Mike was based in Geneva from 2003 where he was responsible for multiple manufacturing facilities in Belgium, France, Italy, UK and Eastern Europe. Immediately prior to his move to Geneva, Mike was President of Perkins Engines based in Peterborough from March 1995 through the acquisition by Caterpillar in March 1998.

He was SMMT President 2002/3 and EEF President 2003/5.He has been President of Walker Manufacturing based in Racine, near Chicago US from October 1993.Walker is a division of Tenneco Inc., and he was, for the previous eight years (1985-1993), with Walker's sister company in automotive parts, Monroe where Mike started in 1985 as Managing Director of Monroe Australia in Adelaide, and was then promoted to Managing Director of Monroe Europe in Brussels in 1987.

Mike's career prior to Tenneco included a brief period at Compair Broomwade in High Wycombe as Manufacturing Director, prior to which he was at Quinton Hazell from 1977 to 1985, the last four years as Manufacturing Director. His start in working life was at Automotive Products in Leamington Spa, where he completed a BSc sandwich course degree in Mechanical Engineering followed by an MA in Business Analysis. He also spent a year in Kenya on Voluntary Service Overseas.Mike was born in Norfolk, UK and is married with two sons.

Whilst at Ford, Royan gained extensive operational experience at managerial level covering a wide variety of motor industry disciplines including Transmission and Chassis, Foundry, Radiator and Engine manufacture.

He joined Toyota Manufacturing UK Ltd in October 1990 as General Manager of the Deeside Engine Plant playing a vital role in the establishment of this new Green Field venture. He was promoted to the Board of Toyota Manufacturing UK Ltd in 1996.

Royan joined Rolls-Royce in November 2000 as Managing Director of Compressor Systems, leading his team successfully, commissioning of a brand new £85m volume aerofoil factory at Inchinnan, Scotland. He also led the recently formed Rotatives Business Unit.

He is married and has five children. His interests include fell walking, golf and rugby, which he coaches at mini/midi level at Chester RFC.

After an early career at Ford of Britain, Mike joined Jaguar in 1974 as the Director of Product and Plant Engineering. In 1977 he was appointed Plant Director of Jaguar, Browns Lane Plant and in 1978 he became Director of Manufacturing at Jaguar. He was appointed Executive Director, Manufacturing and Engineering in 1999 and Managing Director in 2001. He retired from Jaguar Cars Ltd in May 2003.

A Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers he is involved in promoting engineering and manufacturing as an exciting career to school children in addition to promoting training and education within manufacturing industries.

Born in Slough in 1943, Mike lives in Balsall Common, England. His hobbies include collecting antique cameras and model engineering.

He was awarded the CBE for his work with the Birmingham New Deal Task Force and other employment initiatives in the 2002 New Year's Honours List.

Prior to joining PAIG as Chief Executive Paul enjoyed a thirty seven year career at Rolls-Royce plc. His most recent appointment was as Executive Vice President - Global Purchasing Operations. In this role he was accountable for the Global supplier Performance covering Operational Purchasing, Quality, Supplier Development and Manufacturing Engineering.

Having started his life as a design engineer and completing his education at Bristol Polytechnic and Warwick University, Paul held a number of Management posts in Manufacturing Operations. In 1990 he moved from his native Bristol to the Company HQ in Derby where he continued to hold senior posts managing at one time up to seven of the Company's UK Manufacturing sites.

In 1998 following a major re-organisation he was appointed to Managing Director - Combustion Systems. He was accountable for the Design, Development, Manufacturing and Purchasing of the full range of the Company's Combustion Products.

Following four successful years in this role he was moved to the USA as Vice President- Operations in the Company's largest North American site in Indianapolis. What started as a two year secondment lasted three and a half years. The role embraced the Design, Development, Manufacturing, Assembly and Test for a wide range of Gas Turbine Engine's for the Corporate and Regional Markets together with a number of Helicopter Engines for civil and military applications. A significant operational turn around in delivery and quality performance was complemented by him leading the re-negotiation of the Union Contract with the UAW. This successful outcome delivered some unprecedented breakthroughs in attitude and contractual changes. He returned in 2002 to assume his role in Purchasing.

Having spent his working life in the Aerospace sector on a Global basis he has gained a deep appreciation of the needs of the Industry and importantly its customers.

In 2002 Paul was awarded the MBE for services to the Community and in particular Education in deprived areas.

He is married with Three Children and a recent addition of a Grandson. A keen sportsman he played over 500 games of senior Rugby and was Captain of his Club for Five years. Due to time constraints the occasional visit to the Gym is the extent of his physical activities these days.

He is also a vice-president and president-elect of the Society of British Aerospace Companies Ltd. He was formerly group Managing Directorof GEC-Marconi Avionics and chief executive of Hughes Aircraft (Europe). He is also a vice-president and president-elect of the Society of British Aerospace Companies Ltd.

