MAA Annual Conference keynote speakers 2022

Klaus Mueller, Senior Advisor at AeroDynamic Advisory

What is the future of aerospace? When will growth return? Which segments of the market seem likely to be the winners or losers? These are just some of the important questions Klaus Mueller, Senior Advisor at AeroDynamic Advisory - one of the world’s top aerospace consultancies - will share insights into during his keynote address at the MAA conference.

Klaus has over 30 years’ experience as a senior executive in leading aerospace firms such as MTU Aero Engines and Lufthansa Technik where he developed strategy, led vital projects and headed market intelligence. He is an expert in both the OEM and MRO sectors of aerospace, and has deep functional expertise in marketing, strategy, technology and innovation. He also serves on the advisory boards of Aviation Week Conferences and the Abu Dhabi Aviation Summit.

Jean-Marie Carvalho, Vice President, Actuation Systems, Collins Aerospace

"Being socially engaged in creating a better environment forms part of our mission,” says Jean-Marie Carvalho. “Sustainability is therefore a critical area we need to bring into all our decisions and thoughts.”

At the MAA Conference, Jean-Marie will talk about the wider implications of sustainability for the aerospace industry, not only for each of our own facilities but all the way along our supply chains, where questions of greenhouse gas emissions, resilience, globalisation and re-shoring, have recently come to the fore.

Jean-Marie is Vice President, Actuation Systems, the Collins Aerospace strategic business segment which specialises in actuation systems for aerospace and defence; based in Wolverhampton, and with other locations in the UK, France, Italy and the United States.

Prior to being appointed to his current position, effective January 2022, Jean-Marie was General Manager, Actuation Systems. In that position, he was responsible for the strategic direction and management of the facilities in France as well as the Primary Actuation Value Stream.

Jean-Marie is passionate about industrial organisation and the power and the energy generated by a group of people perfectly aligned and working as one single entity. For him there is no individual success, there is a team success only. Jean-Marie has always considered social responsibility as one of the main responsibilities of next generation of leaders.

Simon Carlisle, Strategy Director Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce 

"The last two years have driven big transformations in aerospace. What does this mean for our future supply chains?"

Simon Carlisle, Strategy Director Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, will draw on his deep experience in the industry to provide insights into surrent supply challenges and opportunities as well as the outlook for market growth.

Simon joined Rolls-Royce in September 1986 and was appointed as Strategy Director – Civil Aerospace in January 2016. In this role he is responsible for the development of all aspects of Civil Aerospace business strategy consistent with Group strategic direction.

Simon has a deep understanding of the industry and a broad range of experience having previously held senior leadership roles in the Civil Large Engine and Supply Chain organisations. Additionally, Simon represents Rolls-Royce at the ASD Civil Aviation Business Unit and sits on the Supervisory Board of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

Born in Manchester, England, Simon graduated at the University of Manchester with a BSc Honours Degree in Metallurgy in 1986.

Hugh Clayton, Group Director, Engineering & Strategy, Meggitt plc

What factors will drive the future aerospace sector: both in the next few years and the coming decade? Where are there opportunities to prosper and grow in a changed and changing market?

These are the questions that Hugh Clayton, Group Director, Engineering & Strategy, Meggitt plc, will be addressing from Meggitt's perspective.

Hugh is responsible for strategy, technology development, engineering and programme management at Meggitt. Meggitt is a UK headquartered, global technology company working in the aerospace, defence and energy sectors with over £2bn of annual sales and 10,000 employees.

Prior to joining Meggitt in 2017 he worked for Rolls-Royce, ABB and in the oil and gas sector. He has led businesses in over 40 countries and has had the opportunity to live and work in Asia, Africa, Europe, the US and now is based in the UK.

Charlie Burrell, Director Military Programs, Moog Aircraft Group and MAA Director

How is defence aerospace business environment currently evolving and what are the upcoming military aircraft programmes of the future? How is Moog approaching these opportunities and what can the wider industry learn?

