#204 International Composites Summit: Introduction with Gemma Hardy during Advanced Engineering 2025
09.02.2026 13 min Staffel 5 Episode 162
Zusammenfassung & Show Notes
The International Composites Summit (ICS) enters a new era – and the industry is watching.
In an exclusive conversation, Ilkay Özkisaoglu sat down with Gemma Hardy, Managing Director of The Fluency Business Group and the driving force behind ICS, to discuss what makes the 5th edition of ICS (2–3 December 2025 at The Drum Wembley) a strategic turning point for the global composites community.
“ICS came straight out of Covid in 2021,” Hardy recalls. “We’re now moving to Wembley for our fifth edition – a bold step that reflects our ambition to create a truly international platform.”
Hardy emphasizes that ICS is leaner, more agile, and laser-focused on industry needs:
“We’ve moved away from big stands. This year, it’s all about equality and interaction – curated pods, high-level content, and networking that matters.”
What’s on the Programme?
More: https://lnkd.in/dHPWZJQa
The ICS Conference Forum is the intellectual heart of the summit, tackling critical challenges and opportunities across the composites value chain. Expect strategic presentations, provocative panels, and global voices, including:
Chris Skinner (Owens Corning Composites) – Strategic Marketing & R\&D insights
Ginger Gardiner (CompositesWorld) – Chairing a fiery sustainability debate
Marcy Offner – Industry legend on communication and growth
NEOM – Visionary perspectives on The Line and future construction in Saudi Arabia
And yes, automation and AI take center stage:
Ilkay Özkisaoglu will chair the panel “Are We Automating People Out of Composites – or Not?”
This discussion promises to be one of the most polarizing sessions of ICS 2025, exploring how digitalization and machine learning are reshaping skills, processes, and the human role in manufacturing.
Why ICS Matters
Hardy is clear: “The UK has a significant part of the global supply chain. ICS is about putting the UK on the map while connecting international OEMs, Tier 1s, and innovators. It’s a hub for collaboration and growth.”
The venue, The Drum at Wembley, offers world-class facilities and festive vibes:
“Imagine discussing composites under glass ceilings with Christmas lights outside Wembley Stadium,” Hardy says. “It’s going to be magical.”
Don’t Miss the Networking Evening
On 2 December, join the ICS Networking Event at The White Horse, Wembley – just steps from the summit venue.
Limited to 100 tickets, this relaxed evening includes a welcome drink and festive Christmas buffet – the perfect way to unwind and build connections before the year ends.
👉 Secure your spot now
✅ Final Call: Register for ICS 2025 and be part of the conversation shaping the future of composites.
🎟 Free entry for the summit | Register here https://lnkd.in/eYZSTiPB
🍽 Networking Dinner | Book your ticket https://lnkd.in/eftymWec
YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/bhdGXsR1qtg
In an exclusive conversation, Ilkay Özkisaoglu sat down with Gemma Hardy, Managing Director of The Fluency Business Group and the driving force behind ICS, to discuss what makes the 5th edition of ICS (2–3 December 2025 at The Drum Wembley) a strategic turning point for the global composites community.
“ICS came straight out of Covid in 2021,” Hardy recalls. “We’re now moving to Wembley for our fifth edition – a bold step that reflects our ambition to create a truly international platform.”
Hardy emphasizes that ICS is leaner, more agile, and laser-focused on industry needs:
“We’ve moved away from big stands. This year, it’s all about equality and interaction – curated pods, high-level content, and networking that matters.”
What’s on the Programme?
More: https://lnkd.in/dHPWZJQa
The ICS Conference Forum is the intellectual heart of the summit, tackling critical challenges and opportunities across the composites value chain. Expect strategic presentations, provocative panels, and global voices, including:
Chris Skinner (Owens Corning Composites) – Strategic Marketing & R\&D insights
Ginger Gardiner (CompositesWorld) – Chairing a fiery sustainability debate
Marcy Offner – Industry legend on communication and growth
NEOM – Visionary perspectives on The Line and future construction in Saudi Arabia
And yes, automation and AI take center stage:
Ilkay Özkisaoglu will chair the panel “Are We Automating People Out of Composites – or Not?”
This discussion promises to be one of the most polarizing sessions of ICS 2025, exploring how digitalization and machine learning are reshaping skills, processes, and the human role in manufacturing.
Why ICS Matters
Hardy is clear: “The UK has a significant part of the global supply chain. ICS is about putting the UK on the map while connecting international OEMs, Tier 1s, and innovators. It’s a hub for collaboration and growth.”
The venue, The Drum at Wembley, offers world-class facilities and festive vibes:
“Imagine discussing composites under glass ceilings with Christmas lights outside Wembley Stadium,” Hardy says. “It’s going to be magical.”
