Andrew has a background in European and domestic defence acquisition and transformation, having worked as a civil servant and consultant. He has delivered transformations of commercial functions with a multi-billion pound per annum spend by performing radical changes to their commercial operating model, developing and implementing user-driven digital strategies and using best practice procurement assurance frameworks to inform future strategic direction. Recently, he co-ordinated the publication of Defence’s first ever Acquisition Pipeline, which shared future contracting demand with industry.
In addition, he has experience managing a diverse range of procurements from inception to contract management. During the past decade, Andrew has managed procurements for programmes worth up to £11.5bn: developing procurement strategies, acting as the link between requirements development and ITT drafting, and leading market engagement strategy development. He has managed rigorous negotiation plans to assist a multi-billion pound defence acquisition and has also supported complex negotiations more widely in the public sector.
He is currently leading the co-ordination of the Accelerating Commercial Pathways programme, which aims to improve the pace of acquisition and make Defence adaptable to future challenges, by exploiting flexibilities in policies and processes.

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.

Claire has 30 years extensive commercial experience working in public and private sector across industries, including manufacturing, construction, financial services and working overseas. Claire holds a degree in Politics and Economics and is MCIPS Chartered since 2002.

“Following a 20-year private sector commercial career, I joined the DIO, to lead an exciting programme to develop a leading-edge Commercial function delivering Military capability through Infrastructure. Our vision is to be a high performing team consistently delivering value for money and commercial outcomes across Defence Infrastructure. Building on the values of the wider Defence commercial family and the Government Commercial Function, aiming to strengthen and leverage Government scale and purchasing power and driving better value for money for the taxpayer and partners.

Working closely with Defence colleagues, Ministers and Industry Partners, we are shaping and delivering services and outcomes across the infrastructure sector. I am passionate about the social value we can create, and I am incredibly proud of my record working with SME’s, Voluntary and Third Sectors, alongside more established Partners.

At all times we work with integrity, alongside driving sustainable results and value. I build strong teams, relationships and I am a champion of Diversity.”

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.

Harrison is the Ministry of Defence’s Deputy Director for Industry Collaboration and Strategic Supplier Management. He is responsible for improving the MoD’s approach to strategic engagement with the Defence Sector via the Defence Industrial Join Council, its approach to engaging industry in capability development and acquisition, MOD’s Policy towards Small to Medium Sized Enterprises and approach to managing existing important suppliers.

Helen is a senior commercial and procurement leader with significant experience driving transformational change, optimizing operating models, and leading complex procurement strategies across defence, aerospace, and nuclear sectors. Her focus is always on developing commercial solutions that enhance efficiency, mitigate risk, and drive value in highly regulated environments.

She has a proven track record of delivering major capital projects, leading large-scale commercial functions, and influencing at the highest levels of government and industry. She is known for her commercial acumen, strategic vision, and ability to challenge convention to achieve game-changing outcomes.

Helen joined the Ministry of Defence in September 2019, working across a variety of functional roles delivering:

A clear commercial function strategy for Defence that delivers departmental, cross-government, and functional objectives, driving increases in productivity and efficiency.
A step change to commercial capability, unlocking capacity which allows teams to focus on value-adding activities and champion innovation.
A refreshed policy and knowledge management approach, capitalizing on new legislation to drive early market engagement, unlock opportunities with SMEs, and achieve the right commercial outcomes.
A move towards more efficient, automated systems, using management information to drive decision-making, ultimately increasing pace across the acquisition lifecycle.
More recently, she has moved back into operational delivery, working in Defence Equipment & Support to embed the new DE&S Operating Model and drive improved outcomes across acquisition and in-service portfolios.

Helen is the Senior Responsible Owner for the Accelerating Commercial Pathways programme, which aims to improve the pace of acquisition and make Defence adaptable to future challenges by exploiting flexibilities in policies and processes.

Huw Walters is a Senior Civil Servant in the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), holding the role of Director of Economic Security & Statecraft. He leads the teams responsible for Defence’s contribution to countering economic threats to UK national security and on the use of economic statecraft to deliver defence and security objectives. This includes working with allies to develop international collaboration in these areas. Huw is also the UK Principal on the five nations (Australia/Canada, NZ,UK, US) National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB) programme.

.

