Month: May 2025

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Protected: ARPAS-UK Annual Conference 2025: A Review

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Bird & Bird: UAS Roundtable: 7 May 2025

Timing: 7 May 2025 16.00-18.00

Location: Bird & Bird London, 12 Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1JP

Bird & Bird’s UAS Roundtable provides a forum for those working in the UAS industry to network in an informal environment, explore industry trends and exchange views on matters of common interest.

Anyone interested in joining this event, please contact Simon Phippard or Helen Barker at Bird & Bird

Agenda:

Discussion 1 – African Drone Industry Perspectives

We frequently hear how many of the more ambitious BVLOS drone operations are now taking place in the developing world. It is therefore a great pleasure that Jonty Slater, Co-Chair of the African Drone Forum, has agreed to lead a discussion around his perspectives of drone operations in Africa. Can these operations scale beyond trials, and if so do they have lessons for the UK or other first world territories, given the gap between African use cases and western regulatory environments? Are there lessons to be drawn from the scale of drone industry employment in China.

Discussion 2: Artificial Intelligence

Following the last Round Table’s discussion on the EU Data Act and its application to connected vehicles, we cannot ignore AI and its application to robotic technology and autonomous technology. Will Bryson, Senior Associate in Bird & Bird’s Tech Transactions team in London, will brief delegates on the commercial and legal considerations surrounding the development, deployment, and sourcing of AI systems, including the complexities for contracting for AI.

Bird & Bird

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1 May 2025

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Excited to welcome Craig Lippett and Amanda Smith at ARPAS-UK’s Board and Advisory Board.

Graham Brown stepped down as Chair of ARPAS-UK but remains a Director, focusing on Education and Careers in Drones.

Cranfield University provided an excellent venue to hold the ARPAS-UK AGM and Annual Conference – and they even came through on the weather. What a sun-filled, glorious day! We extend our thanks to Professor Braithwaite’s Team and Alex Williamson for all their help and support.

Evolution of the Board of Directors

The AGM covered Association business.

  • We thank Chris Daniels of FlareBright for his time and support as a Director as he steps down as Director but remains engaged with the organisation as part of the Advisory Board.
  • Aleks Kowalski stepped down by rotation and was re-elected as a Director.
  • In addition, members elected Craig Lippett, of Eagle Eye Innovations, as a Director. Craig will focus on Policy and Regulation.

Craig stated, ‘I’m delighted to be appointed as a Director of ARPAS-UK for the coming year. I look forward to bringing my drone sector experience, knowledge and network to bear in addressing the key questions and challenges facing our members in the various drone use cases they seek to deliver and expand in the future. The focus naturally is on the evolving regulation landscape, how they may impact member’s business cases and how the Association will support them in engaging with the regulator to provide feedback on key subjects such as UK SORA and Drone Class Marking. I aim to provide a focal point for those efforts in the coming months‘.

  • Graham Brown has now stepped down as Chair of ARPAS-UK but remains a Director, focusing on Education and Careers in Drones. We thank him for all his tireless energy in promoting the UK drone industry and ARPAS-UK members for the past 7 years.

The Board of Directors at ARPAS-UK

ARPAS-UK Board of Directors

Evolution of the Advisory Board

  • Amanda Smith, Drone Programme Lead at Sellafield Ltd, steps up to chair the Advisory Board and takes on Graham’s mantle of Drone Promotion. Amanda will serve as ARPAS-UK’s figurehead championing industry adoption and engagement with end-users. We welcome her to the role.
  • Joining her on the Advisory Board are Emily Butt, Leicestershire Search & Rescue Drone Lead, Phil Hicks, Pravo Consulting, Mike Hibberd, Texo, Rowley Cory-Wright & Matt Rake, StirlingX.

A strong team!

Updated Advisory Board at ARPAS-UK

1 May 2025

Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Director and CEO, also presented the 2024 financial results of ARPAS-UK.

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Would you like to get in touch with us? Contact [email protected]