Charlie Burrell, Director Military Programs, Moog Aircraft Group will be taking the MAA Conference through these questions and more.

Charlie started his career with Smiths Aerospace at Dowty Propellers, and subsequently joined the flight control business at Wolverhampton which is now part of Moog Aircraft Group.

Charlie has worked in a number of roles, including engineering project management, business development and operational management, and more recently has served in the program management office for the past 8 years running development and production programs.

Charlie has recently been appointed as Director of Military Programs. In this role he is responsible for Customer Satisfaction, Program Management, Business Development and Contract activities for the Military sector, based at the Wolverhampton site. Charlie holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Bristol.

Annette Rothwell, AR Procurement Services and MAA Director

What are the key current issues and challenges facing Midlands aerospace supplier companies and how are they managing them? What can other companies learn from their experiences? Annette Rothwell has been leading a series of peer networking groups for aerospace suppliers as part of the Midlands Aerospace UP programme, giving her unique access to in-depth conversations and information right at the "coal face" of our supply chain cluster which she will draw on at the MAA conference. 

Annette is a seasoned VP level executive and board member with extensive experience in industries undergoing transformational change. She is a proven executive leader in general management, procurement and supply chain, operational excellence (CI) and project management working with senior stakeholders including regional Mayor and Government.

Since 2006 Annette has served in executive roles supporting CEOs within a number of global companies including FTSE100 listed aerospace & defence companies. She has eight years’ boardroom experience serving as advisor to the board whilst leading executive procurement and GM roles including developing and leading the women’s leadership program. She has over 30 years of experience in and around supply chains and has been responsible for procurement and supply chain activity, operational improvement across multiple companies and multiple cultures whilst at the same time taking P&L responsibility for a business unit in Asia. She has also led divestment of non-core businesses and acquisition of core businesses of a global nature including being a shareholder representative during the Rolls-Royce acquisition of Goodrich.

Since 2011, she has served as a director on the board of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, the regional body for the Aerospace, Defence and Security industry. She provides strategic review and oversight of regional business, financial and planning decisions. She also chairs the supply chain performance group supporting national initiatives and SME organisations.

Annette holds an M.B.A and undertook General Management training at Cranfield School of Management. She also attended Washington State University for an Advanced Leadership Program and in New York for the G100 Women’s Leadership C-Suite Program.

Andy Leather, Technology Manager, MAA

Will the UK Space Strategy and rapid growth of the space industry generate opportunities for Mijdlands aerospace companies? Will the UK Space Agency's regional clustering policy help or hinder? What is required for organisations to pivot from aerospace and adjacent disciplines/markets to space? Should we only address upstream space (manufacturing for flight and ground requirements) or support downstream space (space data) too?

Andy is an experienced (40+ years) global defence and aerospace senior executive with Goodrich, Thales, Ultra FLIR and ADS, now supporting the delivery of the UK Space Strategy in the Midlands through the development of a vibrant regional space cluster. A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Andy has served on several joint industry and government committees including the National Defence Industries Council. He was also the inaugural Chair of both the Midlands Aerospace Alliance and the Impartiality Board of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Clive Lewis, Technology Manager, MAA and Achieving the Difference

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) includes flying taxis, personal air vehicles and alternatively powered sub-regional aircraft, which will spawn new configurations, technologies, business models and market players. It sounds exciting but is the AAM market real? What opportunity does it present to suppliers? And when will it happen?

As Managing Director at Achieving the Difference, Clive Lewis supports senior decision-makers at dozens of organisations in aerospace, aviation, defence and security in making strategic decisions with confidence and achieving competitive advantage. Such decisions always require market insight.

The national aerospace organisation ADS has long relied on Clive’s insight to author its Global Aerospace Outlook and Advanced Air Mobility Market Outlook. Concurrent with his role at Achieving the Difference, Clive is now one of the MAA’s Technology Managers with a focus on Advanced Air Mobility.