Before taking on his current role, Huw was the Director of Defence Industrial and Export policy. Previous defence experience includes serving as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the MOD’s Oil and Pipelines Agency. He was also the senior civilian adviser to the UK’s Vice Chief of Defence Staff.

Huw has previously worked in a variety of Senior Civil Service roles including leading the Aerospace, Marine and Defence Industrial Strategy teams within the Business Department. He was also responsible for overseeing the delivery of a network of new National Further Education Colleges, ranging from High Speed Rail to Creative and Cultural Skills.

Huw has an MBA from Imperial College, London and a BSc in Psychology from the University of Wales. He is a Chartered Psychologist and a member of the Institute of Directors.

Jim Carter is the Submarine Delivery Agency’s Commercial Director, responsible for leading all commercial activity for the organisation, as well as developing a Defence Nuclear Enterprise commercial operating model that delivers best for enterprise outcomes. Jim’s previous role was Commercial Director, Supply Chain, at the Ministry of Defence (MOD), where he was responsible for the overall supplier and market interface, helping transform MOD’s supplier relationships and improving broader industry engagement.

He’s had a 25-year Commercial career across the private and public sector including Director roles at Cable & Wireless, Commercial Director at Network Rail, and Transformation Director in the Cabinet Office, where he was tasked with improving the capacity and capability of Commercial Specialists across government. For his work at Network Rail, Jim won the CIPs Procurement and Supply Chain Professional of the Year Award, and he’s won 7 CIPS Awards across his career.

Julie has worked in the Defence industry for three decades, predominately in Procurement and Supply Chain roles; leading in various private sector organisations and as an operating Board member, since 2003. She joined MOD as Commercial Director, Supply Chain in January 2023, bringing a valuable perspective, fresh from her leadership role within Thales UK. She joined Thales UK as Chief Procurement Officer in 2018 and was responsible for all procurement and supply chain activity across UK divisions including Defence, Cyber Security, Civil Aerospace and Ground Transportation.

Julie has led numerous successful transformation programmes across her roles within the Defence Industry and brings a huge amount of industry insight to her role in the MOD.

Elizabeth (Libby) Vallance Bull is an AI and Technical Strategy Advisor for the British Army, MOD and NATO.

Libby is a graduate from the Universities of St. Andrews, Aberdeen and Cambridge, a Fellow of the Geological Society, and Honorary Fellow of the University of Exeter (Centre for Public Understanding of Defence and National Security), guest lecturer at the Universities of Buckinghamshire and Cambridge. She started her career with the MOD, Army, Royal Signals during the period of the Bosnian Conflict. Emerging as a Geophysicist from her studies, Libby has spent a privileged three decades, travelling the world and its major oil capitals, working as an exploration geophysicist and latterly digital transformation strategist, within the largest multinational Oil and Gas organisations globally.

Libby brought her experience of solving complex hydrocarbon exploration challenges to Defence and National Security, where she has provided, technical and strategic advisory to Defence Primes, SMEs, and MOD. She brings a wealth of expertise, in the practical application of artificial intelligence, and machine intelligent process to defence and national security.

Over the last 12 months she has worked alongside an ecosystem of niche SMEs and met with over 60 other SMEs, during mobilisation demonstrating how data centric, SMEs can work at pace to deliver brilliance.

Llyr Jones joined Chemring on 8 February 2021 as Group Strategy and Corporate Development Director. Llyr has been working within the defence, national security and aerospace sectors for over 30 years. His career spans five continents, and specific international assignments have included Japan and France. Over this time, he has held a wide range of leadership posts focusing particularly on strategy, mergers and acquisitions, business development, industrial policy, and international affairs.

Previously he has been a Board Member of Canning House - the UK’s leading forum for informed comment, contacts and debate on Latin American politics, economy and business, a Policy Fellow and Development Board member at the Centre for Science and Policy, Cambridge University, a Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Advanced Manufacturing and a Non-Executive Director of the Strategic Planning Society.

Llyr is a Chartered Director and Chartered Engineer as well as Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He holds degrees from several UK universities – including a PhD from the University of Southampton and an MBA from the Loughborough University School of Business and Economics.

Major General Phil Prosser was commissioned into the REME in 1992. After an inservice Mechanical Engineering degree he served 5 Airborne Brigade Logistic Battalion; 19 Regiment Royal Artillery Workshop and 5 Battalion REME where he was selected for promotion to Major. During this time deployed to Kosovo (19 Regiment RA) and Iraq (5 Battalion REME).

