Day 1: People and Skills

• The importance of updating people-related policies as both mindsets and capabilities change

• Driving the recruitment of key skills to fill gaps

• Maintaining a highly skilled force that can adapt to new capabilities

• The DCDC’s work on new concepts and strategies to enhance the activities of the Armed Forces

• Ensuring that doctrine reflects both the observations from previous operations, and the future of warfare

• Developing doctrine alongside NATO allies to achieve interoperability across all domains 

Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan

Head, Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre
Ministry of Defence

See Bio

· Overview of the Talent Portfolio programmes and their importance in personnel recruitment

· Bridging the gap between students, academics, and entrepreneurs in order to bring top talent to the DoD

· Maintaining the advantage through a dynamic workforce

Dr Greg Bernard (subject to final confirmation)

Talent Portfolio Director
National Security Innovation Network

See Bio

• Preparation of personnel for the future fight as the nature of warfare changes
• Rethinking force development to maintain advantages
• Adapting mindsets to achieve rapid fielding of new capabilities

Brigadier Mike Cornwell

Head Future Force Development, Directorates Futures
British Army

See Bio

· Key approaches to encourage innovation adoption by personnel

· Fostering new mindsets and cultures across the Armed Forces for more effective operations

· How improving mindsets and culture can enhance the work of the warfighter

Sarah Chapman Trim

Head of Culture, Behaviours and Mindset
Strategic Command

See Bio

· Outline of THEIA’s main responsibilities and goals

· Moving towards a coherent upskilling plan

· Coordinating the Army’s approach to the integration of digital skills

Sally Wareham

THEIA Programme Manager
British Army

See Bio

· Applying innovations across all areas of the MoD for consistent progress

· Observations from current case studies and their application to future projects

· Identifying and overcoming barriers to innovation

Dr Natasha Fox CPhys

Head, Defence Innovation Unit
Ministry of Defence

See Bio

· Accessing new pools of talent to attract new skills and qualities

· How can forces retain key digital skills in an increasingly competitive job market?

· Reformulating training approaches to consider the growing role of digital in defence

Questions will be opened to the floor.

· The contemporary workforce challenge pertinent to the British Army

· The benefit of the new Army Talent Framework

· Project APEX – the British Army’s approach to attracting and retaining the right workforce

Brigadier James Cook OBE PhD

Head Personnel Strategy
British Army

See Bio

· Why have a Reserve

· Fixed cost v variable cost

· Generalist v Specialist

· Routine v contingent

· How to unleash the potential

Air Vice-Marshal Ranald Munro CBE TD VR DL

Commandant General Royal Auxiliary Air Force & Chief of Staff Reserves
Royal Air Force

See Bio