The NAD Group Digital Engineering Conference 2026
Delivering a digitally enabled future for Defence
The NAD Group Digital Engineering Conference, hosted by Team Defence Information, will take place on 10–11 March 2026 in Bristol, bringing together MOD, the Defence Industry, and Academia to focus on how we collectively move forward in accelerating digital engineering transformation.
BUT… This isn’t a conference you sit through… It’s one you experience… Complex challenges don’t need longer talks!
They need sharper thinking, fresh perspectives, and real energy in the room.
That’s why this year we’ve reimagined the format—replacing traditional lectures with dynamic, high-impact sessions designed to challenge your thinking, keep you engaged, inspired, and part of the conversation.
The Big Idea Talk
Fifteen minutes. One powerful idea.
Fast-paced, focused, and unforgettable—designed to spark debate, and give you something you’ll be thinking about long after you leave the room.
The Deep Dive Conversation
A live, unscripted exchange with leading voices—where ideas are tested, challenged, and taken further.
Think podcast-style energy, real-time exchange, and ideas you can use—fuelled by expert voices and audience interaction.
Expect less sitting back…
More lean-in moments…
And conversations that stay with you long after the conference ends!
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See below for details of the conference themes, speakers invited and attending and please note the programme is still growing, this is just a taster – TBC and STC.
The programme so far, watch out for updates!
Accelerating Digital Engineering Transformation in Defence
DAY ONE – Born Digital
Session 1: Strategic Context – Mindset required as a joint endeavour
Overview: What is driving the need for change and how we collectively plan to get after the levers and accelerate delivery through digitalisation of the engineering lifecycle.
- Opening Keynote – MOD Senior (TBC)
- Mindset Required as a Joint Endeavour – Antonov (Ukrainian Speaker)
- Industry Response – Neil Young, Babcock
- Don’t Forget Why: The Dangers of Relying on Siloes in a Storm – Eleanor Perry
- The Revolution Will Not Be Roadmapped – Ben Bayross
- NAD Options & Commissioning – RAdm Phil Game
Session 2: Born Digital – Embedding Digital from Day One
Overview: Case studies and a panel session on action needed now to realise the benefits of embedding digital engineering from the outset.
- Future Navy Hybrid Modelling – conversation with Mark Langmead
- Mission Engineering: Where Does Digital Start? – Dom Leeds
- Beyond the Buzzwords: Unlocking MBSE with AI – Ben Stuart‑Richards
- What It Means To Be Born Digital, From Someone Who Was – Elliot Tompkins
- The Messy Middle of Digital Transformation – conversation with Amber Gilbert
- Enterprise Transformation –conversation with BAE Systems + 3DS
Session 3: Operational Excellence – Through-Life Digital Continuity
Overview: Case studies and a panel session on action needed now to implement digital engineering in acquisition (exploration, procurement and support), through-life as a continuum.
- Digitalising the Operation – conversation with Mark Lavis Jones
- People & Process – Seb Sheppard
- Focus on the Value: Everything Else is Just Noise – Olivia Flaws
- UK National Digital Twin Centre – conversation with Rob McGeachy
DAY TWO – Building Trust Through Collaboration
Session 4: Contractual Standardised Data Conditions – Contractual Enablement
Overview: Case studies and a panel session on action needed to build in enduring data and information need into contracted requirements.
- USAF Digital Transformation Office – Christian Ryan
- Commercial Conversation – conversation with Bella Goldstein & Graham Booth
- Working with MOD – Ross Mansfield
- MBSE Procurement. Proven. – Rowan Parker-Jervis and Remy Mulford
Session 5: Data Exchange – Enabling Secure, Interoperable Collaboration
Overview: Case studies and a panel session on action needed to deliver common tool agnostic data exchange to enable enterprise-wide benefits (MOD and Industry).
- Seamless Data Exchange – USAF Speaker
- Akkodis Speaker – Title TBC
- The Reanimation Problem: What Pet Shops Can Teach Us About Software Procurement – Rob Noble
- Data Quality and Interoperability – conversation with Prof John Erkoyuncu
- It’s not about the Digital Twin – It’s about the Digital DNA – Michael O’Sullivan
Session 6: Decision Making Transparency – Building Trust Through Data
Overview: Case studies and a panel session on action needed to build trust and increase pace of decision making.
- Team Tempest GCAP Journey – conversation with 1eQ, Secure Cloud, & Rolls-Royce
- US Navy Shipyards Digital Twin – Aaron Jons
- Mind the Trust Gap: Transparency in Autonomous Decision Making – Rhodri Andrew
- The Complexity Trap: Why Complicated Isn’t Always Correct – Harriet Hewett
- Empowering the Carpenter – TFD
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Ticket Prices do not include VAT
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