Chief Executive
CurrentAerospace Wales is the industry association for Wales (click on the logo for news items). Established in 2001, we have 200 members. In April 2013 the company became part of the Industry Wales group along with the Welsh Automotive Forum and Technology Connected and supported by Welsh Government. The aerospace, space and defence industries in Wales employ over 20000 people and include major players such as Airbus, BAE Systems, British Airways, GE, GD, DECA, Raytheon, Airbus Defence & Space, Nordam, Qinetiq, Magellan, Triumph Group, Qioptiq, Safran Seats, Teledyne Labtech, IQE, Ascent (Lockheed Martin & Babcock JV), Thales (Watchkeeper programme & NDEC), Northrop Grumman (Sealand Support Services) and a diverse supply chain of smaller and medium sized companies. Facilities include the Airbus wing plant at Broughton, a range and testing centre for UAVs at Parc Aberporth and Llanbedr and key sub sectors such as MRO and interiors. Llanbedr is also being promoted as Spaceport Snowdonia. Specialist technology clusters include optoelectronics, compound semiconductors and cyber security. The Forum works closely with Welsh Government on development of sector strategy, including the publication of a Wales Space Strategy in 2015, and inward investment campaigns.Aerospace Wales has close links with ADS, the UK's association for aerospace, defence and security, other regional associations, the European Aerospace Cluster Partnership and Aéro Montréal. Linkages to the electronics, software, automotive, rail, energy and nuclear sectors are provided through Industry Wales.Project work includes space sector cluster development, funded by the UK Space Agency and development of a collaborative consortium for MRO products and services. We have a joint working group with Welsh Government addressing the opportunities offered by future flight technology. Currently participating in the UK Future Flight challenge advisory boards for the “SafeZone” and “ATOMICUS” projects.