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About This Webinar
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from pilot projects to real-world industrial applications. From predictive maintenance and machine vision to autonomous robots and self-optimising production lines, manufacturers are increasingly looking to AI to improve productivity, reduce costs, enhance quality and address growing labour shortages.
Yet Europe finds itself at a pivotal moment. Manufacturers across the continent face higher energy costs, increasing global competition, an ageing workforce and mounting pressure to improve sustainability while maintaining profitability. At the same time, competitors in North America and Asia are investing heavily in AI-driven manufacturing and autonomous operations.
Can industrial AI help Europe strengthen its competitive position, or does the region risk falling behind?
This Automation News webinar will bring together leading experts from across industry to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming manufacturing today, where organisations are already seeing measurable business value, and what more needs to happen if Europe is to remain a global industrial leader.
When:
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 · 2:00 p.m. · London
Duration: 1 hour
Language:
English
Who can attend? Anyone with the event link can attend
Dial-in available?
(listen only): No
Featured Presenters
Editor of IoT Insider
Bringing over two decades in journalism, Lucy Barnard has reported on everything from London’s property chessboard to Abu Dhabi’s vertical ambitions — and always delivered the story before deadline. She’s held key roles at Estates Gazette, The National, and Construction Briefing, while freelancing for heavyweights like The Telegraph and The Guardian. Known for turning complex beats into compelling reads, she brings clarity, credibility, and the occasional well-placed zinger to every byline.
Lucy is interested in how technology intersects with major global challenges, from climate change to gender equality and social justice. She believes innovation isn’t just about efficiency or convenience—it’s a powerful tool for building a fairer, more sustainable world.
Lucy is interested in how technology intersects with major global challenges, from climate change to gender equality and social justice. She believes innovation isn’t just about efficiency or convenience—it’s a powerful tool for building a fairer, more sustainable world.
SVP Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric
Cecile Vercellino is a senior executive at Schneider Electric with over two decades of international experience in engineering, digital transformation, energy management, and critical infrastructure services. She currently serves as Senior Vice President, IA Services & Advisory, where she leads Schneider Electric’s global services strategy for industrial automation ecosystems. In this role, she is responsible for accelerating next‑generation service models, expanding advisory capabilities, and guiding customers through digital, predictive, and AI‑enabled operational transformations.
Prior to that, Cécile has managed the Recurring Service Portfolio within the Global Services Line of Business for four years, driving the double digit growth expectation while transforming Schneider Electric’s value differentiation toward more digital and condition based maintenance offers with EcoCare.
Prior to her Services experience, she led the EcoStruxure Program within the Power Systems Division on behalf of Energy Management, with a specific focus on developing digital system value propositions and architectures dedicated to segments to boost Schneider Electric’s digital revenue.
She also brings more than 10 years of experience in Energy Products and Solutions at Schneider Electric, with strong expertise in global tendering, bid management, and project delivery across segments such as Data Center, CIB, MMM, and O&G. Her experience further includes roles within the Medium Voltage Line of Business, focusing on marketing and digital transformation.
Before joining Schneider Electric, she gained 10 years of operational international experience within an Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) company in the Water & Wastewater segment, strengthening her foundation in complex engineering project delivery and global operations.
Prior to that, Cécile has managed the Recurring Service Portfolio within the Global Services Line of Business for four years, driving the double digit growth expectation while transforming Schneider Electric’s value differentiation toward more digital and condition based maintenance offers with EcoCare.
Prior to her Services experience, she led the EcoStruxure Program within the Power Systems Division on behalf of Energy Management, with a specific focus on developing digital system value propositions and architectures dedicated to segments to boost Schneider Electric’s digital revenue.
She also brings more than 10 years of experience in Energy Products and Solutions at Schneider Electric, with strong expertise in global tendering, bid management, and project delivery across segments such as Data Center, CIB, MMM, and O&G. Her experience further includes roles within the Medium Voltage Line of Business, focusing on marketing and digital transformation.
Before joining Schneider Electric, she gained 10 years of operational international experience within an Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) company in the Water & Wastewater segment, strengthening her foundation in complex engineering project delivery and global operations.
Head of Automation Sales at WAGO UK & Ireland
John Mackey, Head of Automation Sales at WAGO UK & Ireland since December 2025, is leading the company’s drive to expand the company’s footprint in the market for automation equipment and solutions in the industrial, energy and buildings sectors. John brings to the role a combination of engineering know-how and experience in customer relationship development. As Head of Automation Sales, John matches the products and services provided by WAGO to the customer’s requirement for tailored automation solutions.
Before joining WAGO, John was a business development executive at Siemens UK, having started his career there as a graduate engineer. John has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Leeds University.
Before joining WAGO, John was a business development executive at Siemens UK, having started his career there as a graduate engineer. John has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Leeds University.
Head of Technology & Digitalisation, Siemens Xcelerator UK&I
With over twenty years of experience in Discrete and Process Automation Daniel currently manages a Software portfolio at Siemens Digital Industries and is program manager for Siemens Xcelerator strategy in GB&I.
Daniel has held several roles covering technical, project, product and business management within Siemens in the UK and Australia covering a diverse range of Industries from Water, Automotive, Aerospace, Mining, Paper, Chemical, F&B, OEM, O&G, Pharma, etc.
Currently Daniel is responsible for the go to market strategy and business management for Siemens Industrial AI and Industrial Co-pilots in GB&I.
Most of Daniel’s time these days is taken up focusing on Digital Transformation within ecosystems and trying to understand the technical, skills and cultural barriers to adoption of the next generation of industrial technologies.
Daniel has held several roles covering technical, project, product and business management within Siemens in the UK and Australia covering a diverse range of Industries from Water, Automotive, Aerospace, Mining, Paper, Chemical, F&B, OEM, O&G, Pharma, etc.
Currently Daniel is responsible for the go to market strategy and business management for Siemens Industrial AI and Industrial Co-pilots in GB&I.
Most of Daniel’s time these days is taken up focusing on Digital Transformation within ecosystems and trying to understand the technical, skills and cultural barriers to adoption of the next generation of industrial technologies.
Global VP, Division Head of Digital, Process Industries
Sanjit Shewale is Vice President and Global Head of Digital Business for ABB Process Industries and a recognized thought leader in industrial digitalization. He leads the global digital strategy and business, focused on how digital technologies and AI can unlock value for industries across process performance, operational excellence, asset performance, sustainability and workforce productivity.
Sanjit joined ABB in December 2020 and brings over 25 years of experience in advanced industrial software and automation across energy, process and discrete manufacturing industries.
Prior to ABB, Sanjit worked for Honeywell, Danaher and Stelco.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University and a Master’s degree in Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo, Canada..
Sanjit joined ABB in December 2020 and brings over 25 years of experience in advanced industrial software and automation across energy, process and discrete manufacturing industries.
Prior to ABB, Sanjit worked for Honeywell, Danaher and Stelco.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University and a Master’s degree in Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo, Canada..
