James Cartlidge MP was appointed a Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence on 21 April 2023. He was previously Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from 28 October 2022 to 21 April 2023. He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice and Assistant Government Whip between 17 September 2021 and 7 July 2022.

Andy studied electrical and electronic engineering at Portsmouth and management at Bournemouth. He completed a year at the Royal College of Defence Studies and has completed a Masters in International Security and Strategy at King’s College, London. Trained as an engineer, Andy spent the first decade of his working career in the space business, as a designer and programme manager of military satellite systems. His career progressed to leading a wide range of Aerospace and Defence businesses with a specialism in helping improve performance and drive strategic change. Andy has completed government secondments into the MOD and the Department of Trade and Industry. In the latter role he had responsibility for leading the UK Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team and supported the development of Defence Industrial Policy. He has been active throughout his career in supporting others and served on the UK Electronics Council, the board of the trade body TechUK, the board of Smart Africa, and is an active coach and mentor. Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) The Chief Executive Officer is the UK’s National Armaments Director and as the Accounting Officer for Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) is directly responsible to Parliament for the stewardship of DE&S’ resources. To discharge these responsibilities, CEO has delegated authority from PUS to lead and manage DE&S: • providing equipment and logistic support to current operations, including delivery against urgent operational requirements • delivering funded equipment acquisition and support outputs, as agreed with Front Line Commands and the Head Office • delivering projects to performance, time and cost targets, in accordance with agreed asset delivery plans • managing safety, risk and environmental issues in accordance with mandated requirements and appropriate best practice • representing UK interests in international military and political fora, including NATO and the EU

A naturally curious influencer who firmly believes in the benefits of having diversity of thought as well as a collaborative approach. Anita joined the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) from Home Office where she was responsible for increasing the UK’s resilience to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) attacks. This included collaborating with a wide range of partners to ensure that the UK could effectively respond to CBRNE attacks. Prior to this, her experience within Cabinet Office included providing strategic leadership for the assessment of national security risks and setting policy to ensure scientific advice is used effectively during emergencies. Before moving into the National Security field, Anita started her career in social research working in the private sector. Head of the Defence and Security Accelerator The Head of the Defence and Security Accelerator is responsible for the development, operation and leadership of the Accelerator and its staff. They will also build strong relationships between the Accelerator and defence and security departments within the UK Government, industry (including small and medium-sized enterprises), academia and other partners, to deliver value to the security and prosperity of the UK. They report to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Capability and Delivery Director and the Accelerator Development Board.

The UKspace Security and Defence Committee (SDC) maintains an overview of all defence and broader security interests affecting the sector. The committee has good working relations with MOD and its agencies, and frequently has guest speakers to keep members abreast of latest developments and thinking in the department. UKspace is the official trade association of the UK space industry, representing and promoting space to government and other key stakeholders nationally and internationally.

Victoria is an experienced senior leader, with a multidisciplinary background and track record of achievement. Focused on strategic commercial leadership and effective relationship management to deliver tangible results for businesses and individuals alike. Victoria has over 15 years’ experience in the Aerospace and Defence sector and has worked within corporate procurement, finance, sales, commercial, programme management and investor relations functions within FTSE100/250 organisations including BAE Systems, QinetiQ, Airbus and Unilever. Victoria’s achievements were recognised by The Times & Sunday Times in 2019 as winner of We Are the City Top 100 Women Rising Star 2019 – Defence. Victoria was also awarded the Marshall of Cambridge Medal by the Duke of Edinburgh in 2012 for contribution to the aerospace industry. Victoria is a chartered Aeronautical Engineer by background and holds an Executive MBA from Henley Business School. Victoria is a Non-Executive Council Member of The Air League Trust and trustee of the Inspiring Leadership Trust and plays competitive badminton in her spare time.

Ewan Sime is Procurement & Supply Chain Director for Babcock International Group, responsible for the Land sector. A passionate procurement leader with over 19 years’ experience of global procurement and supply chain operations across a number of sectors, with extended exposure to the Defence industry. Having lead a number of successful functional transformations, Ewan has developed a desire to drive change and innovation at all levels within the supply chain. As we move forward in an ever adapting world with a number of high profile challenges, Ewan is excited to maximise the use of digitisation and technology across the global supply chain to drive effective and sustainable supply chain solutions in support of our partners and environment.

