With years of diverse experience in automation working across multiple sectors, it is my pleasure to support the industry’s advancement in processing, packaging, robotics and vision technologies. I am committed to the growth of our industry and I take pride in supporting and guiding the industry professionals through my role at Automate-UK, ensuring that automation remains at the heart of modern manufacturing.

Dr. Seemal Asif is a Chartered Engineer and Senior Lecturer in Robotics and AI at Cranfield University, where she leads the Intelligent Flexible Robotics Assembly (IFRA) group. With over 14 years of experience in academia and industry, her expertise spans robotics control, AI, software architecture, and human-robot collaboration. She is Investigator on multiple EPSRC and ATI-funded projects and is committed to advancing ethical, human-centred automation. A Fellow of both the Higher Education Academy and the Women’s Engineering Society.

With a strong foundation in Mechanical Engineering. His career began in core engineering disciplines before expanding into academia, research, and the development of healthcare technologies, including vaccines, where he specialized at the interface of digital and process systems in developing modern manufacturing modalities. Since joining Britvic in 2021, Yianni has led complex, cross-functional engineering initiatives focused on sustainability, circular economy strategies, and advanced manufacturing systems design. In his current role, he works on the digitisation of turnkey modular manufacturing techniques, bridging R&D with production while applying rigorous engineering thinking to drive automation-enabled innovation from concept through to execution. His expertise spans the integration of digital technologies with manufacturing processes, enabling the transition from traditional to modern automated production systems.

I'm a Solution Consultant for Rockwell Automation, specialising in Edge to Cloud data integration. I work closely with OEMs across the UK and Ireland, helping them navigate the evolving landscape of automated manufacturing. My background blends 20+ years of hands-on automation engineer experience with strategic consulting, and I’m particularly passionate about how AI and digital tools can unlock real value on the production line.