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation and Laboratory Technology in the UK. He is responsible for enabling GAMBICA and its members to engage and collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders including UK and European governments, associations, institutions, industry & manufacturing, media & events companies and standards bodies. Steve brings experience from the automotive industry, having worked for the Michelin Tyre Company and the Dana Corporation in management roles across manufacturing, quality, logistics and engineering. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Loughborough University. He is passionate about the positive influence that technology can bring to UK manufacturing and industry, with a view to generating growth and increasing the contribution to the UK economy.

Andrew Cowey, Siemens

Andrew was recently appointed as Head of Digitalisation for the Digital Factory and Process Industries & Drives Divisions of Siemens UK. He joined Siemens in 1979 on a five year engineering apprenticeship. His studies include electrical and electronic engineering, marketing and business management. Andrew has worked in various engineering and management roles in medical diagnostics and Industrial automation sectors, both in the UK and Germany. He is a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and Industrial Advisory Board for the School of Computing, Mathematics & Digital Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Additionally, Andrew is a STEM and Greenpower education trust Ambassador as well as previously holding positions as Chairman of the GAMBICA Automation Products Group, Vice Chairman of the Food Manufacturing Engineering Group (FMEG), a member of the Technical Advisory Group for CenFRA (Centre for Food Robotics and Automation) and a member of the Higher Nationals, External Stakeholder Advisory Group (ESAG).

Andrew is passionate about UK manufacturing and engineering with wide experience in working with companies across the industrial spectrum and supporting the development of future Engineers. 

Chris Richards, EEF

Chris Richards is Senior Policy Adviser at EEF – the representative body for UK manufacturers. Here, he heads up EEF's policy work programmes on making the UK business environment the best place to start, move and anchor a manufacturing business. Chris works closely with EEF's manufacturing member companies to identify barriers, assess solutions and deliver policy recommendations to decision makers to ensure the UK builds upon its place as the 9th largest manufacturing country in the world.
He regularly speaks on topics such as infrastructure, the transformation of industry and devolution in England across various media outlets, as part of parliamentary inquiries and at conferences and other events. Chris' current focus and engagement with manufacturers is on the 4th industrial revolution (4IR) and whether or not Britain has a business environment that will support manufacturers to embrace this change.

Mike Wilson, ABB

Mike Wilson has over 30 years of experience in the application of automation to manufacturing across a broad range of industry sectors throughout Europe, Asia and America. Previously he has worked for both users and suppliers of automation and also as an independent consultant providing automation expertise to industry and training via Warwick Manufacturing Group. He is widely recognised as one of the leading authorities on the application of industrial robot systems in the UK.

Mike is Business Development Manager for ABB Robotics leading the drive to increase the use of robots across UK manufacturing.  In addition, he is Chairman of the British Automation and Robot Association, Director of the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, Board member of the Engineering and Machinery Alliance, serves on the Technical Advisory Board for the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Intelligent Automation and the Advisory Board of the Midlands Robotics Network. He has previously been Chairman of the International Federation of Robotics from 2000 to 2003.