Defence and Security SME Forum: What does a world in flux mean for SMEs?
2pm – 3.30pm8 May 2024
London and Online
The world is in a state of flux. The war in Ukraine has entered its third year, the Israel-Gaza conflict continues, international shipping remains under attack from Houthis in the Red Sea, and tensions increase between China and Taiwan. At the same time, a UK general election is due, and in November US Presidential elections take place, the outcome of which could likely influence events in each of these hotspots. All of this is taking place against a backdrop of efforts to digitally transform Defence across the western world, which offers both risks and opportunities in an environment in which there are acute budgetary pressures.
How does all this drive thinking across the UK Defence and Security enterprise, and what this will mean for industry, and SMEs in particular?
Through techUK’s Defence & Security SME Forum (DSSMEF), Partners from global Defence advisory firm Universal Defence and Security Solutions (UDSS) led by Air Marshall Philip Osborn, Chief of Defence Intelligence (2015-2018) will share with techUK members a perspective on the current geopolitical landscape and how this translates into both the UK’s strategic Defence and Security thinking and its future capability planning.
The session will look at how SMEs in particular chart their course through the next few volatile years by setting out some of the likely vectors for Defence and Security capability development and spending. The session will include a Q&A with the UDSS senior team, followed by networking.
Universal Defence and Security Solutions Ltd (UDSS) is a global Defence consultancy providing specialist Defence and wider security advice, assistance and solutions to Governments and businesses.
Speaker
Air Marshal (Ret’d) Phil Osborn
Chief of Defence Intelligence (2015-2018), and Director at UDSS, UDSS
Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK
Fred Sugden
Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK
Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.
Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.
Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.
Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week.
Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there.
Outside of work, Raya's interests include baking, spin classes and true-crime Netflix shows!
Jeremy is a programme manager at techUK and is responsible for the delivery of the defence programme’s activities through the Defence and Security SME Forum, Defence Commercial Business Forum, Defence Research and Technology Forum, and Information Superiority Forum.
Prior to joining techUK, from 2016-2024 Jeremy was International Security Programme Manager at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). In this role he coordinated the team’s research and impact activities for funders including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and US Department of Defense. He also worked on business development and strategy.
Jeremy has a MA in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Social Policy from Swansea University.
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
The Defence Programme works to help the UK’s Defence technology sector align itself with the MOD, specifically with the department’s Defence Digital organisation. The programme aims to help the sector remain at the forefront of technology exploitation. Our members play a vital role in supporting the MOD to procure digital technologies in a way that generates added value for end-users across the Defence ecosystem, from internal business functions to frontline operations.