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techUK’s Defence Delegation: Brussels

5 November 20253 min read
News
techUK’s Defence Delegation: Brussels

Last week (29-30 October), techUK delivered a defence focused delegation to Brussels. The programme, spanning over two days focused on strengthening members’ understanding of the EU Defence policy landscape and connecting with key decision makers. Taking place against the backdrop of the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership signed in May 2025, the delegation provided members with valuable policy engagement and an increased understanding of the EU and NATO Defence ecosystem.

Delegation participants

  • Thomas Michael Weeks - Transformation Director and Chief Strategy Officer Informed Solutions

  • Thomas Blaise Hammond - Chief Communications Officer, Informed Solutions

  • Gabriella Ardessi - Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Leonardo UK Ltd

  • Lee Doherty - Director Growth, Skyral Defence Ltd

  • Verona Johnstone-Hulse - UK Head of Government Affairs, NCC Group

  • Nick Turner - Director, CACI IIG

Meetings on 29 October

Members started their day by meeting with Alberto Heras, Armament Counsellor at the Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU. Members had the opportunity to engage with a key EU Member State representative and discussed:

Members started their day by meeting with Alberto Heras, Armament Counsellor at the Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU. Members had the opportunity to engage with a key EU Member State representative and discussed:

  • Bilateral opportunities

  • EU opportunities

  • Spain’s perspective on the current defence cooperation landscape in Europe

 

This was followed by a meeting with Anastasiia Kapranova, Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for Digitalisation. Members were provided with a comprehensive overview of Ukraine’s impressive digitlisation efforts ranging from providing easy to use platforms for soldiers to receive relevant information, to working on building a secure cloud solution with varied industry partners.

Members subsequently had the opportunity to exchange with DIGTALEUROPE experts Ray Pinto, Senior Director, and Constantinos Hadjisavvas Director for Digital Resilience and Defence. Both provided an overview of DIGITALEUROPE’s engagement and upcoming key legislative developments at the EU level.

This was followed by a meeting with EU Commission Officials Michalis Ketselidis, Senior Expert, Defence Industry and Space, and Mr Diego de Ojeda Garcia-Pardo, Head of Unit SG.G.4 (Defence & Preparedness). Commission officials provided useful insights on the current state of UK-EU negotiations on access to SAFE funding opportunities.

 

 

The evening session was then kicked off with a high-level roundtable discussion on pan-European Defence hosted at the UK Ambassador’s Residence with opening words by UK Ambassador to the EU Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, and Managing Director of Vanguard Europe, Dan Nechita. The roundtable was joined by key stakeholders from EU Permanent Representations to the EU, NATO, the European Parliament, and influential think tanks and trade associations.

The evening finished with a networking dinner allowing for the roundtable participants to continue the connect and continue to the conversation.

 

 

Meetings on 30 October

The day was focused on engaging with NATO HQ stakeholders. Members were greeted by James Pritchard Innovation and Team Leader at the UK Joint Delegation to NATO. The conversation covered many aspects from the UK's role in fostering industry engagement through initiatives like Diana and the NATO Innovation Fund, to the importance of dual-use technology and academic collaboration.

Delegation Members were subsequently joined by Megan Edwards: Head of Innovation Policy in Defence Industry, Innovation, and Armaments Division at NATO. Discussion looked into NATO's efforts to integrate emerging and disruptive technologies into defense systems. Key points included the importance of spending money on the right technologies, such as quantum and biotechnologies, and the need for rapid adoption through initiatives like the Rapid Adoption Action Plan.

 

 

Key takeaways

  • Europe is rebalancing to take on more defense burdens, with the UK-EU defense and security partnership providing a framework for collaboration.

  • the UK is involved in negotiations for the EU SAFE program, however discussions have yet to be concluded, with certain challenges still remaining.

  • There is a need for innovation and agility in defense collaboration, learning from Ukraine's rapid response.

Next steps

techUK will use the connections made during the trip to further build and enhance its work in Brussels.

Connections between delegation members and the stakeholders met during the visit will be facilitated by techUK so as to explore next steps and build stronger connections.

For more information, please contact: