Agenda for the Connected Digital Twins Summit

Join the DT Hub at Convene Sancroft, Rose St, Paternoster Square, London EC4M 7DQ on 19-20 March 2025

We are delighted to announce that our Connected Digital Twins Summit is a feature of the Connected Places Summit taking place from 19-20 March 2025, with a packed in-person and online programme.

Here is what we have planned so far:

IN-PERSON PROGRAMME for Wednesday 19 March

11:30 A cross-sectoral view to accelerating progress: ​UK data sharing infrastructure
This session will delve into the critical role of data sharing infrastructure in accelerating progress in digital transformation across various sectors in the UK.
Justin Anderson, Director, Digital Twin Hub (Chair), Gavin Starks, Co-Chair of Smart Data Council, Department for Business and Trade, and Founder and CEO, Icebreaker One, Sarah Hayes, Chair, Data Sharing Working Group, and Strategic Advisor, Connected Places Catapult , Melissa Zanocco OBE, Chair, Digital Twin Hub Community Council and Capital Projects & Infrastructure Advisory, Accenture 

12:00 AI and digital twins: in conversation with Lord Clement-Jones CBE
Given the UK Government’s recent announcement on the role of AI in our society, how can this technology be used to overcome technical and socio-technical challenges to connecting digital twins, and what value could this bring to managing systems or critical infrastructure to benefit people and places?  
Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE, Speaker, AI and Creative Industries in conversation with Dr Alison Vincent CBE, Chair, Digital Twin Hub Board and Non-Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult

12:30 COMPASS: National Highways’ organisational digital twin
Get a first-hand look at National Highways’ Organisational Twin, its use cases, and how the organisation is defining ROI.
Gergely Raccuja, Product Manager, National Highways and JJ Van de Vyver, Consultant, Visual Meaning

14:00 Towards a federated network of transport systems
As the Transport Research and Innovation Board (TRIB) Roadmap progresses, what related steps and actions are supporting the transport sector to become more connected?
Miranda Sharp, Kaiasm and Data Valuation Expert, Department for Business and Trade (Chair), George Economides, Head of Digital Twins, Department for Transport, Davin Crowley-Sweet, CEO, National Highways, Chris Stanley, Head of Asset Data, Network Rail, Anna Watt, Transport Research Lead, Transport for West Midlands

14:30 How is energy becoming greener and more affordable?
How is energy optimisation advancing sustainability and affordability? Join the discussion on the path to a greener future.
Ankit Patel, Principal Consultant, Energy and Digital, Arup (Chair), Guy Newey, CEO Energy Systems Catapult, Daniel Marsden, Group Product Manager, EON, Kjell Ericksen, Vice President, DNV, Sol Anuita, Executive Director Infrastructure and Energies, TCE 

15:00 Collaborating for impact: Challenges and opportunities of cross-sector data sharing 
Learn about the CReDO project – gain a deeper understanding of how data sharing can overcome sector-specific barriers and contribute to broader, more effective solutions to information sharing and improve decision-making for the benefit of people and places.
Alanna Gluck, Delivery and Engagement Manager, Connected Places Catapult (Chair), Melissa Tallack, Managing Director, C2Life,  Elliot Christou, Data and Technical Lead, Connected Places Catapult, Jonathan Barcroft, Virtual Energy System Common Framework Manager, NESO

16:00 Purpose, Value and Trust: multi-party digital twin and data sharing projects
Sarah Cameron, Legal Director, Pinsent Masons (Chair), Andrew Newman, Principal Data Specialist, Open Data Institute, Carolyn Lang, Senior Associate, Pinsent Masons, Steve Brewer, Senior Research Fellow, University of Lincoln

16:30 Innovation pitch: Cybersecurity strategies for sustainable savings
Discover how innovation, cybersecurity, and cost-saving strategies can reshape transportation. Learn how SMEs and advanced solutions can boost resilience and drive sustainable growth.
Evan Jones, Lead Security Architect, Complete Cyber

16:40 Digital innovation futures
Understand the role of data and digital innovation in shaping the future, and how we can build a secure, trusted society for all.
Mark Enzer OBE, Council for Science and Technology, Government Office for Science, and Fellow, Mott MacDonald

VIRTUAL PROGRAMME for Thursday 20 March

09:30-11:30 General sessions chaired by Daniel Block, Product Manager, Digital Twin Hub

11:30-11:40 Connecting digital twins – A welcome by Justin Anderson, Director, Digital Twin Hub

11:40-12:00 Making waves: Advancing marine digital twins with the Gemini Framework
Explores how two pioneering marine digital twin projects—the Marine Autonomous Systems Digital Twin (MAS-DT) and the SyncED-Ocean Demonstrator—are leveraging the Gemini Framework to share data, adopt common approaches, and enhance marine research.

12:00-12:30 Showcasing innovation and collaboration in the energy and transport sectors
A digital twin of Bristol Temple Meads, providing a comprehensive view of the station’s operations and energy consumption, presented by Nick Tune, CEO/Co-Founder, Optimise AI
Building an integrated and resilient transport network with synthetic environments, presented by Michael Gunadi, VP Enterprise, Hadean

12:30-13:00 Trust, ethics and assurance: Digital twins in healthcare
The panel explores multifaceted challenges and opportunities of connected digital twins in health and healthcare, highlighting cross-domain insights informing cardiovascular digital twins for precision medicine
With Chris Burr, The Alan Turing Institute (Chair), Prof. Steven Niederer, Chair in Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, Dr Camila Rangel Smith, Senior Research Data Scientist, The Alan Turing Institute,  Prof. Tim Chico, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Sheffield, Dr Serena Marshall, Senior Researcher, DNV

14:00-14:30 Workforce foresighting for cyber-physical security in tunnels: How can digital twins support cyber-physical security in road transport?
The panel looks at human-machine teams and their role in detecting, preventing, and responding to cyber-physical threats — particularly in critical infrastructure such as tunnels.
With Daniel Block, Digital Twin Hub Product Manager (Chair), Andres Martell, Design Futures Team Lead, Connected Places Catapult, Matthew Short, Director, Workforce Foresighting Hub at Innovate UK, and National Highways

14:30-15:00 The DIATOMIC programme, focused on the West Midlands
With Iain Mansell, Head of West Midlands, Connected Places Catapult (Chair), and academic partners

15:00-15:30 Advancing the UK’s digital twin ecosystem
The panel explores the transformative potential of digital twins in the UK, focusing on cross-sector and programme collaboration.
With Dr Alison Vincent CBE, Chair, Digital Twin Hub Board and Non-Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult, Tom Houston, Head of Industry Engagement, Digital Catapult, Jonathan Eyre, Senior Research Fellow, AMRC

16:00-16:30 Smart seas: Enhancing maritime operations with digital solutions 
Steps towards a ‘smart port’ evaluating aspects of infrastructure, technology, and processes to determine preparedness for digital transformation.
Mark Wray, Maritime Ecosystem Director, Connected Places Catapult (Chair)

16:30-16:50 Smart seas: Project focus from Entopy