Robert Garbett

Chief Executive

Robert Garbett, the founder of Drone Major Group, is an ex-army entrepreneur who ended his military career in 2007 as the head of airworthiness for the Defence Logistics Organisation.
With his CAA Airworthiness accreditation, he embarked on a career in software development and cybersecurity, then focusing on the fast-growth drone industry. This background represents an unusual combination of experience, skill set and intellectual capital, which contributes to the unique position and opportunity for Drone Major Group in the global drone market.

Nathan Butler

Chief Operating Officer

Following attendance at Insead Business School in France, Nathan developed expertise in two key areas: Transportation -centering on aviation, but including rail, freight, and logistics, additionally having a good exposure to many sub-industries and disciplines. Aerospace & Defence – Nathan supported areas within, engineering, supply chains, intellectual property, data management and monetization.
Building on experience in strategic roles he has delivered speaker slots at many external conferences and webinars, and in 2020 represented IBM at the Government Select Committee for Transport.

Simon Brocklebank-Fowler

Senior Advisor

A former diplomat and investment banker, Simon was chief executive of a top 3 corporate and investor communications consulting firm, before establishing his
own businesses in the same area over the last two decades.
He has advised numerous FTSE100 and Fortune 500 companies, as well as global service firms. He has extensive experience advising UK government departments, and overseas governments. He has impeccable security and intelligence connections. He is a former trustee-director of three leading public policy think tanks.

Dr Bruce Macaulay

Chief Advisor Connected Vehicles

Dr Bruce Macaulay has spent 40 years working within the Transport Technology sector both with private companies and government bodies. His scientific specialty is technology for future mobility. This includes specific interest in Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) together with the supporting technologies of functional safety, electrical electronics and software engineering and the effects of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and radio frequency interference (RFI). Bruce’s experience includes managing and implementing highly complex projects at strategic and operational levels.

Magnus Hakvåg

IP & IPR Specialist Advisor

Hakvåg has 19 years of experience within innovation, IP, IPR, standards and entrepreneurship. He’s been a lecturer and researcher at the NTNU Center for Entrepreneurship and a National expert at CEN TC 389 Innovation Management (EN TS 16555-series).
At present Hakvåg is the CEO of House of Knowledge AS, and National expert and Convener for Terminology and Vocabulary, at ISO TC 279 Innovation Management and involved in the development of the OECD Oslo Manual 4ed:2018. He’s part of the European Commissions - “Joint Initiative for Standardisation - Action 3” has been a consultative body for the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, and commerce on IPR and Standards. Hakvåg originally holds a degree as MSc. in Biophysics, and Medical technology from NTNU.

Andy Furness

Consultant

Andy spent 26 years in the military as an engineer and helicopter crewman operating in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq and as a Search and Rescue (SAR) winchman and winch operator. He left the military in 2011 and founded Amber Tiger, a company delivering specialist aviation training and advice to governments, militaries and large aviation companies globally including Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Leonardo, Boeing, Mauritanian government and the UK MoD. Amber Tiger has been recently awarded NQE status for Unmanned training delivery in the UK, he is also on the UK National BSI Group committee for Unmanned Air Systems.

John Haffenden

Senior Consultant

John has been heavily involved in aviation for over 53 years, as an Air Traffic Controller and Airport Manager, including many years working with the CAA, and as a board member of the Airport Operators Association. Now an Airport/ Aviation Consultant specialising in Business and General Aviation support. His more recent projects have included working to both reopen and upgrade several airports, Heliport operations and the development of new technology to move forward electric aviation.

Neil Hunter

Consultant

Neil Hunter has enjoyed senior appointments across Europe following his military career as a senior British Royal Navy officer. He’s accumulated a wealth of experience in Aviation and Maritime domains, particularly the robotics sector. He consults for Aerospace manufacturer Schiebel and supports the AUVSI UK Chapter and the Guild of Air Pilots Drone Focus Group.
Appointments include CEO of IRIS Group, delivering UA Systems, CEO of UMS Group in Switzerland, Head of Business Development at Babcock Aerospace UK, and Managing Director of Schiebel.
 In the Royal Navy, Neil enjoyed success as Commanding Officer of an operational warship, and Aviator, accruing over 2,000 fixed wing and rotary flying hours, including the award of the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air.

Shelton Newsham

Consultant

Shelton spent over 19 years’ in law enforcement before leaving in December 2020, He has extensive experience in incident response, physical and digital security, critical incident management, intelligence assessments, threats to life, incident investigation.
He also led the cyber prevent and protect teams at the Yorkshire and Humber Regional organised Crime unit for over 3 years.
In 2020 CSO Online named Shelton as one of the UK’s Top 30 Chief Security Officers at the CSO30 awards 2020. Shelton was also named Cyber Law Enforcement Individual of the Year 2020 at the National Cyber Awards and Digital Person of the Year 2020 by Computing magazine.
He is a subject matter expert in many disciplines including information security, privacy and process improvement.
He has also sat on working groups for the NCSC and NCA.
Shelton is also director and founder of Newsham Business Solutions Ltd.

Les Gregory

Senior Consultant

Les has 50 years’ experience in the defence industry, progressing from apprentice to Profit and Loss director of a circa £300m pa business within BAE Systems.
His focus has been on weapon systems, including high performance radar, command and control and complex munitions.  Les has managed training facilities for surface warfare and submariner training, run an electronics manufacturing capability, started an information management business, and developed autonomous platforms.
Les has created, disposed, and merged business’, worked on acquisitions, sat on Audit and Joint Venture boards, and provided independent peer review of business plans and campaigns. 

Les has been working with Drone Major, Canny Comms - a marketing and communications business – AMD - a nanotechnology start-up - and other short-term assignments.

David Durston

Senior Advisor

David has completed 48 years of military service as a warship commander; a Royal Navy helicopter pilot; and a reservist RAF pilot, also with both fixed and rotary wing civilian licences.
MOD roles included Capability Leader in Defence Science and Technology Laboratories; lead for maritime systems requirements; air, surface and sub-surface design, helicopter design, and ship/aircraft integration, controlling automation for air ops from small ships’ moving decks.
Former UK national rep in NATO for maritime interoperable systems; overseeing refits and complex systems integration of warships for overseas governments. David is a qualified commercial shipping Master, specialising in commissioning privately owned ships from refit, setting Safety Management Systems to international compliance standards, and advisor to a major superyacht refit consortium.

William Arinze

Senior Consultant

William has over a decade of experience in the digital aviation industry within flight training, and simulation, progressing from software graduate to sales engineering manager within Thales.
After attaining CAA approved flight certifications, he has facilitated RPAS operations across a broad range of industries including supporting the Oxford University spin out – Animal Dynamics.
As a result of the Oxford University Innovation program, he launched an industry initiative with a focus on successful autonomous BVLOS operations by generating Operational Safety Cases to support organisations at the forefront of UAS operational and technological capability across the globe.
Since the beginning of his degree in Aerospace & Astronautics Engineering, William has championed STEM, promoting and supporting future generations in pursuit of STEM careers.