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Join us at the Institute for Safe Autonomy (ISA) at the University of York for a day dedicated to accelerating innovation and safety in autonomous systems.

This event is an opportunity for industry colleagues to see the Institute’s research in action, understand how it addresses real-world challenges and connect directly with researchers and industry peers to discuss future collaborations and shape the future of our research.

The event will feature demonstrations of our research, showcasing how we’re tackling the real-world challenges of adoption of autonomous systems, robotics and supporting technologies (including AI and advanced communications), as well as a chance to discover how cross-sector partnerships are unlocking new commercial frontiers in safe autonomy and responsible AI.

Demonstrations will include:

• Ground-based and aerial robotics
• Solar energy farm inspection using autonomous systems
• Surveillance, monitoring and inspection of indoor, outdoor and underwater environments.
• Safety and assurance framework development and assessments
• Quantum, radio and underwater communications

What to expect:

• Networking sessions with key industry and academic researchers
• Panel discussions on the value of collaboration in the context of AI and autonomous systems
• Opportunities to explore future collaborations

Who should attend:

Industry leaders and professionals from all sectors interested in the safe use of autonomous systems, robotics and AI; their design, safety assurance, and the resilient and secure communications technologies that support their deployment.

We are extending invitations to connections working in aerospace, maritime, rail, automotive, telecommunications, defence, energy, health and advanced manufacturing sectors, but all are welcome and we would love to see you in York.

Registration has now closed.

Agenda:

09:30 - 10:00

Arrivals and check in

10:00 - 10:10

Welcome address from ISA Directors

Dr Ana MacIntosh and Professor John McDermid OBE FREng

10:10 - 10:40

Introduction from ISA Pillar Leads

10:40 - 11:00

Morning break

11:00 - 12:00

Demonstrations and presentations (Part one)

12:00 - 12:45

Panel One: Collaboration at ISA: The Value of Effective Partnerships

Speakers:  Dr Helen Monkhouse, Chief Engineer - Functional Safety, Horiba Mira; Elaine Scott , Director of  Innovation​​​​, Port of Tyne; Vasia Passaris, Senior Policy Advisor, Open Innovation Team; Prof David Grace, Communications Lead, Institute for Safe Autonomy; Prof Simon Burton, Chair in Systems Safety, Institute for Safe Autonomy; Dr Ana MacIntosh, Co-Director, Institute for Safe Autonomy (Chair)

12:45 - 13:15

Lunch

13:15 - 14:15

Demonstrations and presentations (Part two)

14:15 - 15:00

Panel Two: Safety in the Age of AI and Autonomy

Speakers: Dr Bernard Twomey, Regulatory Development (Maritime), Kongsberg Maritime; Antonia Walpole, Priority Projects Lead Regulatory Innovation Office, DSIT; Prof Ana Cavalcanti, Design and Verification Lead, Institute for Safe Autonomy; Dr John Molloy, Research Innovation Fellow, Institute for Safe Autonomy; Prof John McDermid, Co-Director, Institute for Safe Autonomy (Chair)

15:00 - 15:30

Q&A session

15:30 - 15:55

Networking session and pre-arranged meetings

15:55 - 16:00

Closing comments by ISA Directors

(Agenda subject to change)

Getting to the Institute for Safe Autonomy, University of York

Whether you're arriving by train, car, or plane, reaching the University of York is easy. We’re well-connected with excellent rail links, direct access to major road networks, and quick connections to international airports. The Institute is committed to the Green Impact Initiative, and we encourage visitors to travel sustainably where possible.

By public transport: Heslington East Campus has a bus terminal a 5 minute walk from the building, along with bike storage outside. York train station is accessible, with buses running directly to Heslington East.

By car: The Grimston Bar Park and Ride is a 15 - 20 minute walk from campus. Accessible parking is also available on Heslington East - the campus map indicates the location.

For further information on transport, maps and parking, visit the University of York transport page.

Photography

Photography will be taking place throughout the day. Images may be used for promotional purposes. If you would prefer not to be photographed, please let a member of staff know on arrival. For full details, please see the University of York privacy statement.

About the speakers:

Dr Helen Monkhouse, Chief Engineer - Functional Safety, Horiba Mira

Helen Monkhouse is a Chief Engineer in Functional Safety at HORIBA MIRA, working on the safety of advanced and automated systems. She completed her PhD at the University of York in 2022, where her research examined hazard causes in shared control for automated driving. Helen’s work has had practical impact on how complex safety risks are identified, reasoned about, and managed in real‑world safety‑relevant programmes, helping bridge research insight with engineering and operational decision‑making.

