Conference Agenda

James Attard Kingswell - NPD Officer , Toly Group ltd.

James holds a B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Integrated Product Development. He joined the Toly Group immediately after graduation and has worked across product innovation, R&D, prototyping, and technical sales. He supports complex client projects from concept to industrialisation, with hands-on experience in tooling design, injection molding, and pilot-to-production transitions. James also develops internal digital tools to streamline product development workflows. Skilled in Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360, he applies simulation tools like FEA and mold flow analysis. His expertise spans additive manufacturing (FDM, SLA, SLS), bridging design and engineering to deliver practical, production-ready solutions.

This keynote explores how a foundation in engineering and product design education influences the development of both tangible products and the services that surround them, with a focus on the global cosmetics industry.
Drawing from work at Toly, a leader in packaging innovation, the session highlights how academic training in integrated product development translates into real-world decisions across the full lifecycle, from early concept generation to manufacturing and market delivery. Examples include inclusive packaging design, multi-component systems, and customer engagement strategies, illustrating how products are increasingly inseparable from the services they support.

Key tools and methods such as CAD, simulation (FEA, mould flow), and additive manufacturing are presented not only as technical enablers, but also as catalysts for faster, more iterative collaboration across disciplines. The keynote also addresses the realities of tooling, injection moulding, and working with global clients, underscoring the complexity of delivering design at scale and the extent to which formal education prepares practitioners for such challenges.
Ultimately, this session offers an industry-grounded perspective on how impactful engineering and product design education cultivates the mindset required to navigate and integrate product and service innovation, and how learning continues long after graduation, on the shop floor, with customers, and in the boardroom.