25th April 2019

Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar

with

Dr Eamonn Beirne, Head, Emerging Aviation Technologies, Department for Transport

Louis Barson, Deputy Director, Future Sectors, Business Growth Directorate, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Director, ARPAS-UK and Partner, The Drone Office

and

Martin Brandenburg, DJI; Jim Cranswick, NATS; Michael Gadd, Altitude Angel; Robert Garbett, Drone Major Group and British Standards Institution; Kathy Nothstine, Nesta; Professor Robert Richardson, University of Leeds and Jack Wrangham, Drone AG

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Note: fees apply for most delegates, but concessionary and complimentary places are available (subject to terms and conditions – see below).

This timely conference will consider next steps for the UK drones sector, looking at what is needed from policy and regulation to promote public trust in the use of drones, as well as supporting innovation and growth.

There will be keynote addresses from Dr Eamonn Beirne, Head, Emerging Aviation Technologies, Department for Transport, Louis Barson, Deputy Director, Future Sectors, Business Growth Directorate, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Director, ARPAS-UK and Partner, The Drone Office, as well as further speaking contributions from Martin Brandenburg, Managing Director, EMEA, DJI, Jim Cranswick, Head of Drone and UTM Programmes, NATS, Michael Gadd, Head of International Regulatory Affairs, Altitude Angel, Robert Garbett, Chief Executive, Drone Major Group and Chair, National Committee on Drone Standards, British Standards Institution, Kathy Nothstine, Lead, Future Cities, Challenge Prize Centre, Nesta, Professor Robert Richardson, Director, Institute of Design, Robotics and Optimisation and Director, EPSRC National Facility for Innovative Robotic Systems, University of Leeds and Jack Wrangham, Founder and Director, Drone AG.

Sector growth, safety and policy development

Following the recent high-profile disruption at Gatwick Airport resulting from drone misuse, the seminar will be an opportunity to discuss key priorities for enhancing standards of safety and public trust, whilst also driving continued development in the UK’s drones sector.

It takes place following the recent publication of the Government’s response to its consultation on drone safety and enforcement policy, as well as in the context of the upcoming publication of the draft Drones Bill.

The future of regulation

Further discussion will focus on key priorities for developing and streamlining regulatory processes to enable the routine conduct of fully-autonomous drone operations.

It comes as the CAA prepares to introduce a new registration system for drone operators, and following the award of up to £1m from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund to the CAA.

Delegates will also consider the future international regulatory environment and the implications for the UK – in the context of development of regulation by EASA with an emphasis of safety, innovation and support for growth, and the recent publication of a draft set of international drone standards by the ISO.

Innovation and new use cases

We also expect discussion on potential future developments in capability, new use cases, and the resulting regulatory and technical challenges – including facilitating Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight (BVLOS) operations on a routine basis, as well as enabling fully autonomous flight in densely populated airspaces such as major cities.

Summary of areas for discussion

• Safety and enforcement – including airspace management, operational restrictions, and ensuring that safety standards are maintained as the sector grows;
• Latest regulatory developments – impact of the regulation so far, introduction of the CAA’s drone registration system, upcoming EASA regulations, and achieving regulatory agility;
• New use cases – the latest developments in commercial applications of drones;
• Future outlook – potential developments in commercial drone use, including routine fully-autonomous and BVLOS operations, and emerging regulatory and technical challenges; and
• Policy priorities – outcomes from the Government’s consultation, and key priorities for future legislation in this area.

The agenda has been structured following consultation with officials at DfT. The draft agenda is copied below my signature, and a regularly updated version is available to download here. The seminar is organised on the basis of strict impartiality by the Westminster eForum. Follow us @WeFEvents for live updates.

Speakers

We are delighted to be able to include in this seminar keynote addresses from: Louis Barson, Deputy Director, Future Sectors, Business Growth Directorate, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Dr Eamonn Beirne, Head, Emerging Aviation Technologies, Department for Transport and Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Director, ARPAS-UK and Partner, The Drone Office.

Further confirmed speakers include: Martin Brandenburg, Managing Director, EMEA, DJI; Jim Cranswick, Head of Drone and UTM Programmes, NATS; Michael Gadd, Head of International Regulatory Affairs, Altitude Angel; Robert Garbett, Chief Executive, Drone Major Group and Chair, National Committee on Drone Standards, British Standards Institution; Kathy Nothstine, Lead, Future Cities, Challenge Prize Centre, Nesta; Professor Robert Richardson, Director, Institute of Design, Robotics and Optimisation and Director, EPSRC National Facility for Innovative Robotic Systems, University of Leeds and Jack Wrangham, Founder and Director, Drone AG.

