2026 BulkEx Speakers
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Jeremy Wrathall – Cornish Lithium – Founder and Executive Chairman
Having graduated as a Mining Engineer from Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall Jeremy initially worked in the South African gold mining industry and then followed an investment banking career, starting as a mining analyst in 1988. Over the last 30 years he has held various global investment banking roles and has extensive experience of commodity markets and of mining finance. Ten years ago he founded Cornish Lithium, where he currently serves as the Executive Chairman. Cornish Lithium is leading the charge to develop a domestic critical minerals industry in the UK and has received funding from the National Wealth Fund and other global investors. The company is progressing lithium extraction from geothermal brines and also from rock sources using its proprietary extraction and refining technology.
Paper Title: Driving a Sustainable Supply of Lithium for the UK
David M Alder MCIPS, CMgr, FCMI – BIFFA
A Purchasing and Supply Chain career devotee, professionally qualified and graduate of the Electrolux International leadership programme (vocational MBA) with +40 years of experience, heading up Procurement functions and/or Global Procurement Categories across multiple industry sectors with product development and manufacturing led organisations operating, typically, global manufacturing operations in global markets.
Brand leading organisations including: Grove Worldwide (On/Off road Cranes); AB Electrolux (Domestic Appliances); Jackel International (Baby Products FMCG); General Trailers SA (Trailers / Semi-Trailers); Montracon Ltd (Trailers/Semi Trailers); Domino Printing Sciences (Industrial coding and marking); Biffa (Waste Management services)
Paper Title: Transformational Procurement and it’s not just the bottom line!
Phillippa Webb – Webb CDM Ltd – Director and Principal Designer
Phillippa has over 25 years’ experience spanning civil engineering, design management, CDM leadership and construction stage safety. Since establishing the company in 2017, she has built a respected consultancy supporting clients, designers and contractors across sectors including power generation, ports and marine works, manufacturing, education, commercial development and major infrastructure. Her career includes senior roles delivering complex, high risk projects such as the Lynemouth Power Station biomass conversion, major port upgrades at the Port of Tyne and Redcar Bulk Terminal, and multi site industrial refurbishments. Phillippa is recognised for her practical, collaborative approach to design stage risk management and her ability to coordinate diverse technical disciplines.
Since 2019 she has provided ongoing Principal Designer and Client Advisor support to the Environment Agency, leading CDM compliance and design risk management across critical flood defence and pumping station upgrades, including the Foss Barrier, Keadby Pumping Station and multiple river screen replacement schemes.
Phillippa is a Certified Member of the Association for Project Safety (CMaPS) and holds an HNC in Civil Engineering and the NEBOSH Construction Certificate
Paper Title: CDM in Mechanical Handling – Designing Out Risk and Preventing Harm
Craig Harvey – British Steel – Commercial Director
Craig Harvey is a lifelong steel industry professional whose career began at age 16 on a Youth Training Scheme with British Steel in 1987. After completing his university studies, he returned to the sector and has remained committed to it for nearly four decades. He has built a broad and varied career spanning manufacturing, technical, commercial, strategy, and supply chain roles, giving him deep insight into the entire steelmaking process and opportunities to work both across the UK and internationally.
In his current role as Commercial Director, Craig leads sales for rail products, semi finished steel, and steelmaking by products, combining commercial expertise with hands on operational understanding.
Having experienced the many challenges and transformations of the UK steel industry, he is strongly focused on ensuring the long term future of British Steel and preserving steelmaking for generations to come.
Paper Title: An Overview of Steelmaking in the UK
Tina’s Trust – Beth Jones and Alison Thomson
Tina’s Trust is a registered charity established in memory of Tina McNeice. The charity provides small, practical grants and support to UK families caring at home for someone living with early-onset frontotemporal dementia (FTD), helping them to navigate the everyday challenges of this devastating condition and to make the most of precious time together. The UK’s only charity providing direct financial support exclusively to FTD families.
Paper Title: Gill & Tina: two stories, one shared purpose – our journey through Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
Simon Young – Breedon Group – Strategic Projects Lead
Simon currently leads Breedon Cement’s Strategic Projects Group, having responsibility for long term business change and major projects. His role at Breedon has involved leading the delivery of the Hope ARM Project and his current focus is the implementation of decarbonisation solutions for the company’s cement division.
With over 35 years’ experience of major onshore and offshore projects in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, Simon has been led multidisciplinary teams delivering brown and green field solutions in the Oil & Gas, Energy, Mining & Minerals and Heavy Civil Engineering sectors as Client, Designer and Contractor.
Paper Title: The Project – A Client Perspective
Tim Fry CEng MICE MIMMM – Holcim UK Limited – Project Manager
Tim is Chartered Engineer with 27 years post graduate experience in infrastructure, materials handling, mineral processing and industrial construction. As an experienced Project Manager and Director Tim has a proven track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver UK and International infrastructure and industrial projects in challenging environments through the full project lifecycle from scoping, permitting, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning.
