This year marked the inaugural launch of Synchronise; a collaborative three day event by the National Physical Laboratory, Spirent and the Royal Institute of Navigation, bringing PNT to life.

Synchronise provided an opportunity for researchers, academia, early career students and SMEs to connect, network and share insights on the current and future landscape of ‘timing’ in Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT).

Day 2 was Next Gen Nav, our flagship conference for early career professionals including our elected presenters, pictured below.

We were fortunate to receive ten presentations from a strong cohort which meant the judges had a tough time confirming the winner of the David Last Tribute Fund. Pictured left to right:

1. Kieran O'Leary (Heriot-Watt University)
2. Sorin Andrei Negru, (Cranfield University)
3. Harrison Reeves (UCL)
4. Soujanya Syamal (Cranfield University)
5. Chandni Saha (Cranfield University)
6. Tarafder Elmi Tabassum (Cranfield University)
7. Agathe Bouis (University of Strathclyde)
8. Aamna Rehman (BAE Systems)
9. Emily Ellison (BAE Systems)
10. Abi Yetton (University of Surrey / SSTL)

Congratulations to Abi Yetton, PhD Researcher from University of Surrey, who won best presentation - pictured below with Alex Schofield, GNSS Researcher at Warwick University and RIN’s Early Career Network (ECN) Committee Lead. Abi will be supported to attend a UK major navigation conference thanks to the David Last Tribute Fund.

Alex commented: “I want to express my deep appreciation for all ten presenters today, both from academia and industry. Each of you brought unique insights, thoughtful analysis, and genuine enthusiasm to your work. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to pitch complex ideas to a diverse audience, and everyone handled it with clarity and confidence. A special mention must go to Abi, whose presentation was particularly engaging, being the perfect balance of depth, creativity, and clear communication. It was inspiring to witness such professionalism and passion across the board.”

Conference sponsors MakeSense and Xona Space Systems delivered two brilliant presentations and we’ll be learning more about their technology in the New Year - stay tuned.

Panel chair and ECN Committee member George Newton commented: “Fantastic to have chaired a panel discussing the skills needed for the future of the PNT industry. Great conversations around the blend of technical expertise, systems thinking, and collaboration needed to drive innovation in navigation, timing, and space systems.”

Panellists included Richard Burguete (Head of Postgraduate Institute at NPL), Raphael Grech (Technical Strategist (PNT Emerging Technologies) at Spirent Communications and CEO & Founder of Makesense Technology, Rob Quinn.

Jasmine Zidan, PhD Research Fellow and ECN Committee Member commented: “As the panel chair, I was delighted to see such a rich discussion around the many ways people contribute to the PNT field — from research and technical innovation to commercial applications. We explored the valuable skills that transfer across these areas, and heard inspiring examples of the diverse and sometimes non-traditional routes people have taken into the sector. It’s a reminder of how broad and dynamic the PNT community truly is.”

Synchronise concluded with PNT communication and training on Friday morning, surrounded by technical NPL demonstrations, and views out onto an apple tree grown from the pips from Isaac Newton's apple tree. 

For further information about NPL's National Timing Centre (NTC) programme and training courses, visit: National Timing Centre NTC - NPL

Looking ahead

Synchronise demonstrated the power of in-person networking and the value that comes with building one's professional network in our growing field of PNT. The RIN are preparing to launch our jobs board in the New Year (see here).

Please bookmark this as we'll be adding more roles and have plans to make this the go-to careers resource for the PNT community.