Networking

This seminar will present an opportunity to engage with key policymakers and other interested parties, and is CPD certified (more details). Places have been reserved by officials from the Cabinet Office; DfT; DIT; Government Legal Department; Government Office for Science; HMRC; Home Office; HSE and the Welsh Government. Also due to attend are representatives from Air Accidents Investigation Branch; Animal Dynamics; ARPAS-UK; Blue Bear Systems Research; ByBox; Crop Angel; DJI; Dronetec UK; Eversheds Sutherland; Future Aerial Innovations; Heathrow Airport; Lloyd’s Market Association; Myton Law; NATS; NFU Mutual; Ocado Technology; Royds Withy King; RSM; Topcon Positioning andWeightmans.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group numbering around 120, including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior officials senior Government officials involved in this area of public policy, together with international and domestic drone manufacturers, law enforcement, blue light services, the defence and security sectors, telecommunications providers, major retailers and suppliers, representatives of the insurance industry, commercial drone operators, aerospace companies, building surveyors, the film and photography industry, weather forecasters, GIS suppliers, media businesses, their suppliers and their advisors, organisations and individuals representing the views of consumers and citizens, regulators, academics, analysts, consultants and lawyers with an interest in these areas, and reporters from the national and trade media.

Output and About Us

A key output of the seminar will be a transcript of the proceedings, sent out around 12 working days after the event to all attendees and a wider group of Ministers and officials at DfT, BEIS, DCMS and other government departments and agencies affected by the issues; and Parliamentarians with a special interest in these areas. It will also be made available more widely. This document will include transcripts of all speeches and questions and answers sessions from the day, along with access to PowerPoint presentations, speakers’ biographies, an attendee list, an agenda, sponsor information, as well as any subsequent press coverage of the day and any articles or comment pieces submitted by delegates. It is made available subject to strict restrictions on public use, similar to those for Select Committee Uncorrected Evidence, and is intended to provide timely information for interested parties who are unable to attend on the day.

All delegates will receive complimentary PDF copies and are invited to contribute to the content.

The Westminster eForum is strictly impartial and cross-party, and draws on the considerable support it receives from within Parliament and Government, and amongst the wider stakeholder community. The Forum has no policy agenda of its own. Forum events are frequently the platform for major policy statements from senior Ministers, regulators and other officials, opposition spokespersons and senior opinion-formers in industry and interest groups. Events regularly receive prominent coverage in the national and trade media.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form.

Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions below.

Please pay in advance by credit card on 01344 864796. If advance credit card payment is not possible, please let me know and we may be able to make other arrangements.

Options and charges are as follows:

• Places at Next steps for the drone sector – promoting sector growth, achieving public trust, and the draft Drones Bill (including refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £230 plus VAT;
• Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded individuals and those in similar circumstances are £85 plus VAT. Please be sure to apply for this at the time of booking.

For those who cannot attend:

• Copies of the briefing document, including full transcripts of all speeches and the questions and comments sessions and further articles from interested parties, will be available approximately 12 days after the event for £95 plus VAT;
• Concessionary rate: £50 plus VAT.

If you find the charge for places a barrier to attending, please let me know as concessionary and complimentary places are made available in certain circumstances (but do be advised that this typically applies to individual service users or carers or the like who are not supported by or part of an organisation, full-time students, people between jobs or who are fully retired with no paid work, and representatives of small charities – not businesses, individuals funded by an organisation, or larger charities/not-for-profit companies). Please note terms and conditions below (including cancellation charges).

The core sponsors of the Westminster eForum are: Arqiva, the British Broadcasting Corporation, BT and KPMG.

Westminster eForum is a division of Westminster Forum Projects Limited. Registered in England & Wales No. 3856121.

FINANCIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The delegate fee includes copies of the presentations via PDF and refreshments. Cancellation policy is as follows: (1) cancellations 14 or more days before the event: £75+VAT cancellation fee per delegate; (2) cancellations less than 14 days before the event: full fee applies. Promotion cancellation fee applies to all Five for Four offer places. Cancellations must be submitted via the website. If you are unable to submit your cancellation via the website then the cancellation must be notified in writing to the Westminster eForum. No charge will be made for replacement delegates. Transfer of any confirmed booking between events is not possible. The organisers reserve the right to alter the programme and change the speakers without prior notice. The Westminster eForum is unable to grant extended credit and therefore must request that full payment be made within 30 days from the date of invoice; immediate payment on receipt of invoice less than 14 days before the event. Should payment not be received within the stated terms, Westminster eForum will apply an administration charge of £40+VAT.

Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar:

Next steps for the drone sector – promoting sector growth, achieving public trust,

and the draft Drones Bill

Timing: Morning, Thursday, 25^th April 2019

Venue: Central London

Draft agenda subject to change