Tim has a detailed understanding of key project drivers and risks to deliver practical, cost effective and environmentally sensitive solutions whilst ensuring safety, financial and schedule performance. Tim is also proficient in developing and leading successful project execution strategies including the planning and execution of various standard and bespoke forms of contract.
Paper Title: Tilbury Cement Works: Reshaping cement supply through production resilience, optimised logistics and product innovation.
Professor Mike Bradley – Wolfson Centre for Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, University of Greenwich – Director
Prof. Mike Bradley – Director, The Wolfson Centre. University of Greenwich
Mike is Professor in Particle and Bulk Technology, and Director of the Wolfson Centre at the University of Greenwich. He was awarded both his honour degrees and PHD from Thames Polytechnic (now the University of Greenwich) and as the Director, provides technical leadership in all aspects of bulk solids handling. Mike’s team provides research, consultancy and educational services in all aspects of bulk solids handling and processing, from conveying and silo storage, instrumentation and control, material quality to mixing, drying and feeding. He is the Chair of the Solids Handling and Processing Association (SHAPA), a Member of the Materials Handling Engineers Association (MHEA) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Bulk Materials Handling Committee (IMechE).
Paper Title: Large-scale Bulk Storage and Discharge in Silos and Stockpiles
Anthony Harford – Manufacturing Technology Centre – Business Development Lead
With a career spanning over 40 years from semiconductor and gas turbine manufacturing with GEC to telecommunication engineering at BT, supporting industry sector clients globally and leading on several major programmes such the launch of 3G networks, the introduction of Blackberry and the deployment of Superfast Broadband . Since BT his focus has been on supporting Industrial businesses in driving Innovation. Instrumental in the setting up of The Aura Innovation Centre at Hull University and for development of Net Zero Programmes for 6 years across the Humber, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. With two years driving the research commercialisation and knowledge exchange as Head of Business Development at Edinburgh Herriot Watt University and for last year Business Development at the MTC supporting SMEs deliver growth in manufacturing but in all instances supporting SME growth , identifying funding and delivering practical and impactful innovation.
Paper Title: Factory in a Box
Steve Cartwright – Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) – Chief Engineer, Technology (Digital Engineering)
Steve leads the development and delivery of advanced digital engineering and intelligent automation solutions that help manufacturers accelerate digital transformation, improve productivity, and unlock value from data-driven decision-making. Prior to joining MTC in 2021, Steve spent 37 years in the automotive industry, specialising in the planning, integration, and industrialisation of advanced automation and robotics systems across multiple global automotive brands, leading the deployment of complex manufacturing technologies and production systems at scale.
Today, Steve works with organisations across a range of sectors to accelerate digital transformation and the adoption of innovative manufacturing technologies, helping businesses address current challenges while preparing for the factories of the future.
Paper Title: Factory in a Box
Lukas Paul – BEUMER Group – Global Head Pipe Conveying
Lukas is Global Head of Pipe Conveying within the worldwide Minerals & Mining Division of BEUMER Group, overseeing in particular Business Development and Sales for Pipe Conveyor Projects, both for new plants and for customer support projects. Over the course of his professional journey, he was responsible for the complete scope of pipe conveyor projects, covering design, calculation, sourcing and project management. He has worked in various locations worldwide (USA, India, Germany, Austria) and is a trained Mechanical Engineer, while also holding a Master of Arts in Philosophical Theology.
Paper Title: Future-proofing bulk material transport from plant to port with a fully enclosed two-way conveyor system
Dean Butler – Ardagh Group – UK Business Development Director / President of British Glass
With more than 28 years of experience spanning engineering, manufacturing operations, business transformation and strategic leadership, Dean has built a career at the forefront of one of the UK’s most energy and materials intensive industries.
Having progressed from engineering and process control roles through operational leadership and continuous improvement management to executive level positions, Dean has extensive experience of the technologies, materials, logistics and manufacturing processes that underpin modern glass production. Today he is responsible for helping shape the strategic direction of Ardagh’s UK glass business, aligning commercial, operational, sustainability and investment priorities across a manufacturing network producing billions of glass containers each year.
As President of British Glass, Dean is a passionate advocate for the sector’s future competitiveness, sustainability and decarbonisation. Working closely with manufacturers, suppliers, customers and government stakeholders, he plays an active role in helping shape the industry’s response to some of its biggest challenges, including energy transition, alternative fuels, circularity and emerging manufacturing technologies.
Paper Title: From Raw Materials to Net Zero: What Moves Through Glass Manufacturing Today and What the Materials Handling Industry Needs to Prepare for Tomorrow
