SPEAKERS

Robert Garbett is an ex-army entrepreneur who in 2007 left the military as a Major following injury in service. He recovered sufficiently to embark on a new career in software development and cyber security, eventually focusing on the fast growth drone industry, which has utilised the skillset he built during his military career.

During his military service he established senior level expertise in electronic systems engineering, aeronautical engineering, airworthiness, aviation risk, technical authorship, standards, planning and project management.

To name a few, Robert’s responsibilities include Chairman of the Sub Committee responsible for UK drone standards at British Standards Institute and International Standards Organisation (ISO) Convener of TC20/SC16 Working Group 3 responsible for the creation of the International Standards for the operation of UAS (otherwise known as drones).

C/Insp NPCC Counter Drones, Legislation and Policy lead, Home Office Counter Drones Unit Simon is a Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police Service working for the National Police Chiefs Council Counter Drones Lead, BTP Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi. He has nearly 30 years policing experience across a variety of roles.

NPCC Counter Drones provides the governance and coordination for UK policing counter drones across all policing disciplines. His role is the Policy and Legislation Lead, and currently works as an embed at the Home Office Counter Drones Unit that brings together counter drones work across government departments. He was a police policy advisor on the Air Traffic and Unmanned Aircraft Bill, which received Royal Assent in 2021. More recently he has been involved in the procurement of countermeasures for policing and manages the national team that delivers training, policy and national capability as part of the governance and coordination role.

Richard Gill, The UK Drone Association / CEO of Drone Defence

Richard Gill is an accomplished record-breaking and award-winning technology innovator, entrepreneur, drone expert, public speaker and commercial industry professional.

Richard’s former life as an officer in the British Armed Forces brought exposure to the benefits of Drones in operational theatres around the world, whilst also highlighting some of the challenges. Finding solutions is his game. Disruption is his strategy. Innovation is his mindset. Richard’s insights bring understanding, value, security, peace of mind, situational awareness and create growth for government, industries, and organisations.

A commercial drone entrepreneur and executive leader with years of strategic and tactical success in technology-based enterprises and initiatives with unparalleled technological innovation, Richard has provided a legacy of mission-critical and world-class counter drone solutions across government, business and industry.

Richard is an active member of ARPAS-UK and the founder and CEO of Drone Defence, a Nottinghamshire based business offering the latest technology, techniques, and procedures to help organisations protect themselves from the harmful use of drone technology.