UK SCALE Symposium 2026
Hope not hype - Effective digitalisation for better supply chain solutions
Thursday 25 June 2026
Holywell Conference Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, England.
We are announcing our speaker line-up, with leading voices from industry, academia, and policy being added regularly.
Overview
Hosted by the UK SCALE Centre, part of the world-renowned MIT Global SCALE Network, the Symposium brings together leaders from industry, academia and policy to explore the future of supply chains and the transformative impact of digitalisation and AI.
Supply chains have evolved from the industrial to the digital revolution, with new technologies now advancing at unprecedented speed. Organisations face the challenge of embracing innovation to boost productivity, resilience and sustainability, or risk being left behind.
Building on the success of our inaugural 2024 event, the 2026 UK SCALE Symposium will deliver honest dialogue on AI, separating hype from real solutions, and providing practical insights to shape the next generation of supply chain excellence.
What to expect?
Hear from renowned thinkers and practitioners from organisations including Snowflake, Argon & Co, MTC and Intangles on digitalisation and AI in supply chains. Join interactive sessions to co-create strategies, explore opportunities and risks, and get answers to your most pressing questions.
Why attend?
By attending the UK SCALE Symposium, you will join likeminded experts from around the world and play an essential role in shaping the direction of supply chain innovation. Over the course of the day, you will:
- Gain insights into cutting-edge research and real-world innovations
- Take part in strategic conversations bridging industry, academia and policy
- Connect with leaders and innovators driving resilient, sustainable supply chains
- Contribute to shaping the future with the UK SCALE Centre at the heart of this ecosystem.
Speakers
Professor Jan Godsell
Dean of Loughborough Business School
Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy
Professor Jan Godsell is Dean of Loughborough Business School and a Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy with a long and influential career, which has been split between both industry and academia.
Vice Admiral Andrew Kyte
Chief of Defence Logistics and Support
UK Ministry of Defence
Vice Admiral Andy Kyte is Chief of Defence Logistics and Support at UK Strategic Command, with over 35 years’ experience leading logistics and operational support across the Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence, including Defence responses to COVID-19, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.
Fawad Qureshi
Global Field CTO
Snowflake
Fawad Qureshi is Global Field CTO at Snowflake, advising C-level executives on enterprise data strategy, AI-driven analytics and cloud architectures. He also serves as a Data Advisor to the World Economic Forum, specialising in responsible AI and ethical data management.
Dr Nandini Chakravorti
Director – Digital Engineering
The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)
Dr Nandini Chakravorti is Director of Digital Engineering at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), specialising in the adoption of advanced digital technologies across industry and supply chains, with over 25 years’ experience spanning AI, systems engineering and data science.
Neil Ashworth
Independent Chair, Non-Executive Director and Advisor
We Are Fulfilment, Parcel2Go, 2San Global, NotLost, REAL Leaders
Neil Ashworth is an Independent Chair, Non-Executive Director and advisor with extensive leadership experience across logistics, retail and supply chain organisations, including senior roles at Collect+, Yodel and the UK Government’s National Covid-19 Testing Programme.
Rachel Noll
Manager - Data & AI
Argon & Co
Rachel Noll is a Manager in Data & AI at Argon & Co, with over a decade of experience in operations technology and the practical adoption of AI to drive operational efficiency across global organisations.
Tom Coker
Chief Operating Officer
Intangles, UK & Europe
Tom Coker is Chief Operating Officer for Intangles in the UK and Europe, leading operations and strategic partnerships for the company’s AI and digital twin technology solutions, with prior leadership experience spanning the British Army, NATO and government response programmes.
Dr Yasmine Sabri
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Supply Chain Management
Loughborough Business School
Dr Yasmine Sabri is an Associate Professor in Supply Chain Management at the UK SCALE Centre at Loughborough University, specialising in supply chain design under high uncertainty, including disruption and resilience, with experience spanning academia, industry and executive education.
Dr Viktor Dörfler
Professor of AI Strategy, University of Strathclyde Business School
Dr Viktor Dörfler is Professor of AI Strategy at the University of Strathclyde Business School and an internationally recognised scholar specialising in the relationship between AI and human expertise, creativity and performance.
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Professor Donato Masi
Professor of Supply Chain Management
Loughborough Business School
Professor Donato Masi is Professor of Supply Chain Management at the UK SCALE Centre at Loughborough University, with research focused on how digitalisation and emerging AI technologies can enhance the sustainability of operations and supply chains.
Programme
Time |
Description |
| 09:30 |
Arrival, registration and refreshments |
| 10:00 |
Keynote - The Digital Future of Supply ChainsHear from leading voices as they explore the Centre’s vision and the digital future of supply chains, addressing the challenges and opportunities shaping businesses regionally, nationally, and globally.
|
| 11:00 |
AI and Digitalisation in Action: SustainabilityExplore how AI and digitalisation can support more sustainable supply chains and where organisations are translating digital ambition into real operational impact.
|
| 11:40 |
Refreshment break |
| 11:55 |
AI & Digitalisation in Action: ResilienceExamine how organisations are using AI, data and digitalisation to strengthen supply chain resilience under disruption and uncertainty.
|
| 12:35 |
AI & Digitalisation in Action: ProductivityDiscover how AI and digitalisation are driving productivity, operational efficiency and scalable business impact across supply chains.
|
| 13:15 |
Networking lunch |
| 14:00 |
Workshop – Shaping Digitally-Integrated Supply ChainsStep into the role of innovator as you share your insights and experiences. This interactive session invites you to explore how digitalisation and AI can transform supply chains, enhancing resilience, productivity, and sustainability, while helping shape the UK SCALE roadmap for the future of supply chains. Led by Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy, Jan Godsell. |
| 15:30 |
Refreshment break |
| 15:45 |
Panel Debate – How Will AI Influence the Supply Chains of the Future?This interactive session invites attendees to challenge our expert panellists with the critical questions shaped during their workshop session. Hear from experts at the cutting-edge of AI and supply chain innovation as they discuss the impact of one of the most hotly-contested recent technological developments. |
| 17:00 |
Closing remarks, and how to engage with the SCALE Centre |
| 17:30 |
Event close |
Networking Dinner
The Symposium will conclude with an exclusive networking dinner for members of our Supply Chain Futures Forum.
If you are interested in joining the Forum, please see further information.
Individual tickets are priced at £150 per person for non-members and £120 per person for members of the UK SCALE Network. Group bookings for a full table of 10 people are available at a reduced cost of £100 per person.
Don’t miss out on the chance to put your business at the forefront of supply chain development and AI-driven innovation - secure your place whilst tickets last.
Become a member of the UK SCALE Network
You can become a member of the UK SCALE Network to stay connected and be among the first to hear about the latest Centre developments.
You can also find out more about our Supply Chain Futures initiative at the Symposium - an industry collaboration forum designed to build long-term, meaningful partnerships with regional and national stakeholders.
UK SCALE Centre Symposium 2024
Watch the highlights from the 2024 UK SCALE Symposium to see what to expect at the June event.