CDAO Defence UK 2026
Presentations
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- How the Capability Coalition is driving coherence, integration, and digital enablement across Army force elements
- Leveraging data, architectures, and emerging technologies to accelerate readiness and operational advantage
- Strengthening joint and pan-Defence collaboration to align capability development with future threat environments
- Building a more adaptable, interoperable Army through experimentation, accelerated delivery, and partner engagement
Brigadier Stu Nasse OBE
Head Capability Coalition
British Army
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- How workforce transformation underpins Defence’s digital and data strategy
- Leveraging data-driven insights to build a modern, agile, and adaptable defence workforce
- Integrating digital tools and HR systems to enhance efficiency and operational readiness
- Fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across Defence
Dr James Cook OBE
Director People Transformation
UK Ministry of Defence
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- Enabling faster adoption of disruptive technologies across Defence through agile collaboration models
- Lessons from venture and industry ecosystems to accelerate capability delivery
- Aligning innovation outcomes with operational needs and strategic priorities
- Building effective partnerships between government, start ups, and established industry players
Adie Holt
Venture Director
Form1partners
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- Advancing Germany's defence digital transformation through modernization of IT, cyber, and information capabilities under the Cyber and Information Domain Service.
- Enhancing secure and resilient networks to enable agile, interoperable operations with NATO and EU allies
- Driving integrated cyber defence initiatives that align strategy, governance, and operational readiness across the armed forces
- Leveraging emerging technologies such as AI, cloud and automation to build long-term resilience in contested digital environments
Captain Daniel Prenzel
Policy, Planning and Procurement, Cyber and Information Systems
German Ministry of Defence
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- How global governance ecosystems and shaping norms, operational safeguards and multilateral cooperation for mission-aligned AI
- Operational opportunities and governance risks in deploying AI across peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and multi-theatre security missions
- Building ethical, transparent and trustworthy AI systems that align with international law and human right standards
- Strengthening cross-sector collaboration to embed safe, interoperable and mission-aligned AI across defence, government and industry ecosystems
Aaron Kalvani
AI Strategist & Global Advisor on Responsible AI, Governance and Multilateral Policy
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- Strengthening collaboration between Defence, industry and academia to drive research, experimentation and technology adoption
- The role of academic institutions like Cranfield in developing future talent, advancing critical sciences, and supporting defence modernisation
- Building effective partnership frameworks that translate research into deployable capability at pace and scale
- Leveraging cross-sector relationships to enhance digital skills, innovation pipelines, and long-term forces readiness
Heather Goldstraw
Director of Strategic Relationships for Defence and Security
Cranfield University
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- Leveraging AI to strengthen situational awareness, decision-making, and mission readiness across Defence operations
- Ensuring responsible, transparent and secure AI deevelopment aligned with Defence ethics, governance frameworks and legal standards
- Translating academic research into deployable capability through Defence-industry-academia collaboration
- Building resilience against AI-enabled threats and shaping future Defence AI strategy
Fiona Strens
Professor and Director, Centre for Defence & Security Artificial Intelligence
University of Lincoln