Ken Mao, University of Warwick, UK

Ken Mao is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Warwick and on the world’s top 2% Scientists List (https://topresearcherslist.com/Home/Profile/851142) for the past six consecutive years. His research mainly focuses on high performance of polymer composite gears for lightweight gear transmission system and gearbox design.
With over 30 years of research and industrial experience, he has published more than 60 peer-reviewed journal papers on polymer composite gear performance and design. He has a strong track record of leading externally funded research, including Innovate UK projects (e.g. a KTP with SMT on polymer gear design), EPSRC funding, and major industry-led collaborative programmes such as motorcycle lightweight gearbox development funded by TVS Motor. His research has delivered internationally recognised advances, including a unique non-stop wear-rate measurement method for misaligned polymer gears and a novel thermal-transition-based polymer gear design methodology.
Prior to academia, his industrial experience at Ricardo involved the development of advanced non-linear contact simulation techniques, contributing directly to high-performance gear optimisation for globally competitive automotive applications, including Bugatti and McLaren. His nearly 10-year industrial experience has made significant contribution to his current industrial-led teaching approach in Warwick University.

 

Andrew Kennedy, University of Lancaster, UK

Andrew’s research centres on the development of advanced multi-phase materials, including metal matrix composites, metal foams, porous structures, and architected lattice materials. His work spans a range of manufacturing technologies, from liquid metal processing and powder metallurgy to state-of-the-art additive manufacturing.
This research aims to integrate process development, materials characterisation, performance evaluation, and numerical modelling within a digital design and manufacturing framework. Through this multidisciplinary approach, Andrew develops innovative materials and structures for applications including lightweight and energy-absorbing systems, next-generation batteries and energy storage technologies, thermal and fluid management solutions, medical devices, and radiation sensing and protection.
Over his career, Andrew has led or played a key role in more than 65 research projects and has authored over 150 peer-reviewed journal publications, several book chapters, and four patents. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), a Chartered Engineer, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), and a consultant to industry.

Nan Li, Imperial College London, UK

Dr Nan Li is a Reader and the Research Leader of the Advanced Manufacturing Group at the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London. Her Lightweight Design for Manufacturing team addresses a major challenge facing the global transport industry: delivering technological breakthroughs in the design and manufacture of high-performance lightweight vehicles with reduced environmental impact.
Dr Li’s work focuses on developing novel, low-cost and energy-efficient processes to form a range of lightweight sheet materials into complex components. She also conducts fundamental research in materials characterisation, modelling, process simulation and optimal design under complex processing conditions. In recent years, she has pioneered AI-driven approaches for sheet metal forming.
Her research has resulted in over 80 publications, including more than 50 refereed journal articles and 10 patents. She has led or contributed to research projects totalling over £10 million, funded by EPSRC, Innovate UK, the Royal Society, Aerospace Technology Institute, and industrial partners in the UK and internationally. She actively promotes the industrial application of advanced sheet forming technologies in the automotive and aerospace sectors, which led to the award of the Rowbotham Medal from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.