Mini Seminar Programme
Preparing connected digital products for the EU Cyber Resilience Act – Paul Wooderson, HORIBA MIRA
The Cyber Resilience Act will place significant new requirements on manufacturers of all products with digital elements that are sold into the EU, with the first of the requirements effective from September 2026. This presentation will provide an overview of the new regulation, in terms of both the technical requirements to be met by products and the process requirements for manufacturers throughout the product lifecycle. We will introduce the key activities required, including some of the less obvious implications, and outline the steps towards compliance.
Biography:
Paul Wooderson is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years’ experience in embedded and cyber physical systems security in the automotive and semiconductor domains. In his role as Chief Engineer for cybersecurity at HORIBA MIRA, Paul leads the delivery of cybersecurity engineering, testing and assurance solutions. He is a UK Expert to international standardisation working groups in ISO, SAE and CEN/CENELEC and has several publications on cybersecurity engineering. Paul is also a member of the UK Department for Transport College of Experts and a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at Swansea University.
AI Will Not Replace Reliability Engineers — But It Will Change How They Work – Simon Brailsford, Relyence UK
This presentation examines how AI can be integrated responsibly within FMEA and structured reliability engineering. It will explore where AI can add meaningful value to disciplined analysis, and just as importantly, where it should not be relied upon in decisions that affect safety.
The session will address governance, traceability and audit considerations, outlining how AI can be introduced without weakening accountability or methodological rigour. The focus is on ensuring that AI strengthens reliability engineering practice rather than diluting the principles it is built upon.
Biography:
Simon Brailsford has over 30 years’ experience supporting engineering teams in safety-critical industries including aerospace, automotive and electronics. Working with Relyence reliability software in the UK, he helps organisations apply structured methods such as FMEA and FRACAS to manage risk and improve product reliability. His recent work explores how artificial intelligence can support reliability engineering without compromising discipline or accountability.
Unlocking the Power and Value of Instrumentation, Testing and Measurement for the UK Rail Industry – James Riley, Serco Rail Technical Services
How are modern instrumentation and measurement technologies transforming rail testing, and moving the industry from periodic validation toward continuous, in-service, data-driven testing?
This presentation considers the complexities of operating environments, equipment, and regulatory standards that must be adhered to, while highlighting both the challenges and the benefits of this transition. It will also explore the value that can be achieved for operators and train users through improved data insights and testing practices.
Biography:
James is the Engineering Manager at Serco RTS. He has been in the role since December 2025 after being Principal Engineer in the team previously, joining the rail industry in July 2023. He leads the instrumentation, testing and measurement team delivering work for both new and existing rolling stock and rail infrastructure. Recently, James and his team have focused on developing and deploying a remote overhead line equipment (OLE) measurement system, while also expanding Serco RTS’s capabilities in rolling stock testing.
Challenges and Innovations in Extreme Temperature Testing – Vicki Wilkes, Darvick Ltd
Extreme temperature testing is essential for ensuring the reliability and performance of materials and systems used in demanding environments such as aerospace, energy, and advanced electronics. However, accurately replicating extreme thermal conditions presents significant challenges, including thermal gradients, instrumentation limits, and material degradation. This presentation will outline key challenges in extreme temperature testing and highlight some of the solutions developed.
Biography:
Vicki Wilkes, Darvick Ltd
With a BEng (Hons) in Materials Science and Engineering Vicki’s career has been focussed in and around the world of Materials Testing Technology. In 2003 Vicki and her husband, Darren, established Phoenix Materials testing Ltd, designing and supporting bespoke materials testing machines for customers around the world. Phoenix was sold in 2018, after a brief interim adventure setting up and running a Live Entertainment Venue, Vicki and Darren returned to materials testing in Dec 2020 with the establishment of Darvick Ltd. Based in Brierley Hill, Darvick specialises in developing equipment and services for mechanical testing under extreme environments, supporting R&D of product and materials technology in sectors such as Aerospace, Automotive, Pharmaceutical and Nuclear. Vicki is passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation and the UK manufacturing supply chain as a whole.
The Future of Materials Testing: AI, Automation & Sustainable Innovation – ZwickRoell
This presentation explores how artificial intelligence and automation are transforming materials testing processes, improving accuracy, efficiency, and scalability. It will also examine how sustainable practices are being integrated into testing methodologies to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance standards.