Air Vice-Marshal Michael Wigston, RAF Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, has unveiled an impressive programme of speakers for this year’s Air Power Conference, taking place in London on 12-13 July.
The theme of the Conference – 21st Century Partnerships – is expected to attract hundreds of military personnel from the UK and overseas, along with representatives from industry, academia and specialist individuals.
For the first time, this year’s Conference, hosted by the RAF, is being delivered by the Air Power Association with the support of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
The 21st century partnerships theme will examine the topic from several angles and will include the contribution of air force chiefs, government, industry and academics. Their input is set to strengthen the Conference’s reputation as one of the aviation sector’s most respected forums for debate and discussion.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, will deliver the Conference’s first keynote address and will explore how partnerships, which are prevalent in many air forces, may change and evolve over the next few years and what this could mean for the delivery of air and space power.
The Conference will be split into four sessions that will frame the high-level debate: a pivotal moment in world affairs; the challenges of our existing partnerships; expanding our partnership horizon; and 21st Century partnerships in practice.
The first session – A Pivotal Moment in World Affairs – will see contributions from the military, commercial and academic sectors. The second session of the first day will look at the challenges of existing partnerships through the eyes of leading suppliers such as BAE Systems, Leonardo and AirTanker. A panel discussion will conclude the first day, followed by the ever popular opening night reception.
A speaker from the newly elected UK Government will kick off the second day with a keynote address and this will act as the introduction to an initial second day session focused on Expanding the Partnership Horizon before Air Vice-Marshal Steve Shell, Chief of Staff Operations Air Command, sets the scene for session four on 21st Century Partnerships in Practice. This already promises to be an intriguing session featuring speakers including Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Paul Castella, Head of Mission for the UK and Ireland International Committee of the Red Cross, and Will Jesset, Director for Strategic Planning MOD.
AVM Wigston commented: “We are now refining the programme with contributions from additional subject matter experts but I believe we already have a line-up that promises two days of intense and informative debate. For fellow air chiefs, global industry partners, academia, serving RAF personnel and other organizations and individuals attending, this year’s Conference offers an unrivalled opportunity to listen and contribute to the air power discussion and I’m convinced that our partnerships will be stronger as a result. ”
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