BAE Systems Group MD to deliver RAeS' Wilbur & Orville Wright Lecture
In the context of the UK’s long and proud history of being at the forefront of military air power, boasting a world renowned Air Force and innovative industry, Mr Whitehead will provide his own insight into changing operational requirements, and how industry strategies will need to adapt to the changing threat environment, especially through the development and use of new technology.
Established to honour the successful and experienced mechanical engineers who completed the first controlled powered flight in 1903, the Wilbur & Orville Wright Lecture is the highlight of the Society’s calendar, given only by distinguished members of the UK and US aerospace community.
Mr Whitehead is responsible for BAE Systems’ UK defence businesses, covering land, sea and air domains. These businesses deliver a turnover of £7billion in UK and international markets.
Prior to joining British Aerospace as an aerodynamicist, Mr Whitehead worked for Rolls-Royce as a production engineering apprentice and graduated in mechanical engineering. He has been active in defence programmes for 31 years, working in the UK, Sweden and Australia.
Mr Whitehead is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is also a commissioner on the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and Chair of the Whitehall and Industry Group. Mr Whitehead was awarded a CBE for his services to vocational education and skills in the Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year.
The Lecture coincides with the announcement and presentation of the 2015 Royal Aeronautical Society Honours, Medals & Young Persons’ Achievement Award.
Commenting ahead of his speech, Nigel Whitehead CBE FRAeS, Group Managing Director at BAE Systems, said: “I am honoured to be delivering this year’s Wilbur & Orville Wright Lecture, which is always a prestigious event on the Royal Aeronautical Society’s annual calendar. The subject of the UK military air sector is one that I am particularly passionate about, having spent much of my career involved in it, and in my role today I am very much focussed on achieving a vibrant future for this economically important sector. I relish the opportunity to discuss the environment, technologies and, perhaps most importantly, the people and skills, that I envisage will be important in the decades to come.”
Martin Broadhurst OBE FRAeS, President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, said: “We are incredibly fortunate that Nigel Whitehead has agreed to deliver the Wilbur & Orville Wright Lecture this year. The content and timing of his speech is pertinent as we approach the 150th anniversary of the Royal Aeronautical Society next year. During 2016 we will be looking back at our successes over the past 150 years and forward over the next half century with the theme of innovative firsts. In a fast-changing and highly competitive world, the UK military air sector must continue to transform and innovate if our industry is to deliver the necessary future technologies and remain globally competitive.”