The speaker programme at Smart Manufacturing Week 2026 brought together an exceptional line-up of experts, innovators and industry leaders, each addressing the most pressing and transformative themes shaping the future of industry.

Building on the success of previous programmes, the full speaker line-up delivered high-level keynote sessions and insights from across global manufacturing and technology.

Speakers that took the stage in 2026

What are this year’s speakers most excited about?

Meeting and learning from people doing amazing things in other top manufacturing businesses 
Rebecca Galley
CEO |  Tornado Wire Ltd
I’m excited about the focus on practical, scalable industrial technologies and exchanging real deployment lessons with maintenance professionals
Pawan Jalagar
Product Manager |  Murata Electronics Europe
We’re excited for Smart Manufacturing Week 2026 because it brings together the people solving real-world manufacturing challenges, especially resilience to disruption. We’re exhibiting too, so come and see Zurich Resilience Solutions to discuss practical ways to reduce downtime from cyber, climate and supply chain shocks!
Ray Lewis
Business Interruption Consultant |  Zurich
The conversations. Smart Manufacturing Week brings together the people actually running and modernising UK factories and beyond
Anton Zdziebczok
VP of Product |  RealVNC
I am most excited about the shift from theory to reality in AI. Smart Manufacturing Week 2026 is the perfect stage to show how Agentic AI is moving beyond 'chatbots' to become a functional system of action that actually drives the shop floor and helps manufacturers regain their operational edge. 
Jim Steventon
Director of Product Marketing |  QAD | Redzone
Learning top sales, go to market and service challenges limiting growth and margin 
Robert Kelen
VP, Partners & Channel |  Aleran Software
I’m most excited about hearing how manufacturers are really tackling workforce challenges on the ground—onboarding, training, and upskilling teams while products and processes keep evolving. Smart Manufacturing Week brings together people who are dealing with these problems every day, and that’s where the most valuable conversations happen.
Sam Burgess
CEO & Founder |  Partful

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