AEROSPACE DEFENSE AMERICAS

• Jared W. Perdue, P.E., Secretary, Florida Department of Transportation
• Brian Hagan, Board Director, World Trade Center Miami & Florida Market President, First American Bank
• Emir Pineda, Director, Air Service Development, Miami International Airport
• Ivan Barrios, President and CEO, World Trade Center Miami

 45 minutes

The global commercial space opportunity — exploring how international companies are entering and scaling across the US and European space ecosystems. Florida-anchored and internationally framed, looking at how key space nations are collaborating on the next wave of commercial space development.

Key themes:

• Florida’s position as the world’s leading launch destination and gateway to global space markets
• The global commercial space pipeline — how international companies are entering and scaling across US and European markets
• Capital flows and investor priorities: where space investment is moving and what investors are looking for in international scale-ups
• Emerging space nations and new partnerships: the growing role of allied nations
• Funding, infrastructure, and partnership opportunities across key space markets

• Ron Lau, Interim CIO, SVP of Corporate Development and Capital Programs, Space Florida
• Alun Williams, Director of Space, ADS Group
• Bryan Farlow, Vice President of Site Selection, Strategic Location Advisors
• Alexander Holt, Managing Director, Seraphim Space
• Neil Rae, Head of Space, KPMG

40 minutes

A candid, demand-led conversation about what US and European Primes/ partners are actively looking for in international space and dual-use companies right now. Designed to give Tier 2/3 suppliers and scale-ups a clear read on where the live demand sits across both markets, framing the conversations that follow in the Roundtable and B2B Matchmaking.

Key themes:

• What US and European Primes are actively buying — capability gaps, near-term requirements, supplier priorities
• Cross-border partnership and acquisition mandates — what US and European corporate development teams are sourcing
• The signals that distinguish a “ready” international supplier from one that isn’t

• Tobias Merchant, International Partnership Manager, Space South Central
• Fergus Miller — Head of International Business Development, Space, BAE Systems

Invitation Only — Max 20 participants — 60 minutes

A multi-directional, closed-room conversation that pulls together the threads attendees most need: investment, Prime supply-chain access, and cross-border partnerships. International companies entering the US market alongside US primes and companies seeking partners, capabilities and acquisition targets across Europe, with active investors around them. The closed-door follow-on to the demand-signal panel — where the high-trust, deal-specific conversations happen.

Who this is for: Innovative UK/ European and Japanese space and dual-use SMEs and scale-ups, paired in the room with US Prime/procurement leads, US companies seeking international partners or acquisition targets, and investors with active mandates. Places are limited to 20 and allocated by the ADA team based on fit between participant capabilities and live buyer/investor priorities.

Discussion themes:

• What does a good cross-border partnership or acquisition look like in practice?
• Where are the gaps in space and dual-use supply chains that European and Japanese companies are best placed to fill?
• Emerging and dual-use technologies attracting the most investment interest right now

Pre-qualified, targeted one-to-one meetings designed to deliver tangible commercial outcomes. Participants are matched in advance based on capability profiles, supply chain requirements and strategic objectives.

Focus areas:

• Market entry and expansion (US, UK, EU, LATAM)
• Aerospace, defense, space and dual-use technologies
• Supply chain partnerships
• Investment, innovation and co-development

The strategic context for Day 2 — macro defense shifts and their direct implications for industry. Three focused contributions covering the NATO/EU, US and industrial supply chain perspectives.

Key themes:

• NATO & EU: From Policy to Industrial Integration — the defence spending surge, priority capability areas and what the shift from policy commitments to actual industrial demand means for suppliers
• United States: Strategic Realignment & Market Dynamics — US strategy focus areas, spending increases, and what this means for market access for international companies
• Industrial Reality: Scaling the Defence Supply Chain — demand for ammunition, components, drones and support systems; defence as a strategic growth sector; why OEMs are requiring more resilient, redundant and regionalised suppliers 

Speakers:

• Charlie Burnard, Head of Government Engagement, Q-CTRL
• Nicole Frazier, Defence and National Security Lead, Washington DC, DGA Group
• Luke Law, Director of Government and External Affairs, Serco
• Martin Sklenar, Former Slovakian Defence Minister; Senior Advisor, DGA Group; Distinguished Fellow, GLOBSEC
• Andrew Turner, CB CBE, Chief Executive, Saibre Capital
• William Wallace, Group Head of Defence, Security and Aerospace, DGA Group

The fireside chat sets up the questions; the roundtable is where attendees get answers specific to their situation. US aerospace-defence procurement is the centrepiece — this is where the real intelligence gets shared in a closed, trusted environment, including how the pathways differ for suppliers serving both civil and defence customers.

Who this is for: International Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers who are actively ready for US market entry — with a capability statement, relevant certifications and a clear value proposition. Paired with US aerospace-defence Prime and Tier 1 procurement leads who have live or near-term supply chain requirements. This is not an introductory session — it is for companies that are genuinely procurement-ready and want specific, actionable guidance. 

Discussion Themes:

• How DoD and US aerospace-defence procurement cycles work, and where the entry windows are for international suppliers
• What an aerospace-defence Prime’s supply chain team looks for — and what disqualifies a supplier immediately
• Export control and ITAR in defence procurement — the compliance Primes check before they’ll engage
• Routes to market: direct to Prime, through Tier 1, via a US joint venture or M&A
• For suppliers serving both civil and defence — how the US pathways differ in practice
• Live requirements and gaps: what are Primes looking for right now?

Foreign Trade Zones and Freeports are among the most powerful — and underused — tools for companies expanding across the Atlantic. This session explores how aerospace and defense businesses can leverage FTZ and Freeport designations to reduce duty exposure, streamline customs, and de-risk market entry in both the U.S. and the U.K. Speakers will share practical guidance on site selection, incentive structures, and how these zones can anchor a broader two-way investment strategy between Florida and the United Kingdom.

Pre-qualified, targeted one-to-one meetings designed to deliver tangible commercial outcomes. Participants are matched in advance based on capability profiles, supply chain requirements and strategic objectives.

Focus areas:

• Market entry and expansion (US, UK, EU, LATAM)
• Aerospace, defense, space and dual-use technologies
• Supply chain partnerships
• Investment, innovation and co-development