IET Manchester Network Dinner 2025
About
Following last year's hugely successful return of our flagship social event, we are thrilled to announce this year’s Manchester Network Annual Dinner, which will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Manchester Piccadilly, on Thursday, 3rd April 2025.
This year’s dinner will be even bigger, with space for 130 guests enjoying a top-class 3-course dinner with speeches and live entertainment.
Our theme this year will be the very topical subject of Ethical AI, and our keynote speaker will be Ben Thorn, Safety Engineer at Thales, who sits on the IET Technical Committee on AI and is a well-regarded speaker on the topic.
To lighten the mood, there will also be some live entertainment from a surprise entertainer.
Dress code
- Optional Black Tie or Lounge Suit
- Evening/Cocktail Dress
2
Continuing Professional Development
This event can contribute towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the IET's CPD monitoring scheme.
03 Apr 2025
7:00pm - 11:30pm
Organiser
- Manchester Local Network
Registration information
Tickets are priced at £70 per ticket or £700 for a table of 10.
A limited number of tickets are available priced at £40 per ticket for IET Retired members or Student members.
To purchase a ticket, kindly email fanaye.broadbelt@ietvolunteer.org for invoice and account details.
Discounted room rates are available for those wishing to stay at the hotel overnight.
Speakers
Ben Thorn
Product Safety Engineer - Thales UK
Ben Thorn is a Product Safety Engineer at THALES, specializing in Maritime and Autonomous Systems Safety. With an educational background in Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, he is currently pursuing a PhD in Robotics and Autonomous Systems within the Farscope CDT, focusing on effective AI governance. Ben has over 7 years of experience working within the Ministry of Defence, including roles advising AI governance and autonomous vehicle trials, achieving a letter of delegation during his work on the Maritime Sensors Enhancement Team programme.
Reasons to attend
- Network with industrial professionals from a wide range of sectors.
- Connect with prospective partners and build relationships with the key organisations in your area.
- Three course meal and drinks.
- Informative talk on a topical issue
- Opportunities to entertain your guests and network with a diverse range of IET members.
- Bring the evening to a close with a surprise live entertainer.
Programme
19:00 - Guests arrive, welcome drinks reception
19:30 - Guests called to dinner, followed by welcome by IET Manchester Dinner Committee Chair Rodger Howarth
19:50 - Dinner is served, followed by IET AI Technical Network Member Ben Thorn.
22:00 - Dinner and Networking continues with a surprise live entertainer.
23:30 - End of dinner