As a Major he served as SO2 Officer Recruiting at RHQ REME; commanded 8 Field Company (Para) in 16 Air Assault Brigade deploying on Operation HERRICKs 4 and 8; Directing Staff at the Initial Command and Staff Course (Land); and as DCOS 4 Mechanized Brigade deploying on Operation HERRICK 12. During this time, he was selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and attendance on Advanced Command
and Staff Course 15.

His initial SO1 Post was twofold: SO1 Personnel Operations and SO1 Manpower Operations in Army Headquarters. In the SO1 Personnel Operations role he delivered Personnel input to the operational planning process and for the notification process for all Army deaths (including the delivery of Op PABBAY the Army repatriation parade for personnel killed on operations).
From 2014 to 2016 he commanded 1 Close Support Battalion REME in Catterick. During this time he re-roled the Battalion to the Adaptable Force; lead on the design and delivery of a CSS exercise in Kenya; deployed on the 1st Op TEMPERER and delivered Defence Engagement activity in Nigeria. On completion of command he led a 3-month business improvement sprint assessing future fleet management options
for Warrior CSP, his team included consultants from McKinsey and Babcock.

From 2016 to 2019 he was employed in Defence Equipment and Support as the Team Lead responsible for the provision of In-Service Support to the majority of Army vehicles and worked on the strategy of support, and how to place data at the heart of business decision making. He also attended Higher Command and Staff Course in 2018.

In July 2019 he assumed command of 101 Logistic Brigade in Aldershot. His command tour took an unexpected detour in March 2020 when he deployed to HQ NHS to help with the distribution of PPE as part of the National response to COVID19; he then returned in November 2020 to assist with the Distribution of the Vaccine. He also led the Brigade HQ through a validation exercise to ensure they were ready to deploy as part of the Warfighting Division.

Previously employed as Assistance Chief of Staff Equipment in Field Army Headquarters. He was responsible for ensuring the right equipment, is in the right place at the right team to deliver mission effect safely. He assumes the role of Director Joint Supply in Strategic Command in February 2023 where he will be the lead Joint User for the end to end Supply Chain.

Maria Eagle was appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence on 8 July 2024. She was elected as the MP for Liverpool Garston in July 2024.

The Minister of State (Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry) is responsible for overseeing a wide range of critical areas within the defence sector. This includes defence procurement, driving the Defence Industrial Strategy to support economic growth and export campaigns, and fostering strong relationships with the defence industry. The role encompasses leading acquisition reform, managing the Equipment Plan, and overseeing the Defence Estates through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). Additionally, the minister supervises Defence Digital, advancing science and technology, and promoting research and development initiatives. Responsibilities also extend to ensuring compliance with single source contract regulations, supporting shipbuilding efforts, and engaging in multi-lateral capability programmes and organisations to strengthen international collaboration.

Natalie Desty is the Founder and Director of STEM Returners, an award-winning solution to an industry wide problem. After building a progressive career in recruitment, where she was Director of Maritime Engineering at a large recruitment company, Natalie was struck by the apparent lack of progress in diversity and inclusion within STEM industries. She was particularly concerned by the insurmountable barriers that people who have had a career break face, when wanting to return to STEM roles and so set up STEM Returners (in 2017) to work with leading STEM organisations to change the way they view professionals who have a career break.

Saab UK currently employs over 500 people across eight sites which focus on a wide range of specialisations including software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, armed forces training and more. Saab supports many thousands of British jobs through a multi-million-pound supply chain and expects this to increase further in the coming years. By partnering with UK customers and industry, they deliver innovative, solutions to complicated, multi-dimensional problems. Saab anticipates the threats of tomorrow and through collaboration ensures that its thinking edge pushes the boundaries.

Richard joined SEA as our Managing Director in January 2021. Throughout his career, he’s taken on senior technical and leadership roles in the UK and US, developing skills and people across the aerospace, defence, simulation, training, entertainment, and scientific sectors.

ADS is the UK trade association advancing leadership in aerospace, defence, security and space, to enable prosperity and clean, secure growth for our nation.

