Electrification and Sustainability Conference Information
Welcome to the conference
Please scroll down this page for information for delegates. Or, use the menu buttons below to jump to the section.
Remember to share your experience and join in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #escTelford2023
Agenda
- 4.30pm - Registration, buffet and exhibits exhibition
- 5.00pm - Welcome address - Graham Guest - Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Telford College
- 5.10pm - Guest speaker Professor - Robin Clark – Dean of WMG and Director of Education at WMG, University of Warwick
- 5.25pm - Guest video message
- 5.30pm - Guest speaker - Professor David Greenwood - CEO WMG High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Director for Industrial Engagement, WMG the University of Warwick
- 5.45pm - Refreshment break
- 6.00pm - Address - Will Westley - Chair of Telford Business Board Community Interest Company (CIC)
- 6.05pm - Guest speaker - Dr Benjamin Silverstone - Associate Professor and Director of the WMG Skills Centre, University of Warwick
- 6.20pm - Q&A panel - David Sidaway – Chief Executive, Telford & Wrekin Council, Rachel Laver – CEO Marches LEP, Andy Whyle - Deputy Chair Telford Business Board and Sustainability Sub Group Lead, Professor Robin Clark - WMG, Professor David Greenwood - WMG, Dr Ben Silverstone - WMG
- 7.00pm - Closing speeches and end of conference - Cllr Eileen Callear - Cabinet Member for Education, Employment & Visitor Economy, Graham Guest - Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Telford College
Key speakers and Q&A panel
Prof. David Greenwood - Director for Industrial Engagement, and CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG
He established and led the Energy Directorate at WMG where he led a team of over 200 researchers and engineers. Projects spanned several fields, including cars, trucks, boats, off-highway machinery, aircraft and motorcycles. His research spans batteries, electric motors, power electronics, and the integration and control of these for propulsion and energy applications. David moved into academia after 20 years in the industry latterly as Head of Hybrid and Electric Systems for engineering consultancy Ricardo UK Ltd. Professor Greenwood holds advisory and board positions for the Advanced Propulsion Centre, Innovate UK (Faraday Challenge and IDP), and the Faraday Institution. He is head of the Advanced Propulsion Centre's Electrical Energy Storage Spoke.
Prof. Robin Clark - Dean of WMG, University of Warwick
He gained a Bachelors and PhD in Mechanical Engineering and spent 14 years in industry. He completed a PhD in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and worked at Rolls Royce and Associates, responsible for the nuclear plant on submarines. This was followed by a period at British Rail in the UK focusing on the NDT of traction and rolling stock. Robin then spent 8 years at Sperry Rail working on the NDT of railroad track. He then entered academia at Aston University. He gained a PGCHE and became a National Teaching Fellow, founding the UK and Ireland Engineering Education Research Network. Over his career he has published 20 journal papers and 150 conference papers, edited the Handbook of Research on Engineering Education in a Global Context, has 4 US patents, supervised 6 PhDs to completion, supervised 75 MSc and Bachelors projects to completion, performed various external examiner duties (courses and PhDs) and won £550k of research funding. He served two 3-year terms on the SEFI Board of Directors.
Dr Benjamin Silverstone - Director of the WMG Skills Centre, University of Warwick
He began his career with the Royal Navy. Then he gained a BSc and PGCE before entering teaching in the Further Education sector where he focused on work-based education. He gained an MSc and PhD before moving into Higher Education as Head of Quantitative Business at Arden University. He moved to WMG as part of the Degree Apprenticeship Team. Ben then led on the development of the UK Battery Skills Framework as well as establishing the National Electrification Skills Framework alongside HVMC and the Faraday Institution. Ben holds a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Fellowship of the World Business Institute. He has published widely in academic and industry publications as well as articles in national newspapers and magazines on the topics of information governance and skills development.
David Sidaway - Chief Executive, Telford & Wrekin Council
David was the driving force behind the transformation of Telford town centre through the £250 million private and public sector Southwater development. Previously, he spent four years with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, where he held the equivalent City Director (CEO) post, where he helped create one of the country’s fastest growing enterprise zones and the city centre Smithfield development, with these projects securing and creating over 2,400 jobs in the area. David led the council’s response to two major incidents – severe flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic – within only a few weeks of taking up his position. Credited as a leader “who takes a complicated situation and simplifies it”, in June 2022, David’s crisis management twinned with his focus on empowering a “can do” culture at the authority led Telford & Wrekin Council to win Local Authority of the Year at the prestigious MJ Awards.