Dr Bernard Twomey, Regulatory Development (Maritime)

Bernard has over 12 years’ Merchant Navy experience, combined with strong academic and industrial credentials. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of York (2025) and a BEng (Hons) in Electro-Mechanical Power Engineering from Loughborough University of Technology (1993). 

His academic roles include Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Assuring Autonomy, University of York; Visiting Fellow at the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law, Swansea University; and Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde. His career spans Lloyd’s Register, manufacturing, research, consultancy, and regulatory development, alongside advisory to the Danish Maritime Authority at the IMO, and standards-related roles in the maritime sector.

Elaine Scott, Director of Innovation, Port of Tyne

Elaine is an experienced innovation leader with responsibilities in strategic partnerships, innovation projects and programmes to deliver decarbonisation and digitalisation transformation outcomes at the Port of Tyne and 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub. Works with partners, clients and stakeholders to support better economic growth and skills in the region and the UK. Member of Zenzic’s Port Automation Working Group and North East Space Leadership Group.

Antonia Walpole, Project Lead at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's Regulatory Innovation Office.

Antonia Walpole is a Project Lead at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's Regulatory Innovation Office. Her current focus is on the RIO's robotics portfolio, where she works with partners across the breadth of the regulatory landscape to remove barriers to robotics adoption. 

Vasia Passaris, Senior Policy Advisor, Open Innovation Team

Vasia is an experienced civil servant who has worked across multiple government departments and policy areas. She currently works in the Open Innovation Team, a cross-government unit which generates ideas and analysis for policy by engaging with external experts and academics. Recently she has worked on projects at the intersection of AI and policy, working on a project assessing the safety and efficiency of EdTech products and most recently exploring how AI can better support the policy profession within the civil service. Vasia also leads on a partnership held between the University of York and the OIT. She is keen to share her knowledge on how research can be translated for policy and how experts can better engage with officials and decision makers.

Prof  David Grace, Communications Lead, Institute for Safe Autonomy

David Grace is a Research Professor and pillar lead for Communications in the Institute for Safe Autonomy at the University of York. He has interests in developing wireless communications for use with connected and robotic systems.  Research includes 5G/6G O-RAN systems, which has supported York leading the DSIT funded YO-RAN and REACH projects.  He instigated Lab of North which supports advanced connectivity projects via collaboration involving large industry, SMEs, local government, specialist facilities and universities.  He is involved in Robustient, an emerging ISA spin-out, which is delivering ultra-reliable wireless communications for connected autonomous systems, including for ports and logistics. 

Prof Simon Burton, Chair in Systems Safety, Institute for Safe Autonomy

Professor Simon Burton, PhD, holds the Chair of Systems Safety at the University of York, UK and is also Business Director of the Centre for Assuring Autonomy. He graduated in computer science at the University of York in 1996, where he also achieved his PhD on the topic of the verification of safety-critical software in 2001. Professor Burton has worked in various safety-critical industries, including more than 20 years as a senior manager in automotive companies. During this time, Simon managed research and development projects and led consulting, engineering services, product, and research organisations in various director-level positions. Simon’s personal research interests include the safety assurance of complex, autonomous systems and the safety of machine learning. He has published numerous academic articles covering a wide variety of perspectives within these fields, such as the application of formal methods to software testing, the joint consideration of safety and security in system analysis and design, as well as regulatory considerations and addressing gaps in the moral and legal responsibility of artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems. Professor Burton initiated the ISO working group ISO TC22/SC32/WG14 “Road Vehicles—Safety and AI” and was convenor of this group until February 2026. As part of this role he alos led the development of the standard ISO PAS 8800 “Safety and AI” released in December 2024. 

Prof Ana Cavalcanti, Design and Verification Lead, Institute for Safe Autonomy

Ana Cavalcanti holds a Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies. She is Director of the RoboStar centre on Software Engineering for Robotics, and Academic Leader for the Institute’s Design and Verification Pillar.  Her work is on rigorous approaches to modelling, testing, simulation, and deployment that can provide evidence of key qualities of a software.  RoboStar  is one of the largest groups in the world working to improve the state of the art and practice in software development for robotics. RoboStar has a presence in academia and industry from around the world: Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, and Norway.

Dr John Molloy, Research Innovation Fellow, Institute for Safe Autonomy

Dr John Molloy is a Research Fellow specialising in the safety, assurance, and performance of autonomous and intelligent systems, with an emphasis on the maritime sector. He currently serves as Business Delivery Manager, and Maritime Sector Lead at the Centre for Assuring Autonomy, University of York, leading a diverse range of programmes
including Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). His work focuses on developing rigorous safety frameworks for maritime operations, commercial-scale autonomous vessels. Previously, at the National Physical Laboratory, where he pioneered work on test, and evaluation of autonomous systems,
focusing on maritime situational awareness.

About the speakers