Dr. Tim Sheldon is the Chief Delivery Officer at Dstl, having taken on the role in April 2024. In this position, he supports the Chief Executive in managing the complex portfolio of defense and security work. He coordinates work across Dstl's Science & Technology (S&T) delivery units, while also overseeing the development and sustainability of S&T capabilities. His responsibilities include implementing a streamlined process for stakeholders to engage with Dstl, prioritizing demands, and ensuring the highest-impact outcomes.

Dr. Sheldon's career began after completing a Chemistry degree at Edinburgh University and a PhD in Organic Chemistry at Oxford. He joined the MoD in 1993, progressing through various roles in procurement and project management. Notable roles include leading the Defence Logistics Performance Management Programme and modernizing the Cost Assurance and Analysis Service (CAAS). In 2018, he became Head of Submarine Production, overseeing the delivery of Astute-class submarines, and later advanced to Director of Submarine Acquisition, responsible for major Royal Navy submarine projects. Throughout his career, Dr. Sheldon has played key roles in defense acquisition and transformation programs.

Tom McDonald is currently a Director at the UK National Audit Office, where he is responsible for leading value for money audit work on defence and national security expenditure. He has worked at the NAO since 2001 and has focused his career on the defence, health and international sectors. Since 2015 he has also been the NAO’s lead Director for cyber security across the UK public sector. Between 2010 and 2013 he was seconded to the Department for International Development to establish and run the Independent Commission for Aid Impact.

Before his NAO career, he worked in international affairs research and acted as an overseas election observer on behalf of the UN, EU and OSCE. He has degrees in modern languages, international relations and management from Bristol University and Ashridge Business School and is a fellow of the Centre for Science and Policy at Cambridge University.

Tony has 20 years of Defence sector experience, with a career that began in Agriculture before transitioning to Construction and the Automotive industry.

As the Market Head for Defence and Aerospace at Ricardo’s Performance Products business unit, Tony leads efforts to provide engineering and manufacturing solutions for driveline and component sub-systems across land, sea, and air domains. He works closely with industry partners to deliver the best of British high precision manufacture, supply chain management, and process control expertise to Ricardo’s clients.

He is a Certified 6 Sigma Black Belt and played a key role as Deployment Champion for the rollout of a major global OEM’s Production System at a facility supporting several Maintenance Repair and Overhaul contracts for British Army’s vehicle fleets. His background also includes working for a UK distributor that was franchise partner for several powertrain and driveline OEMs, as well as a Defence contractor - knowledge and experience that he applies in his current role.

Admiral Kyte joined the Royal Navy as a Logistics Officer in 1987. Junior appointments included tours in the aircraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL, Type 21 frigate HMS ACTIVE, and the staff of the Senior Naval Officer Northern Ireland. Roles as a Lieutenant Commander included the Logistic Officer of the Type 22 frigate HMS CHATHAM, on the staff at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth and as the Deputy Base Logistics Officer in His Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport.

Promoted to Commander in 2002, staff tours included Flag Officer Sea Training and the Permanent Joint Headquarters. In 2006, he joined the amphibious assault ship HMS BULWARK as Commander Logistics, before moving to the Equipment Capability area of the Ministry of Defence, responsible for the Navy’s replacement support shipping programme.

He joined the Army’s 8 Engineer Brigade on promotion to Captain in February 2009, deploying later that year to Afghanistan as the Deputy Commander of the Joint Force Support HQ. He then took up the appointment of Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Logistic Operations and Plans) in Navy Command before assuming the post of Secretary to the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff.

On promotion to Commodore in August 2014, he became the Head of Defence Logistic Operations before taking command of the Standing Joint Force Logistic HQ and deploying to Oman for SAIF SAREEA 3. He assumed the role of Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Support Operations) and Chief Naval Logistic Officer in November 2018 on promotion to Rear Admiral. Responsible for the provision of strategic level policy, planning and direction in support of current and contingent operations, his tenure was dominated by the logistic challenges created by BREXIT, COVID and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He recently led a study for CDS focused on increasing Defence outputs and undertook a sabbatical with industry before assuming the post of Chief of Defence Logistics and Support on promotion to Vice Admiral in September 2023.

Admiral Kyte is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course and the London Business School. He holds a BA in Modern History and an MA in Defence Studies, is President of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Surfing Association, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and is the Armed Forces Jewish Faith Champion. He was appointed a Companion of the Bath in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List for leadership of Defence’s response to the COVID pandemic.

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.