26 Programme
Visionary leadership and practial insight
The full two-day programme, exploring how the sector can deliver airports fit for the future, is now available.
Highlights include
Plenary keynotes and panels:
Thought leadership from industry leaders on the future opportunity for UK airports
Parallel streams covering:
Resilience: Building resilient airport systems to withstand disruption, adapt and keep operating
Passenger Experience: Putting passenger experience as the underlying organising principle for airport systems
Productivity and value: Unlocking greater value through technology, innovation, productivity and smarter capital delivery
Decarbonising airports: How airports are decarbonising operations, buildings and infrastructure in practice
Hosted roundtables:
Gain insights, exchange solutions and strengthen networks
Women in Transport morning coffee briefing:
Managing personal resilience in high pressure and complex operational environments
DAY 1
Morning plenary
09.30-09.45
Welcome
Robert Courts KC, former aviation minister and chair AIR steering committee
Tim Walder, Chair, BAG, co-chair AIR steering committee
09.45-09.50
Ministerial address (video)
Aviation growth and its role in the country’s national growth agenda
Keir Mather MP, Aviation Minister
09.50-10.10
Global Connectivity: the UK airport perspective
A look at BusinessLDN’s Global Connectivity report through an airport infrastructure lens, exploring what investment in UK airports and connectivity is needed to support the economy and global competitiveness.
Ed Richardson, transport director, BusinessLDN
Damian Meehan, senior director, Arcadis
10.10-10.50
Panel: Airports as economic engines, national assets and global connectors
Senior policy and industry perspectives on aviation's role in trade, economic growth, national connectivity, resilience and regional re-balancing.
Moderator: Robert Courts KC, former aviation minister
Gareth Powell, managing director, Stansted Airport
Sally Dixon, founder, Azimuth Associates
Chris Cain, strategic business and policy consultant, RABA Group
10.50-11.10
Gatwick: delivering the Northern Runway and future growth
A fireside conversation exploring the regional and national significance of Gatwick’s Northern Runway Project, its benefits for the economy and passengers, lessons from the planning process, the role of government, what happens next and how Gatwick’s expansion fits alongside Heathrow and wider UK airport growth.
Tim Norwood, Chief Planning Officer and Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Gatwick Airport
Robert Courts KC, former aviation minister
11.10-11.35 Networking
11.35-11.55
Re-imagining the airport system in the light of future technology
Near and mid term technology that could transform airport operations
Jason Shepherd, technology strategy adviser, Fujitsu Research Europe
11.55-12.35
Panel: The airport as a system and future airport vision
The whole system challenge of airport development - understanding the interdependencies between infrastructure, data, technology, energy and overall resilience. Speakers include:
Moderator: Simon Wilcox, founder, Wordsworth Consulting, BAG board member
Neil Garwood, CEO, Airport Coordination Ltd (ACL)
Alan Newbold, aviation leader in Europe, India, Middle East and Africa, Arup
Mike Hardaker, Chief Asset and Development Officer, MAG Group
Andy Bordass, chief business officer Europe, Waisl
David Mitchell, Director, UK Power Networks Services
12.35-12.55
The learning airport: turning disruption into delivery and resilience
Every airport has plans for growth and plans for disruption. The gap is not in the plans, it is in the speed of the loop between noticing something and doing something about it. We want to make the case that your airport is a product and a learning system, and show what changes when you build the sense, distil, act, learn cycle deliberately instead of hoping it emerges.
Matt Jacobs, Chief Product Officer, Scrum Inc
12.55-13.05
Aviation for Good (AIR‘s charity partner)
Insights on the work of AIR’s charity partner, Aviation for Good, and how you can support its work
Iain McDermott-Paine, Trustee, Aviation for Good
Afternoon parallel streams
Stream 1: Resilience
How resilience is being built into airport systems, from climate and operational shocks to supply chain and capacity pressures
14.00-14.15
Session scene setter and resilience stream moderator
Alan Newbold, aviation leader in Europe, India, Middle East and Africa, Arup
14.15-15.00
Resilience panel
How airports can build resilience into increasingly complex and interconnected systems, from climate and extreme weather to operational disruption, supply-chain pressures and changing passenger demand. It will consider how infrastructure, technology, people and planning can work together to maintain performance, adapt to shocks and support sustainable growth.
