Agenda
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Keynote Talks
Barry Lennox
Professor of Applied Control
Talk Title: Robotics for Nuclear Decommissioning: Challenges, Developments and Deployments
Barry Lennox is Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Professor of Applied Control at The University of Manchester. He holds a RAEng Chair in Emerging Technologies and was the Director of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear (RAIN) Research Hub. Professor Lennox is also the academic lead for the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo) programme, which aims to deliver robotic technology to support the decommissioning of fission and fusion facilities in the UK and is the Deputy Academic Director of the CRADLE Prosperity Partnership between Amentum and The University of Manchester
Forum: From Policy to Practice: European Innovation and International Collaboration for Safety & Security
This session will explore how European safety and security strategies are translated into tangible innovation and operational impact—within Europe and beyond. Bringing together voices from the European Commission, funded research networks, international deployment efforts, and national case studies, the session will highlight the path from policy and research to real-world uptake, procurement, and deployment.
Keynotes are planned to cover the Preparedness Union Strategy, networked research and procurement pathways, deployment perspectives, and cutting-edge national efforts. The session will conclude with a panel discussion addressing opportunities for international collaboration, technology transfer, and advancing robotics in the safety and security domain.
Robbert Heinecke
Robbert Heinecke is a specialist at Futurised, an innovative Dutch company dedicated to applying new technological solutions that enhance safety through innovation & development. With over 25 years of ICT experience and as a incident commander at the fire department, Robbert combines deep technical expertise with operational knowledge. Robbert has led groundbreaking projects such as the design of reconnaissance robots, sensor platforms, and decision support systems. As the founder of Team Digital Exploration of the Dutch Fire Brigade, he has played a pivotal role in integrating drones, robots, and smart sensors to strengthen situational awareness and safety during critical and complex incidents.
Gordon MacMillan
Gordon served in the Royal Navy from 1974 - 1981 both ashore and onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. He joined the Hertfordshire Fire Brigade in 1982 and over his 26 year career worked as a fire investigator and brigade training officer. He was also involved in the national procurement project following the 9/11 attack in New York. In 2008 he became an independent consultant working in the field of disaster management and has worked nationally and across the globe. Alongside 6 international deployments as an EU Civil Protection specialist in disaster areas he has worked on the Orion exercise in 2010 and the Post Disaster Needs Assessment project in Albania in 2019. From 2006 to 2020 he was the lecturer and trainer for across a number of EU civil protection courses and exercises. He continues to consult with the Resilience Advisors Network and is currently working on the EU Horizon project DIREKTION.
Industry Panel
Gökhan Celik
Gokhan is an techno-entrepreneur with a software engineering degree and over 25 years of experience in business management, business development and international sales. As CEO, Gokhan is not only nurturing the innovation ecosystem internally but also focuses on building synergies with local and international SMEs and institutions. Gokhan’s intense focus on the UAS market since 2013, his technology background and business development experience combined with close interaction with defense and commercial end-users over years has given him a unique perspective which enables him to accurately define present and future customer requirements and concept of operations as well as the respective innovations and collaborations to make these happen and a valid business case to ensure sustainability.
Gonzalo Ejarque-Rinaldini, PhD
Gonzalo is an innovative engineer with over a decade of experience in automation and robotics, spanning aerospace, defense, and automotive sectors across America and Europe.
Currently a robotics specialist at Jaguar Land Rover, he leads efforts to integrate cutting-edge automation technologies into electric vehicle production. His recent work includes deploying quadruped robots for thermal inspection in industrial environments and developing high-precision 3D positioning motion control systems.
Gonzalo is passionate about applying emerging technologies to solve real-life problems and is inspired by the transformative potential of intelligent machines in industry.
Commander Mike Brunicardi
Commander Mike Brunicardi is currently the Officer in Charge of Naval Headquarters Planning and Policy Section. He is also the Navy lead in Research, Technology and Innovation. He has twenty-four-years service in the Irish Defence Forces. He joined in 2001 as an Operations Branch Cadet, following his Commissioning he served his time as an Officer Under Training and completed his professional qualifications. He has served across the fleet in various appointments and his last appointment at sea was as Officer Commanding LE JAMES JOYCE. He has also served in various appointments ashore including the Naval Operations, the Officer Training School, and Naval Headquarters. As the Navy's Research, Technology and Innovation lead, he is involved in assessing the Navy's potential and opportunities for the use of unmanned systems to augment and enhance Maritime Defence and Security Operations.
Julie Behan, PhD
Dr. Julie Behan is an accomplished research and development leader with over two decades of experience spanning academia, industry, and international collaborations. She currently serves as R&D Director at Reamda Ltd., where she drives the design and development of advanced robotic platforms, with a focus on Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) systems for military and security applications. In addition to her industry role, Dr. Behan has been awarded an Adjunct Professorship in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the University of Limerick, where she contributes to advancing education and research in robotics and embedded systems. Holding a PhD in Autonomous Robotics and a first-class honours degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Limerick, Dr. Behan has built an extensive career at the forefront of embedded systems, wireless sensing, and robotic innovation. Her expertise extends across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture, healthcare, and assisted living technologies. She has successfully led large-scale R&D programmes funded through Horizon Europe, Enterprise Ireland, and the European Defence Fund, and has collaborated with defence forces, government agencies, and international partners.