Simon Bradley, EADS
Simon Bradley started his career with British Airways, following in the long family tradition – his grandfather was in the Imperial / Vickers design team for the Comet and his father was with BOAC for 35 years, flying VC-10’s and 747’s.
After leaving British Airways, Simon was part of the design team for the system architecture behind the secure communications platform at No. 10 Downing Street, home of the British Prime Minister and his Cabinet Colleagues. After the successful implementation of the system he joined the United Nations. Based at the traditional home of the UN, at the Palais Des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Simon was responsible for leading a team that delivered a Distributed Database Solution which enabled reparation payments for victims of the first Gulf War, controlling over €40 Billion in payments.
Prior to joining EADS, Simon was CTO of an internet start-up in London, England. Growing the team from 5 people to 130 in 8 years, Simon developed the technology roadmap which enabled the company to pursue its ambitious plans to deliver educational software to almost 1 million school children around the world, at a low cost – to enable countries from under developed countries to benefit from the use of Internet technologies. He also undertook security work for the security services in the UK, including MI5 and the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU).
Simon Bradley joined EADS in 2006 as Director of The System Design Centre, within the Cassidian Systems group in the UK, responsible for a team that delivered high level technical expertise to business units and Defence Ministries within the Defence industry. In 2007 Simon took responsibility for EADS Innovation Works Technical Capability Centre 5 – heading a trans-national organisation which innovates in the sphere of Systems Engineering, Information Technology, Homeland Security, Applied Mathematics, Physics and Simulation/Virtual Reality. By 2010 the team consisted of 150 people based in 13 locations over 8 countries – ranging from PhD students through to world renowned experts in their respective fields.
In 2011 Simon started his latest challenge within EADS, working for the Global Innovation Network team within the Office of the Chief Technical Officer, Dr Jean Botti. This new role concentrates on Systems & Virtual Product Engineering, Homeland & Cyber Security, Guidance Navigation & Control (GNC), Communications, Integrated Product Support; Service based revenues, Training and Logistics.
As a member of the Council for Industry and Higher Education and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, Simon helps to bridge the capability gap between Academia and Industry in the UK. Simon is a visiting Professor at Aberystwyth University in Wales, a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Wales and is a regular keynote speaker at conferences on Systems Engineering, Homeland Security & Innovation.