Moderator: Alan Newbold, aviation leader in Europe, India, Middle East and Africa, Arup
Declan Cronin, Client Delivery Manager, UKPN Services
John Chetty, Director Infrastructure Logistics Integration, Wilson James
Stephen Swabey, Technical Director (Climate Resilience and Adaptation), AECOM
Ali Awcock, Infrastructure Director, Heathrow Airport
John Bradshaw, Director, Mohawk Business Consultancy
15.00-15.20
Mapping the attack surface of a modern airport
Airports are no longer just terminals, runways, and towers. They are dense clusters of IT, OT, building management, retail, and airline systems, all connected and increasingly digital. That connectivity is vital for growth and passenger experience, but it also creates a wide and often underestimated cyber attack surface. Drawing upon hands-on “penetration testing” the session looks at how small weaknesses can chain together into risks to safety, availability, and commercial operations.
Adam Bromiley, hardware test consultant, Pen Test Partners
15.20-15.55 Networking
15.55-16.15
Resilience and risk preparedness
What are the emerging risk trends across critical national infrastructure, and what can organisations do to become more resilient and prepared
Vicky Crennell, Resilience Capability Lead, UK Resilience Academy
Jacqui Johnson, Partner, Global Aviation & Transport, Serco
16.15-16.35
Climate resilience: building the airport as a resilient system
Drawing on work with one of the UK’s leading airports, the session will explore how a systems-based approach can identify vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience and support practical action in the face of increasing climate-related disruption.
Graham Bolton, Global Practice Leader Aviation, Mott MacDonald
Dr Kim Yates, Sustainable Aviation and Green Ports Market Lead, Mott MacDonald
16.35-16.55
Digital resilience in legacy IT systems
Airports increasingly depend on legacy IT systems that underpin critical operations, but maintaining resilience as these systems age presents growing challenges. This session explores how airports can manage legacy technology and introduce new digital capabilities without disrupting essential operations.
Nigel Womersley de Zaldua, Principal, Aviation, ICF
16.55-17.15
Making airports water resilient
How can airports reduce water demand across new and existing assets while limiting the operational impact of supply disruption? The session will explore practical approaches to managing water use, improving efficiency and strengthening resilience as climate change puts increasing pressure on water resources.
Ciaran Kelly, Director, Water Strategic Advisory, WSP
Stream 2: Passenger Experience
How airports are reshaping passenger experience, ensuring smoother, more efficient and more intuitive journeys
14.00-14.15
Session scene setter and passenger experience stream moderator
Adam Scott, founder, Experience Foundation
14.15-15.00
Passenger experience panel
Moderator: Adam Scott, founder, Experience Foundation
Mark Wolfe, Aviation Sector Lead UK & Europe, WSP
Jose Rodriguez Gonzalez, Foster & Partners
Rebecca Cunningham, Head of Industry Commercial Change, GBRTT
Matthew Butters, Director, Pascall + Watson; Deputy Chair, BAG
15.00-15.20
Innovations shaping the next generation of airport journey experiences
Airports are exploring how technology and innovation can create journey experiences that are more seamless, connected and accessible for all. Drawing on the latest testbeds and innovation programmes, the session explores emerging technologies, lessons from other sectors and what they could mean for the airport passenger experience of the future.
Kirsty Murphy, Aviation Team Senior Consultant, Connected Places Catapult
15.20-15.55 Networking
15.55-16.30
Reimagining the passenger journey: delivering resilient, secure and seamless airport experiences
Passenger expectations are evolving, with travellers demanding seamless, efficient and digitally enabled journeys from curb to gate. Meanwhile, airports must strengthen security, resilience and accessibility while accommodating growth and decarbonising operations. This panel will explore how airports, government agencies, designers and industry can work together to put passengers at the heart of infrastructure and operations, examining the role of investment, border processes, digital innovation, behavioural insight and human-centred design in creating the airport experience of the future.
Moderator: Nathaniel Taylor, strategic development director, Galliford Try
Paul Chandwani, Strategy & Transformation, UK Home Office
Bethany Gent, Associate Director, TRS
Mario Tammaro, Programme Delivery Manager, MAG
Paul White, Associate Director, Ridge
16.30-16.50
Rethinking transit to and from airports
The world's first Glydways system, an on-demand, electric transit network, has the potential to rewrite transit to and from airports. Based upon small, self-driving electric vehicles designed to move passengers along dedicated roadways in and around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, what is the broader application.