Jon is Programme Director of Material Availability Services, an innovative engineering & manufacturing team within the Land Sector of Babcock International Group, focussed on enhancing Babcock’s ability to deliver world class Through Life Equipment Support. Jon has worked in the design, manufacture, maintenance, repair and overhaul of military equipment for 25 years, spanning Land, Sea & Air domains. Jon has enjoyed working at all phases of product & service lifecycle, and is now focussed on increasing asset availability through evolution of the support model for legacy & low volume equipment. Jon is also the Defence industry co-chair for the additive manufacturing accelerator programme in UK.

Simon Dakin joined the Ministry of Defence in 1992 after completing a degree in physics at Southampton University, followed by a Doctorate in nuclear physics at the Institute Laue Langevin in Grenoble, France. Simon’s first few appointments in MoD were in the Research Establishments at Farnborough and Malvern, developing software for the Special Weapons programme and helping to establish the Defence Research Agency. He was then seconded to the Department of National Heritage to develop policy for increasing investment in the UK Film Industry. Simon returned to MoD where he has over 25 years’ experience in a variety of acquisition roles, including policy, change leadership and delivery. Simon was leader of the Ground Based Air Defence Delivery Team from 2005, followed by promotion to the Senior Civil Service in 2007 to become Head of Project Management in MoD, working to improve professionalism across Defence. In 2010, Simon was lead author for the Science and Technology Chapter of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. For over four years from 2011, Simon led the DE&S team providing key capabilities for the UK Defence Intelligence community, followed by an assignment as the first Function Manager for Project Management in the Joint Enablers Domain, helping to develop and implement DE&S transformation. Appointed as DE&S 2* Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) in 2016, leading a large and diverse portfolio supporting all Front Line Commands. ISTAR OC was renamed Integrated Battlespace Operating Centre (IBOC) in 2020 to provide focus into driving integration, digitisation and innovation in the battlespace. Simon is a Chartered Physicist, Registered Project Professional, graduate of the Major Projects Leadership Academy and Fellow of the Association of Project Management. He is married to Fiona with three children and a border collie dog. Simon devotes his spare time to long distance running with his family.

Sam Staincliffe is the co-founder and CTO of Uplift360 a deeptech company developing chemical technology to recycle advanced materials. She is a circular economy and advanced material specialist. Her background is in defence operations and material technology development first for the US Air Force and then with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). She has also held strategic level roles for the Red Cross working in disaster response and climate change technology development. Her previous start-up Ferox was developing biomaterials to replace nonrecyclable plastics in the toy industry. Sam is an advocate for female tech founders using her recent Women in Defence award to develop pathways for future entrepreneurs.

Andrew Kinniburgh is Director-General of Make UK Defence, the Defence Trade Association belonging to Make UK – the Manufacturers’ Organisation. He joined Make UK in 2019 from the Cabinet Office where he was Wider Government Engagement Lead for the Government Commercial Organisation, following a 25 year career in the defence and security industry. He spent nearly 10 years with Serco Defence, followed by senior appointments with Smiths Detection and two Ministry of Defence trading funds and a 7 year spell as an independent consultant. He holds a BA in Business from Heriot-Watt University and an MSc in International Defence Marketing from Cranfield University / UK Defence Academy. Andrew has been involved with Defence Ministries and businesses in the Defence and Security sectors across most European countries and in North America, as well as the UK. Make UK Defence represents over 300 UK Defence Suppliers ranging from SMEs and mid tiers, to major Primes and is the lead Trade Association for the MOD’s Defence Suppliers Forum SME Working Group.

John has recently joined Make UK as a consultant as part of a portfolio career. He has already served on Make UK Defence's Policy and Advisory Committees and was briefly on the Make UK Board itself, as well as having had long stints on the ADS Defence Sector Board and Council. A former MOD Special Adviser, John was Babcock's Head of Government Relations from 2006-21.

Professor Taylor joined RUSI from Cranfield University where he was head of the Department of Defence Management and Security Analysis and subsequently head of the Centre for Defence Management and Leadership. Professor Taylor previously served as Chairmain of the British International Studies Association and head of the International Security Programme at Chatham House.

With 25 years’ experience Max has enjoyed a successful career growing businesses organically and through acquisitions across multiple business sectors including aerospace, cyber security, defence & security, IT global services, and energy. A FTSE250 executive with dual UK & Australian citizenships and with wealth of international experience, Max has maintained leadership, influencing, and consensus building roles in Airbus, IBM, L3 Harris, NCC Group, Ultra Electronics, and now KBR.