Rachel Laver - CEO Marches LEP
Rachel is a regeneration specialist who has worked within the delivery of public sector funded projects and initiatives for over 25 years. With a strong interest in the environment, Rachel has been responsible for setting up a £4m Energy Fund at the Marches LEP to help increase business adoption of low carbon technology and to help drive innovation. Away from work she is a director and coach of girls football at Eccleshall Eagles football club.
Andy Whyle - S-AW Sustainability and Circular Economy Practitioner FIEMA/PIEMA
Andy is a Sustainability Practitioner Business Consultant, Deputy Chair of Telford Business Board, and leads their Sustainability Sub Group. His specialisms cover sustainability leadership, Net Zero applications, energy and circular economy, biodiversity conservation, networking, and collaboration. Recognised as a Sustainability West Midlands Green Leader, he is a proven leading sustainability practitioner on a local, national, and international basis. As a subject matter expert on the circular economy, he co-authored the Business Lens evidence chapter of the Government Office of Science - From Waste to Resource Productivity report, which was utilised to create the Resources and Waste Strategy for England.
Graham Guest - Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Telford College
Graham started his career in Electrical Engineering, progressing through to Project Management prior to gaining a Masters in Professional Development and Management, and following this moved into Further Education in the 90s. Graham became Principal of Telford College in March 2017, the college itself was formed in December 2017 from the merger of New College Telford and Telford College of Arts and Technology. This has been described by the DfE as a seamless merger. Prior to working in Telford, Graham spent 10 years working in London at a number of colleges and also at the Mayor’s office. Changing people’s lives through education, during his time in London Graham led on the skills development for the £750 million regeneration of the 02 Peninsula for Further Education. He also developed the Employers Skills Hub for the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium with the Mace Group and developed a Construction Skills and Economic Strategy with Berkely Homes for Southeast London. Graham has a passion to work collaboratively, to create the profile and pathways to ensure minority groups have opportunities to train and gain employment. With a desire to change people’s lives through education, he has spoken on the national stage regarding the power of education when dealing with gang and knife crime. At Telford College he is passionate about the contribution that his college can make to the local community, raising people’s aspirations and developing the local economy.
Cllr Eileen Callear - Telford & Wrekin Council Ward Member for Hadley & Leegomery, and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Visitor Economy
Eileen joined the council in 2019, having run a small family business along with her husband prior to the Covid pandemic, working in print media and PR/Marketing for 10 years. Eileen has completed the Future Candidates Programme, LGA Leadership Academy and is Chair of the Wrekin CLP. In March 2020 Eileen joined the cabinet, her first portfolio included Leisure, Libraries and Culture. Similar to David Sidaway, it was a baptism of fire – with many ‘normal’ services being placed on hold, and the roll out of emergency services in response to the pandemic, which saw the council support residents through what was a very tough time. This work saw the council picking up some major awards including being named Co-operative Council of the Year, APSE Council of the Year and MJ Local Authority of the Year for the councils work across the borough. Now, Eileen is excited to see the progress of the Station Quarter Development, where along with our strategic partners we are set to bring a Digital Skills Hub to the very heart of Telford.
Venue information
Toilet location
Toilet and washroom facilities are located to the left of the exhibition area.
Smoking and vaping
Smoking and vaping is only permitted in designated areas, the permitted area for this event is as the back of the conference hall, through the doors to the external area behind the immersive and VR technologies.
Wifi access
Please note: all web traffic is monitored and is filtered/restricted inline with the college’s IT acceptable use agreement and the IT security policy.
- Network: TelfordCollegeEvents
- Password: ESC2023!
For support connecting to the college’s wifi, please speak to any member of the IT team who will be back of the event with the immersive and VR technology.
Food, drink and allergens
Please see information on the food and drink tables, or speak to any member of the catering services (Aramark) team.