Simon Swan, Global Solutions Director for New Mobility, Arcadis
16.50-17.15
Improving security and passenger experience
Identifying opportunities to remove friction and improve security outcomes, while developing practical solutions that can be delivered within the airport’s existing infrastructure
Steve Clark, Manufacturing, Construction and Airports Director, Develop Consulting
Richard Thomasson, Airport Director for Guernsey and Alderney Airports
DAY 2
Women in Transport morning coffee briefing (open invitation)
08.30-09.30
Managing personal resilience in high pressure and complex operational environments
Join this curated panel and networking session hosted by Women in Transport (all welcome). The conversation will:
Build appreciation of the importance of personal resilience alongside infrastructure resilience
Provide practical tools for managing resilience, bouncing back and building confidence
Inspire attendees to build practical resilience strategies they can apply immediately
Encourage organisations to actively support and invest in the wellbeing of their operational leaders
Kathy Morrissey (Moderator), Women in Transport, previously Director at Stansted Airport
Karen Jones, Airside Ground Handling and Service Providers Engagement Manager, Heathrow Airport
Emma Gilthorpe, Chief Transformation Officer, Turner & Townsend; Non-Exec Director, Manchester Airports Group
Jacqui Johnson, Partner, Global Aviation & Transport, Serco
Rachael Callow, IT Programme Manager, Stansted Transformation Programme, Stansted Airport
Morning parallel streams
Stream 1: Productivity and value
Improving programme certainty, productivity and control in delivering complex capital projects
09.30-09.35
Welcome
Robert Courts KC, former aviation minister
09.35-09.55
Scene setting address
How large programmes behave in practice, not theory. Strategies to improve programme certainty, productivity and control in delivering complex capital projects on time and on budget
Will Robertson, aviation sector director, mace
09.55-10.45
Panel: Delivering certainty for airport investment programmes
Speakers include:
Moderator: Will Robertson, aviation sector director, mace
Keith Attwood, Head of Airport Operations, Ports of Jersey
Stuart Freeman, senior partner, international construction, Gallagher
Andy Murray, Executive Director, Major Projects Association
Kathy Morrissey, independent consultant, previously Engineering Director, Stansted Airport
10.45-11.00 networking break
Mid morning plenary
11.00-11.20
In conversation: Staying focused on outcomes while navigating the narrative
How to stay anchored to the “end game” — whether that’s decarbonisation, connectivity or growth — and balancing clarity of purpose with the pragmatism needed to move major programmes forward.
Robert Courts KC, former aviation minister
Nigel Milton, chief communications & sustainability officer, Heathrow Airport
11.20-11.30 networking break
Stream 1: Productivity and value
11.30-11.55
The application in airport environments for innovative approaches to design and construction
How innovative engineering solutions in the design, construction and delivery of airport infrastructure can improve productivity, efficiency, cost certainty and quality.
Richard Budd, UK Aviation Sector Lead, Buro Happold
Mark Stonell, Associate Director, Buro Happold
Lewis Williams, Associate Director, Buro Happold
11.55-12.20
Going underground: geothermal energy for low-carbon airports
How geothermal energy can provide a cost effective and low-carbon, resilient source of heating and cooling for airport buildings. The session will explore the practical challenges and opportunities of deploying geothermal systems within complex, energy-intensive airport environments.
Hywel Rees, co-founder and Chief Executive, Infracare Partners
12.20-12.45
Building on the kit of parts approach introduced at Manchester Airport
How can airports move from bespoke construction to industrialised delivery – using standardised, repeatable components to build capacity faster, with less disruption and greater certainty?
Matthew Scammels, Innovation Director, WSP
Stream 2: Decarbonising airports
How airports are decarbonising operations and infrastructure in practice
09.30-09.35
Welcome (video relay from Fujitsu theatre)
Robert Courts KC, former aviation minister
09.35-09.45
Scene Setting Address
Paul Toyne, independent sustainability adviser
09.45-10.30
Decarbonisation panel
How are airports turning net zero ambitions into practical action across buildings, infrastructure and operations.