Jon started his career at the Department of Trade and Industry in 1979 and enjoyed a series of hugely interesting postings that took in IT, R&D and industrial policy, particularly in the aerospace and defence industries. In 1995, Jon undertook a secondment to the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) where he led ground breaking work on the competitiveness of the UK aerospace supply chain and Anglo/US aerospace relations. Following his secondment to the SBAC, in January 1998, he joined GKN as Manager, Government Affairs. In this role, Jon worked within GKN's helicopter, defence and aerospace portfolio. In 2003, he became Director of Government Affairs operating out of the GKN Corporate structure. In a truly global role, he now has broad responsibility for GKN's contact with governments and government organisations in the countries that GKN operates in.

Jon is married with three children and passionately follows Arsenal Football Club and Wales rugby in his spare time.

Paul was previously Director of Civil Air Transport and Communications at the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC). He joined SBAC in 2005 and helped to devise and implement a major change programme. This resulted in a significant increase in membership, reduced operating costs and a strengthened relationship with Government.

At SBAC Paul had specific responsibility for environmental and safety issues. Launching the world's first Sustainable Aviation strategy and helping to establish the pro-aviation campaign, FlyingMatters. During 2006 he oversaw SBAC activities at the Farnborough International airshow and helped to promote UK companies at a range of major international events.

Before joining SBAC, Paul was Head of Communications, Economics and Policy at SMMT. He played a major role in launching and developing the motor industry sustainability report, the annual CO2 report and took a lead on a range of high profile policy campaigns, including the End of Life Vehicle directive, Block Exemption and the Climate Change Levy. Paul supported the Automotive Innovation and Growth Team, helping to establish the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership and the Vehicle Industry Policy and European Regulation group, VIPER.

Previously Paul was deputy Director of the British Road Federation and has more than 17 years experience of public policy and media campaigns in the transport sector

Paul is married with two children and lives in Hackney.

emda is also the lead RDA for Manufacturing and Construction, European programmes and State Aids, International trade and investment and employment relations.

He retired from the position of Managing Director of Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Limited in 2004. As Managing Director he was responsible for the plants at Burnaston, Derbyshire and Deeside, North Wales. Having been involved with the Company from its inception he saw the Company expand, doubling its initial investment to £1.7 bn. Building Avensis and Corolla models, the company exports to over 100 countries including Japan.

He joined Toyota in February 1990 having spent the previous 23 years with Ford Motor Company. During his career, he has worked in many disciplines holding senior positions and managing several different plants in the UK and Europe covering the full range of vehicle manufacturing.

He was Chairman of the East Midlands Regional Council of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in 2000/2 and he is active in the field of economic development and education, both locally and nationally. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to the motor industry and he was a made a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2004. He is currently a Governor of Landau Forte School in Derby.

As well as being Chairman of emda, Bryan sits on the DTI Manufacturing Forum, Manufacturing Advisory Service Development Board, Strategic Forum Olympic Task Group Forum and is a board member of Industry Forum.

He is currently an adviser to Toyota Motor Europe, as well as Chairman of Total Motivation, a company specialising in efficiency and personal development and Deputy Chairman of Unipart Manufacturing Group.

Bryan is married with two children and lists golf as his main hobby.

In 1987, he led the successful management buyout of the Company and began the process of changing not only the culture of the Company, but also the whole philosophy by which the Business was run. The Company is operated by a stakeholder management philosophy with almost half the business owned by Managers and employees. The Company has set out to be World Class in terms of its operational performance and is listed as one of the top ten largest private companies in the UK.

John Neill's other interests include Business in the Community, where he is a member of the Council and Board as well as being a Non-Executive Director of Charter PLC and Royal Mail Holdings plc. He was also formerly a Director of the Bank of England.

He is Vice President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders as well as a Director of the SMMT Industry Forum. John is Vice-President of The Institute of the Motor Industry and a council member of the Institute of Directors. John is also Vice-President of BEN and a Trustee of the National Motor Museum.

John Neill was educated at George Heriot's School, Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde. He gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree and then a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, Middlesex University and De Montfort University and is also a Vice President and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

John is married to Jackie and they have two sons, Richard and Alexander. His interests include tennis, skiing and motorsports.

An experienced and tested leader with proven results in major multinational Corporations, Mike has a strong background in all aspects of Supply Management, with executive responsibility for directing multi-billion dollar spends.

Mike has had a successful career in Manufacturing and Supply Management at both General Motors and Delphi Corporation. Before joining Rolls-Royce on 15 March, 2006, Mike was Executive Director Delphi Supply Management / EMAC Corporate Director responsible for global direct material spends and leading lean transition towards a strategic, cost based, procurement process.

Mike currently sits on the Board of Institute of Supplier Management and the Industry Forum Board.

He has worked for Corus and its predecessor, British Steel for over 26 years starting as a graduate trainee in Llanwern, South Wales and moving through a range of first line supervision and manufacturing management jobs in steelmaking and rolling before moving to North Wales and the steel coating operations based at Shotton in North Wales. After a years exchange with a transportation company in North America he returned to run the coil coatings business within British steel and the Corus ( Corus Colors ) which had operations in France, Netherlands and Turkey as well as the UK. He took up his current assignment 5 years ago.

