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DVD2024 to recognise diversity and equity in defence

Posted 10 September 2024

DVD2024 will welcome Women in Defence UK to its event at UTAC Millbrook this September (18th-19th). Jointly sponsored by Defence Equipment & Support (Land Equipment) and Army Headquarters, DVD2024 will provide opportunities for industry and key MoD stakeholders to discuss ‘Battle Winning Ideas’, resilience and collaboration, delivering increased capability and the ability to exploit innovation.

Image courtesy DVD

Women in Defence UK is an independent not-for-profit organisation, founded by former Army officer Angela Owen OBE (above), which challenges the norms and prompts progressive thinking through in-depth discussions with Senior Officers and Officials. Angela will be joined by Andy Start, CEO of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) on the main plenary stage at DVD2024, where she’ll ask some tough questions about gender balance and equity within the MoD.

As a member of the Women in Defence UK Strategic Advisory Board, Andy is passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion and is looking forward to recognising the huge strides that have already been achieved and the work still to be done in order to effect real change in the defence sector.

The challenge interview will be followed by a panel session, with representatives from the Women in Defence Charter, Army, DE&S and industry invited to take part in a Q&A.

Angela Owen OBE explained: “Women in Defence UK is delighted to be part of DVD2024, a partnership that will add to the positive outcomes of our journey towards diversity and equity in the defence sector. My discussion with Andy at the event will be the next in our well-established Challenge interview series and I’m looking forward to talking to him about his commitment to challenging, inspiring and progressing towards a critical mass in our field, and how we can push the boundaries even further."

Andy Start (above), CEO of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) said: “I’m immensely proud to be a member of the Women in Defence UK Strategic Advisory Board and look forward to welcoming Angela and some of the Charter members to DVD2024. Events such as these are pivotal for open discussions around the challenges and opportunities when it comes to driving real change in equity, diversity and inclusion in defence and I always look forward to taking part.”

For further information about DVD2024 visit www.theevent.co.uk.

Follow @dvd_event and #DVD2024 on X and LinkedIn for regular updates and information about the event.