Moderator: Paul Toyne, independent sustainability adviser
Arthy Ravichandran, aviation and maritime director, Connected Places Catapult
Fiona Ross, Partner, Pinsent Masons
Alina Viehweber, sustainable aviation manager, ICF
Rahul Desai, Principal Consultant, Energy and Tech, UKPN Services
10.30-10.55
Sustainable Innovation at Gatwick's Pier 6 Extension
Gatwick’s Pier 6 Western Extension will add eight new pier-served aircraft stands, enabling around one million passengers a year to board directly from the pier rather than travelling by bus to remote stands. The project demonstrates how airports can increase capacity while reducing carbon, combining smarter design, operational efficiency and better use of existing airport infrastructure.
Nimit Raval, Associate Sustainability, Pascall+Watson
Geraldine Badura, Construction Sustainability Lead, Gatwick Airport
10.55-11.30 Networking break (includes morning plenary in Fujitsu Theatre)
11.30-11.55
Decarbonisation lessons from 30+ airports: what works in practice
Airports face the challenge of decarbonising while continuing to grow, remain resilient and serve passengers. Drawing on lessons from more than 30 global airports, this presentation explores five practical decarbonisation lessons on turning net zero ambitions into practical infrastructure and operational outcomes.
Inés Idzikowski Pérez, Net Zero Lead, Europe & India, AECOM
11.55-12.45
Airport perspectives on the road to net zero
Airport leaders share their perspectives on decision-making and delivering net zero across the whole life of airport assets and operations. The discussion will explore how collaboration, shared standards and industry initiatives can accelerate progress, overcome practical challenges and turn net zero ambitions into measurable action.
Chair: Peter Swallow, Sustainable Designer Leader, Corgan
Mike Peirce, Executive Director of Systems Change, Climate Group
Matt Gorman, Carbon Strategy Director, Heathrow Airport
Jack Ravenscroft, Senior Manager - Sustainability & Planning, · Newcastle International Airport
Tom Denton, Head of Sustainability, Birmingham Airport
Afternoon plenary
13.45-14.05
Keynote: Delivering on the government’s Jet Zero Strategy
The challenge of aviation decarbonisation within the broader context of the UK's climate and transition agenda
James Richardson, chief analyst, Climate Change Committee
14.05-14.50
Panel: Aviation decarbonisation – confronting the reality
Global air travel continues to grow faster than aviation emissions are falling, raising fundamental questions about the sector’s path to net zero. With sustainable aviation fuel unlikely to scale fast enough on its own, and hydrogen and electric propulsion still years from commercial viability, the panel asks whether it’s time for a more candid discussion about priorities, trade-offs and where investment can deliver the greatest impact. Speakers include:
Panel moderator: Rachel Gardner-Poole, aviation & sustainability advisor
Dan Walker, Technical Director, Sustainable Aviation
Robert Griggs, Policy and Public Affairs Director, Airlines UK
Simon Edsforth, Airspace Efficiency Manager, NATS
Jenny Kavanagh, Director, Green Skies Consulting
14.50-15.20 Networking
15.20-15.40
Keynote: Delivering Bristol Airport’s Next Chapter
David Lees, chief executive, Bristol Airport
15.40-15.55
Airspace modernisation
A high-level view of where UK airspace modernisation is heading, why it matters to the future capacity, resilience and sustainability of UK aviation, and what needs to happen to turn the strategy into delivery.
Chris Norsworthy, Director Transformation Strategy & Development, NATS
Ian Elston, Deputy Director of Airspace, Airport, Resilience and Connectivity, Department for Transport
15.55-16.20
Airspace change Gatwick case study: essential transformation for efficient flight
Gatwick’s airspace change programme provides a practical case study of how modernising airspace can improve flight efficiency, capacity and resilience while supporting the airport’s future growth.
Moderator: Shakir Khaja, global aviation director, Egis
Andy Sinclair, head of aerodrome transformation, Gatwick Airport
Philip Church, aviation director, Egis
16.20-16.40
Closing keynote
Javier Echave, chief operating officer, Heathrow Airport
16.40
Closing reflections
Jane Thompson, deputy chair, BAG
… From 18.30
BAG Annual Dinner
The Brewery, Central London
AIR is supported by the British Aviation Group (BAG), the leading representative body for British companies involved in aviation and airport development and operations representing over 230 member companies from across the supply chain including world leaders in all aspects of aviation.
AIR 2026 is followed by the BAG Annual Dinner, taking place in Central London on Wednesday 30 September 2026.
Already a BAG member? Don’t forget to book to attend the BAG Annual Dinner!
If you are not a BAG member and would like to join our community, enquire now!