It was through the development of this aspect of his career that he acquired a Master of Education degree and later took the post as Technical Director with the Sector Skills Council, SEMTA.

Within this role, Bill has developed SEMTA as a leading industry champion for training linked to national qualifications. He works closely with awarding bodies, government agencies such as the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and Funding Agencies across the United Kingdom. His role also actively involves working with the captains of the engineering industry to ensure that the qualifications and standards underpinning national qualifications reflect accurately the needs of sector they serve. To this end, Bill played a key role in delivering the national Sector Skills Agreement for Engineering focussing on the development of labour market intelligence with a particular emphasis for skills gaps and shortages within the sector. He has also been actively involved in the establishment of the recently launched National Skills Academy for Manufacturing.

Bill is a member of the SMMT Industry Forum Board and was the first Chair of the RDI Licensing Body at its incorporation and launch in March 2006, and has been prominent in driving forward the actions needed to achieve the aims and objectives of one of the countries first Community Interest Companies

He spent 18 years with the company in a number of posts including Manufacturing Engineering Director, responsible for the team specifying and implementing the 'K' series engine factory. This included the period when the company forged a collaborative venture with Honda.

In 1993 he joined TI subsidiary, Bundy (UK), an operation which is responsible for supplying fluid carrying systems to the automotive, refrigeration and industrial markets, as Managing Director.

The operation supplied every vehicle assembly located within the UK. A multi-faceted business improvement was implemented; including the construction of a purpose designed factory in Telford. He moved on to become Global Manufacturing and Process Technology Director for Bundy International.

In September 1996 Graham Broome joined SMMT Industry Forum as Chief Executive.

In the first ten years of his tenure as Chief Executive, SMMT Industry Forum has become the model for fourteen other UK Industry Forums, achieved commercial independence from government funding whilst doubling its turnover and has been globally recognised by its appointment as the home of the UK IATF Oversight Office for ISO/TS16949 and the only Assessment Agency for TPM Excellence Awards for the Japanese Institute of Plant Maintenance for the Americas and Europe.

He spent 13 years in various roles within the Magneti Marelli organisation both in manufacturing, quality and also in general management in the UK and overseas.

In 1990 he joined the Volkswagen Group where he was Supplier Development Manager within UK Group purchasing, providing support for suppliers selected from the global sourcing decisions.

In 1996 he was seconded to SMMT Industry Forum in its start-up phase. In 2000 he joined SMMT Industry Forum as a Director.

He followed this with a transfer to GM Truck and Bus Division in the USA and graduated at General Motors Institute located in Flint, Michigan. On return to the UK Arthur specialised in engine and vehicle assembly and, latterly, in European component supplier sourcing.

In 1985 Arthur was one of the first managers to be recruited by Nissan at their greenfield site in Sunderland responsible for the planning of Quality Assurance matters relating to vehicle production and, in particular, component supplier development.

In July 1995, against a background of a need to improve the competitiveness of the UK automotive supply industry in general, Arthur was invited to work with the British Government's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as senior industry advisor. From this work SMMT Industry Forum was established.

Arthur has over 30 years direct manufacturing experience in the automotive industry of UK, USA and Japan. His work has allowed him to conduct extensive research into quality and productivity improvements with some of the most advanced practitioners in the world. These skills have been used to help many companies introduce their own improvement programmes.

Arthur was appointed Director of SMMT Industry Forum in December 1996.

He then transferred to the Philadelphia office for a two-year secondment, at the end of which he joined the Bank of New England in Portland, Maine with the task of developing strategic business unit accounting.

In 1989 Kevin returned to the UK to join Group 4 Securitas, and in 1991 was recruited by Lucas as Finance Manager for the Diesel Aftermarket.

In October 1999 Kevin joined SMMT Industry Forum as Business Planning Director, which includes responsibility for the finance function.

He first worked as a Metallurgist before moving into Manufacturing Management via the Cranfield hosted Fellowship in Manufacturing Management.

There then followed a fifteen year period progressing from Works Manager through to Operations and Managing Director in various Automotive component suppliers. The suppliers were respectively involved in foundry, pressing and safety critical assembly based components at levels varying from first to fourth Tier.

Apart from Lucas, Stefan has worked for Kennametal, Cosworth, Rockwell, Metal Castings and the Wagon group. He has extensive experience of implementing Quality, Cost and Delivery improvements at both strategic and a 'hands-on' level.

In June 1999 he joined SMMT Industry Forum, initially co-ordinating Marketing and the recruitment of Engineers. He quickly proceeded to manage a number of the Engineers and then take responsibility for Showcase 2000 and the highly successful 2002 Summit. Initiating the alignment of Industry Forum's Common Approach with the NVQ in Business Improvement Techniques has enabled Industry Forum to play a pivotal role in co-ordinating the interface between Industry, Sector Skills Council (SEMTA) and the Learning and Skills Council (National and Regional). Alignment to the National Skills Strategy is a key strand of the future direction of SMMT Industry Forum.