Don’t Miss the Networking Evening
On 2 December, join the ICS Networking Event at The White Horse, Wembley – just steps from the summit venue.
Limited to 100 tickets, this relaxed evening includes a welcome drink and festive Christmas buffet – the perfect way to unwind and build connections before the year ends.
👉 Secure your spot now
✅ Final Call: Register for ICS 2025 and be part of the conversation shaping the future of composites.
🎟 Free entry for the summit | Register here https://lnkd.in/eYZSTiPB
🍽 Networking Dinner | Book your ticket https://lnkd.in/eftymWec
YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/bhdGXsR1qtg
Transkript
So good afternoon dear LinkedIn Community,
Composites Lounge members
and ICS International Composite Summits
exhibitors and participants
or visitors. I have with me
now Gemma Hardy
and she is the organizer
of the International Composites Summit.
We will update you now
on the International Composites Summit.
What will be happening on the second
and the 3rd of December this year.
So thank you, Gemma,
for being part of my show.
Thank you for having me.
-So let's start.
What is International Composites Summit
first? When did you start
with these editions?
So the International Composites Summit
came straight out the back of Covid.
So we started in 2021. We are just about
to have our fifth edition this year
obviously moving to Wembley to The Drum,
as you've said.
Really looking forward to it.
Five years. Unbelievable.
Five years.
Congratulations for that.
To sustain five editions
is already a major success.
Absolutely.
-And it's hard work, I know.
Yes, yes. So, Gemma,
allow me a few questions
regarding the
International Composites Summit,
because I've been attending 2021
at the Ibis in London.
Then I was in Milton Keynes
at this nice sporting arena.
Yep. . That was, I think then 2022 and 23.
Last year I couldn't attend.
So this year I will be attending again.
And I have seen however,
and I want to straight ask you,
you had flown this down for a period
and now you're coming back very,
very strong.
My question is what happened
that you are now going
into a sort of a restart?
-Okay. So yeah.
Good question, Ilkay.
Thanks for that one.
We are coming into a new, new era
for the International Composite Summit.
As you know, up until the last edition,
ICS was a joint venture
with composites UK.
Two different businesses
going in two different directions.
And completely understand that composites
UK did not feel
this was the right direction for them.
And so the joint venture separated
and Fluency is continuing
with ICS on its own. What that means is
we can be a lot more reactive
and we can take time
to listen to the industry,
see what people want from it,
and come back out with, like,
you say something where we're coming
out much, much stronger now.
We're taking it to a different level.
So there will be none of the big stands
at this year's show. Everybody will be
on an equal playing field.
There'll be lots and lots of pods,
and we've got some great people
supporting us and exhibiting with us.
So really excited about that.
What I'm really excited about
is the forum programme just announced
and we have got some great speakers.
So I'm really looking forward to you
and I've got to make sure.
I wish I could read them all off to you
now, but people need to go
and have a look.
But you know, people like Chris Skinner
from from Owens Corning
coming across to speak
and who is just going to be phenomenal.
Ginger Gardner from Composites World
I mean, what an amazing person
to have across here.
Marcy Offner I'm sure you know Marcy.
She's been in around the industry
for some time.
She's an absolute legend
and one of my personal heroes.
We've got NEOM coming talking
about The Line in Saudi Arabia.
You know, we've got a good, good mix
of people coming in for the first time
talking in the UK
about composite supply chain,
about sustainability.
And we're going to push buttons.
So we're going to have
a lovely panel session on sustainability.
I don't want to know
what everybody is doing
and why they think it's right.
I want to really get provocative.
And Ginger is going to be chairing
that for us.
So I'm sure
it's going to be absolutely amazing.
Gemma, this is a fantastic program
and we understand now where
this development is coming from
and where it is going.
My other question to you is
why do you believe
UK should have
a composite only program or format.
A really good question again.
I think we have a significant part
of the supply chain here in the UK.
We have some fantastic
innovative companies
that we need to showcase,
and we need to have
a networking hub here in the UK.
So when I'm looking at
how we're building out ICS,
it is about growing that network.
It's about making sure
that we put the UK on the map,
and it's about bringing the supply chain
from all around the world to speak to us,
but also about getting our message out.
It will be in The Drum.
-Yes!
Wembley, as we said before.
Now, I've never heard of The Drum before,
to be honest.
But then Katie, your marketing director,
she pointed me to a website
and to be honest, I was really thrilled
to see the environment and the atmosphere.
-Is a hidden gem.
Is a hidden gem, yes it is.
How did you come to that location?
I'm not sure how we got so lucky,
because it is actually a perfect fit
in terms of venue
and opportunities around.
You know, it works really, really well.
