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FAC confirms Sir Michael Ryan CBE for annual conference keynote

Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) has today confirmed that Sir Michael Ryan CBE will be the keynote speaker for its annual conference on Thursday 24th November.

Above: Sir Michael Ryan CBE.
Courtesy Spirit AeroSystems

Sir Michael, Vice President and General Manager of Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast, is also the Industry Chair of the Aerospace Growth Partnership (APG).

AGP is a strategic link-up between the UK Government, industry and others, established to secure the future of the UK’s aerospace sector.

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He will be speaking at the Elvetham Hotel near Hook in north Hampshire at the conference which has the title ‘Destination Net Zero’.

All are invited to attend the event that will have 14 speakers, Q and A sessions and networking opportunities.

It follows on from the success of last year’s conference which was titled ‘Sustainable Aviation and Future Technologies’.

The other keynote speakers are: Paul Griffiths, Head of Aerospace Hub, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; Stephen Cowan, Vice President, GKN Aerospace Defence - GKN Fokker Landing Gear and Rachel Cooper, Strategy Director, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

FAC’s Chief Executive Officer Alan Fisher said: “We have a packed day with more than a dozen excellent speakers covering a wide range of topics.

“There will be opportunities to ask questions and it is always a good networking opportunity. Anyone is welcome to attend.

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“FAC represents businesses in the aerospace, aviation and defence sectors, as well as those companies in their supply chains, so we have cast our net wide in order to make it as relevant to as many as possible.

“The day is broken into three with a keynote speaker for each. The first section is titled, ‘supporting innovation in more sustainable technologies. Then we have a section titled ‘delivering a world-leading design and manufacturing value chain’, and we finish with ‘delivering the skills required to support the next era of flight’.

“The aerospace sector is crucial for the economy of the country and the move to net zero is on everybody’s lips.

“We want the UK to remain at the forefront of the sector and this conference will be an important step in that direction.”

Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) is one of the longest established aerospace and defence trade associations in the UK. It has around 200 members nationally and internationally to serve its membership in the south and south east of England.

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