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State of Defence 2026

State of Defence 2026

State of Defence 2026

Tuesday 29 September | Time: 16:30 - 19:30 BST

Procurement speed, supply chain resilience, technology investment, talent competition, and demand signals are often seen as challenges consistently encountered throughout defence. These pressures are not solely the responsibility of the Armed Forces, commercial industry or those seeking to invest in the sector; they all require collaboration, which is enabled through shared goals and dialogue.

Facilitating this continued conversation, we are bringing together representatives from each of these stakeholder groups, focused on discussing how they see the current landscape and what they are doing to alleviate current pressures. Within the narrative of shared responsibility, this event will look ahead at how the sector can improve and what requires greater focus to ensure that war fighters are best enabled to succeed. 

What this event will cover

  • The establishment of the National Armament Directors Group and what this means in practice
  • The Ministry of Defence’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) action plan
  • Collectively overcoming challenges: procurement speed, supply chain resilience, technology investment, talent competition, and demand signals.
  • The role of industry and shaping this to effectively support future requirements and challenges

Agenda

Welcome drinks and the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees before the formal programme begins.

Our session will begin with introductory remarks from Gary Waterfall CBE DL, Senior Defence Advisor, DSEI (Chair)

A presentation before the panel discussion from our Keynote Speaker

Panel Discussion: Share Responsibility in Shaping the Future of Defence

As defence requires the involvement of government, commercial industry and private investment, the need for a collaborative approach in progressing how we tackle current challenges is paramount. This panel is set to discuss how different organisations, whether they are from within the Armed Forces or wider industry have a shared responsibility in shaping the current landscape. Set to ask the questions: how can the sector evolve to face these challenges and what is being progressively done better?  

Continue the conversation and make relevant connections with representatives from across the defence ecosystem.

The event closes

Speakers

Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) Gary Waterfall CBE DL, Senior Defence Advisor, DSEI (Chair)  

Tim Ketton-Locke, Deputy Director, Defence Office for Small Business Growth

Paul Durkin, COO, GXO UK & Ireland and Senior Representative, Torus Defence Supply Chain

Olivia Savage, Editor-in-Chief, DSEI Gateway

Supporting Partners