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Under 35 Forum: Britain’s changing defence industrial reality

18:30, 20 Mar 2012
RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
Link to map: multimap

About the event:

Nigel WhiteheadThe ‘Defence, Industries and Society Programme (DISP) Privatissimum’ provides a small number of selected ‘RUSI Under 35 Forum’ members and DISP invitees the opportunity to discuss key DIS topics with senior industrial, political and military decision makers. Reflecting on his/her experience, the guest of the evening shares his/her perceptions of current and future strategic trends in his/her area of expertise and examines the key drivers, challenges, opportunities and risks of his/her topic. The setting of the event is based on a high level of confidentiality, which allows for an intense dialogue between generations on pressing DIS related issues.

At the second ‘Privatissimum’ Nigel Whitehead will examine Britain’s changing defence industrial reality that appears to be driven by global, regional, state and local levels of identity, at which defence manufacturing, service and advisory companies conceive and present themselves. He will particularly address the potential contrast between defence companies’ two roles as national assets and global companies.

Nigel was appointed Group Managing Director of Programmes and Support, one of four Global Operating Groups in BAE Systems, in 2008. In this role he has responsibility for UK Businesses including Surface Ships, Submarines, Security, Systems Integration and Military Aircraft. These businesses deliver a £6bn turnover in predominantly engineering and manufacturing in the defence and security markets. Nigel's previous role was as Group Managing Director of the Military Air Solutions (MAS) business of BAE Systems, during which he was also a Supervisory Board Member of Eurofighter GmbH. Nigel has been active in military aircraft design, development, production and support programmes for 25 years, working in the UK, Sweden and Australia. Prior to joining British Aerospace as an aerodynamicist, Nigel worked for Rolls-Royce for four years as a production engineering apprentice and graduated in mechanical engineering.

A reception will be held at RUSI before the event from 6:30pm.

This event is open exclusively to members of the Under 35 Forum. The maximum number of participants for this event is 30.

Event manager: Sharon Cliburn, +44 (0)20 7747 2648

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