Join our community of members and key stakeholders to discuss the growing impact of geopolitical issues on the supply chain, progress to Net Zero, and overall industrial delivery for electricity networks and the built environment.
Celebrating the sector; innovating and sharing best practice
This annual event is an important event in our industry calendar that will be attended by a wide range of stakeholders, partners, and influencers from across the sector.
This is a chance for you to meet the membership, key BEAMA stakeholders, and government officials to discuss the latest innovations. Throughout the day there will be plenty of opportunities to network and share best practices.
Tickets and Sponsorship Opportunities are open to all members and further information can be found using the links below.
Our Speakers include:
Tasha Lyth, Sustainability Manager at Gripple
Tasha has worked in manufacturing throughout her career and most recently at Gripple Ltd since Graduating in 2018, being passionate about sustainability and continued development has led her to being appointed as Sustainability Manager. Tasha Won the 2022 Young Manufacturer of the Year TMMX award and plans to use this accolade to continue to drive discussions about sustainability within manufacturing .
Lee Nurse, Business Development Director at Volution Group
Lee Nurse joined Volution in 2009 as Marketing Manager of Vent-Axia Division (now the Ventilation Group) and was on the management team in the buyout backed by TowerBrook Capital Partners LP. Since listing in 2014 he has had a number of senior roles within the organisation supporting the acquisitions and integration of group companies. This included 2 years in New Zealand.
Lee has extensive industry experience and prior to joining Volution he spent 13 years working for the Zehnder owned company, Greenwood Air Management. In addition, Lee has spent over 11 years as the Chair of the BEAMA Ventilation Trade Association and including representing them at EVIA, the European Trade Association. He has played an active part in Building Regulation consultations across multiple geographies.
Significant expertise in commercialising and integrating product management with regulatory opportunity together with extensive international integration experience with over 25 years’ in the ventilation industry.
David Williams, Vice President of Transactional Business at Schneider Electric
David leads Schneider Electric’s Home & Distribution and Power Products businesses to support the end-to-end needs of customers and channel partners across the UK & Ireland zone.
Since joining Schneider Electric in 2011, he has honed his skills across a variety of business units, including Solar, Smart Buildings, Digital Power Solutions and Power Products. Prior to taking up the role of VP of Transactional Business at the start of 2023, he was VP of Marketing with a remit that included setting and executing business and marketing strategy, driving employee engagement, and managing commercial activities across the UK&I zone.
David is passionate about working in partnership with customers and industry partners, telling the sustainability and energy efficiency story, inspiring high-tech industry innovation, and enabling positive business change.
Sean Smith, Managing Director of Michael Smith Switchgear
Sean is an experienced engineer and director who is leading the drive towards modernisation in making his industry attractive for future workforces.
He joined Michael Smith Switchgear in 2004, spending his first three years working his way from the workshop through to the engineering team.
After gaining his qualifications as an electrical and electronic engineer, he became a Director at Michael Smith Switchgear in 2011. A year later he was made Managing Director.
Since then, he has pushed the business forward as a standard-bearer for increased sustainability and safety standards in UK manufacturing.
He led design changes and the testing programme for BS EN IEC 61439 and is the Chair of BEAMA’s ESPG Management Committee. Sean is also a member of its Low Voltage Switchboard Technical Committee.
He led the management buyout of the business and oversaw the expansion into new premises which further accelerated the company’s growth, as well as that of its sister company AVW Fabrications.
A trained mental health first aider, Sean has a keen interest in partnership working to increase opportunities and pathway into apprenticeships for future engineers. He was also a driving force behind Michael Smith Switchgear’s journey towards Zero Carbon.
Lawrence Slade - Chief Executive, Energy Networks Association
Lawrence is Chief Executive of ENA. He joined the organisation in February 2023.
He was previously Chief Executive Officer of GIIA, the membership body for the world’s leading institutional investors. Prior to his role with GIIA, Lawrence began working with Energy UK in 2011, becoming its Chief Executive in January 2015. Additionally, he served on the boards of Eurogas and Eurelectric in Brussels.
He has been involved in the energy industry since the late 1990s, working in countries all over the world.
Lawrence is a Board member of Connected Kerb, and a Board Trustee of St Clare Hospice. He is also a Fellow of the Energy Institute.
Darah Vyas - Deputy CEO, Energy UK
Dhara joined Energy UK in November 2022. She is an expert in energy consumer issues and the energy transition, and was named ‘Executive of the year’ at the 2023 Trade Association Forum Awards. Prior to joining Energy UK Dhara led work on net zero, the future energy system and decarbonisation at Citizens Advice.
Dhara began her career in local government and has worked across a broad range of policy areas from civil society to community building and deliberative democracy. She has been an active member of several Government and academic advisory boards, is on the Board of Green Alliance and EVA England.
Shirley Rodrigues, London Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy
Shirley Rodrigues was appointed as London Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy in October 2016. Previously she oversaw a global climate change grants portfolio at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) developing their cities and climate strategy, and in other senior environmental roles has devised and delivered a range of environmental policies and programmes in London, nationally and internationally.
She is now working to deliver the Mayor’s vision of making London greener, fairer and healthier through implementing his London Environment Strategy. This includes ambitious programmes to reduce air pollution across London, including the implementation of the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone, and greening and rewilding the city. Her key focus is on working to ensure London’s economic and social recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 is a green and fair one by tackling the climate and ecological emergency with the ambitious aim for London to be a net zero carbon city by 2030
MORNING CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
9.30-10.00 Registration tea and coffee
10.00 -12.00 BEAMA annual conference
Opening address – BEAMA President Keith Ritchie, Executive Chairman of Titon
Net Zero in the Market: The signals for certainty -A panel discussion on the current state of the market for Net-Zero technologies and what Government action is required to further certainty and market development.
Our Panelist are: Tasha Lythe – Sustainability Manager, Gripple, Lee Nurse - Business Development Director, Volution Group plc, Lawrence Slade - Chief Executive, Energy Networks Association, Darah Vyas - Deputy CEO, Energy UK, Shirley Rodrigues - London Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy
Introduction from BEAMA’s new CEO Yselkla Farmer: The status of the UK electrotechnical manufacturing sector, a review of the past year and current investment and future across our supply chain
Net Zero in Industry: Breaking the Barriers -A discussion between David Williams, Vice President of Transactional Business, Schneider Electric, and Sean Smith, Managing Director - Michael Smith Switchgear on the upcoming requirements for industrial decarbonisation and how manufacturers can balance sustainability with business growth
Drinks Reception and Lunch - Net Zero delivery and industrial decarbonization – positive outlook on future opportunities
12.00-13.00 Drinks Reception and Networking
- Guest Speaker
13.00 – 15.00 Lunch and Industry Awards
- Industry Awards
Thank you to our event sponsors: