List of speakers
Imogen Woodhead
Materials Engineering Manager(John Crane)
Imogen is Materials Engineering Manager at John Crane. She leads a team that supports the business through materials management, materials qualification, and failure analysis. Imogen has a Master’s in Materials Science and a background in polymers and elastomers. Before joining John Crane, she developed sustainable polyurethane for the rail industry, contributed to large-diameter wind turbine seal projects and explored ways to recycle rubber into rail pads.
Matt Thomas
Chief Engineer(MTC)
Matt is a Chief Engineer - Component Manufacturing Technologies at the MTC with 20 years post-graduate experience in the Metals Industry, including Sheffield Forgemasters and TIMET, his main activities at The MTC include technology strategy development, academic engagement and technical governance. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and President of the Birmingham Metallurgical Association (BMetA) and RAEng Inclusive Leadership Programme.
Jean Bout
Mechanical Engineer(Arup)
Jean is a mechanical engineer in the Specialist Technology Analytics and Research (STAR) Team within Arup's Technical Services Portfolio. He is experienced in providing first-class simulation consultancy to clientele across a variety of industries, including automotive, civil, energy and aerospace, with particular regard to structural analysis using LS-DYNA.
Felix Mergele
System & Solution Architect(Prostep)
Felix brings 15+ years in product development, manufacturing, and over a decade in PLM. He’s held roles like System Architect and Head of Development, leading enterprise PLM solution design and implementation. At PROSTEP AG, he supports business development and sales in the Solutions Europe unit. His expertise spans system integration, migration, traceability, collaboration, and enterprise change management, with a focus on MLM, ALM, and MBSE. He also guides clients through complex regulations via RIMS and advanced engineering practices.
Kara Laing
Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics(University of East Anglia)
Kara holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of East Anglia, specializing in nonlinear material models for high-strain deformations. She began her career in automotive crash analysis and, since joining Vectayn in 2010, has focused on nonlinear finite element analysis for a broad client base. Her work centers on occupant safety and large deformation of plastic components, requiring advanced material modeling. Committed to sustainability, she incorporates environmentally conscious principles into her design and practices.
Elisabeth Lervag
Product Sustainability Lead(Kongsberg Maritime)
Elisabeth is the Product Sustainability Lead for Propulsion & Handling at Kongsberg Maritime, where she’s worked since 2011. She holds an Industrial Ph.D. in Product Development and Materials from NTNU. She supports engineers with the data, tools, and processes needed for sustainable decision-making. A strong advocate for digitalization, she led the implementation of the Integrated Material Management module in Teamcenter to enhance product data traceability and compliance.