The Royal Logistic Corps Foundation Virtual Winter Lecture: ‘The Brave New World’, focussing in on Supply Chain challenges, was aired via zoom from 11.00 until 12.30 hrs on Thursday 27 January 2022. This virtual lecture, the first of the Foundation’s 2022 events, culminates with a Q&A Panel Session, hosted by Maj Gen Simon Hutchings, the Master General of Logistics and supported by Professor Beatrice Heuser, Chair of International Relations at University of Glasgow and Damian Alexander, Logistic Advisor for Leidos.
The publication of the Integrated Review (IR) and Command Paper marked what HMG believe is the most expansive review of its kind since the Cold War. Within the newly defined vision for the UK’s role in the world, the MOD has been committed to providing a broad range of contingency options concurrent with global persistent engagement tasks. It is envisaged that these tasks will need to be delivered against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive and polarised international environment. The future potency of alliances (political/economic and/or military), state and non-state threats, growing antagonism to (and within) liberal democracies, population displacement, climate change and an enduring pandemic are just some of the factors that are likely to impinge on implementing the IR’s vision. With corresponding global supply chain challenges, developing resilience in the commercial and military sustainment arenas is likely to prove expensive and a difficult environment to develop and execute credible contingency plans.
To explore the potential fallout of some of these issues, the Foundation secured a leading academic strategist, Professor Beatrice Heuser, Chair of International Relations at the University of Glasgow, to outline the changing character of the future international system and Mr Damian Alexander, Logistics Advisor for Leidos, who will offer an industry view of how the commercial sector may transform some of its operating policies and procedures to support HMG’s aspirations. The RLC Foundation Winter Lecture is a rare opportunity for all members to consider and question some of the geopolitical and commercial challenges that this changing international environment may offer.
1100 – Opening Address by Maj Gen Simon Hutchings
1110 – Professor Beatrice Heuser presentation
1140 – Mr Damian Alexander presentation
1210 – Q & A Panel discussions
1230 – Closing Address by Maj Gen Hutchings