Anna Jackman, Associate Professor of Human Geography at the University of Reading, recently contributed to two major national discussions examining the future of drone policy, regulation and innovation in the UK.
On 23 April 2026, Dr Jackman spoke at the Westminster eForum event, Next Steps for the UK Drone Industry: Policy, Regulation, Investment, Innovation and Growth. She joined a panel exploring priorities for drone sector policy and regulation in the UK.
During the discussion, Dr Jackman shared reflections from her research on the challenges surrounding scaled Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone use, including issues relating to public perception, planning systems and resource allocation.
On 28 April 2026, Dr Jackman was also invited to participate in an autonomous aviation roundtable held at the UK Parliament. The event brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss emerging developments in drone and autonomous aviation technologies, including the opportunities and challenges involved in scaling drone operations across the UK.
Drawing on her research into drone geographies and emerging aviation technologies, Dr Jackman contributed insights into the barriers facing wider drone integration, including regulatory, infrastructural and social considerations.
Her participation in both events highlights the growing role of academic research in informing national conversations around the future of autonomous aviation, drone governance and technological innovation in the UK.