I know we have upset some people
by moving from Milton Keynes,
but a lot of people,
especially some
of our international visitors,
felt that that was a little bit difficult
to get to.
When you don't have your own transport.
So we're here in the heart of,
you know, Wembley, London.
It's got good access routes.
It's not far from our main airports.
We started our search
at all sorts of venues
in and around the area.
We knew where we needed to be.
We wanted to make it as easy as possible,
as accessible as possible.
And yeah, we found this hidden gem
and it really is.
It really is a gem.
I'm really excited to have an event there.
And the great thing is
there's so much room to grow,
you know, there's so many
different opportunities and spaces
within the venue that we can use,
and I'm really excited for people to come
on 2 and 3 December 2025, give
their honest opinions
and tell me what else they think
we could offer through this show.
-And I saw the rooms,
the ceilings, the lobbies.
Very aesthetical.
We have a lot of glass ceiling,
glass walls, lots of light.
So the pictures will be fantastic.
I will be also there
and covering some of the conference there.
Let me tell you also
that Gemma has made me
to a chair of a panel
that is slightly polarizing.
What's the panel?
Let's talk to our audience.
What have you in mind?
We are asking Ilkay to chair a panel
that is looking at
how we are automating people
out of composites, or not.
So we're going to be asking, again,
some provocative questions,
really talking about
how the industry is changing,
a lot of AI, machine learning, etc.
and how we perhaps changing the skills
that we need or, you know,
removing the need for people,
you know, what is it?
What is it that we're doing here?
Asking all the important questions.
So Ilkay is going to be great at that.
We're really excited.
-I have an opinion already,
but I need to stay neutral.
So some will probably say yes
and some will say no and be curious
what will be
then the main core message or the outcome?
Our conclusion of this will be very,
very interesting.
And it's a bit of a spicy panel, this one.
Right.
-Absolutely.
And I think it is a great idea.
And you know,
community we have to talk also
about things
not only always
the optimistic and positive stuff.
We have also to talk
about the critical stuff here.
And is this automation
a good thing or a bad thing.
Everyone has an opinion on it,
so let's discuss it on the 2nd
or the 3rd of December at The Drum.
Right. So my final question
then Gemma to you is so this
will be coming closer to Christmas.
Yep.
-So basically it's the end of the year.
First of all,
why did you choose the end of the year
or say the last
possible venue dates of 2025?
And how would you link that to Christmas?
-The reason we are the week we are
is we were looking for a week
where we don't clash.
We don't want to compete with events.
We want to support our event community.
So yeah, looking for a week
that wouldn't clash.
In speaking to some
of our American colleagues,
they said to us that the week
after the week after Thanksgiving,
they want to get out
and they want to travel again
before Christmas.
So it just seemed like the perfect fit
just before the schools
break up in the private schools.
But after Thanksgiving, before Christmas,
and I can't wait to get to the Drum
and you know, feel like I was a kid again.
As I look up at Wembley
and see all the Christmas lights out,
because it's going to be magical.
There will be the tree already
being set up, possibly.
We have on the 6th of December,
just two days, three days later.
Nikolaus. We will have already
some Christmas vibes.
And this is also
a one of its kind atmosphere.
I've never had this before
with the composite
or any of the composite shows.
So congratulations
on finding this nice date.
-I think it's a lovely day.
And, you know,
we've got a networking event
on the second December
and that's going to have
a nice Christmas birthday.
Nice and relaxed, you know.
And we're not going for the formal dinner.
We're going for networking.
The whole event
is around making connections,
helping grow the industry and just having,
you know, a nice time together
and making some really
good industry friends.
So the community you see,
it's a great opportunity
also to slowly face your busy year
down in a relaxed atmosphere.
There will be lots of conferences,
a lot of panel discussions.
Of course it will be not a huge show.
It will be more content given show.
From here there will be a great start.
Great opportunity.
So we invite you all
to come to ICS 2025 at The Drum.
Thank you one more time
for all your efforts
that you are doing
for the composites industry.
Let's grow the industry together.
It's exciting. Thank you, Ilkay.
You're welcome.
-Thank you.
How do we connect you with stories
within the composites
and sustainable materials industry?
We are on the ground to find the facts.
We examine big, innovative ideas.
We let diverse perspectives on technology
and sustainability
emerge and ignite conversations
that matter most.
To bring you the composites
and sustainable materials world,
Stay informed.
Stay connected, Stay inspired.
From our online studios in Germany
covering events and corporates
from France, Italy, UK, Central Europe
and many more European regions.
Join us for creating sustainable value!
With #Composites360onTour and Composites
Lounge Engineering
Talks and Composites Lounge Enduser Panels
hosted by Ilkay Özkisaoglu.
Weekly on LinkedIn, YouTube
and your preferred podcasts.