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Future Soldier Technology
10 March - 12 March 2025
Future Soldier Technology

Building on the enormous success of its previous ten annual meetings, Future Soldier Technology 2025 will be an excellent international gathering of senior officers and programme managers who are seeking to enhance their programmes. Additionally, this forum offers an excellent platform for programme managers within the military to interface with senior experts from within the defence industry.

Why should you attend?

Future Soldier Technology is the leading event dedicated to dismounted soldier modernisation programmes and priorities

  • Listen to keynote briefings from senior UK and NATO and allied dismounted soldier programme managers
  • Discover the latest topics for the advancement of soldier technology, including lethality and weaponry, dismounted tactical power, protection and survivability, mobility, integrating robotics and AI, and much more
  • Meet and network with the key decision-makers from both military and industry to discuss modernisation and optimisation of the future dismounted soldier and their equipment

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Colonel (Ret.) Richard Hansen

Colonel (Ret.) Richard Hansen

Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army
Colonel Paul Cummings

Colonel Paul Cummings

DE&S Dismounted Close Combat DCC Portfolio Leader, DE&S, UK Ministry of Defence
Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Hanlon

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Hanlon

SO1 Soldier Systems, British Army
Major General Adrian Ciolponea

Major General Adrian Ciolponea

Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Representative in Europe, NATO HQ
Major General Chris Barry CBE

Major General Chris Barry CBE

Director Land Warfare, British Army
Major Magnus Hallberg

Major Magnus Hallberg

LCG DSS Chairman, NATO/Swedish Armed Forces
Paul Lincoln CB OBE VR

Paul Lincoln CB OBE VR

Second Permanent Secretary, UK Ministry of Defence

Anders Palm

Project Manager, Swedish Defence Materiel Administration
Anders Palm

Born in Stockholm 1964
Graduated 1984 Certified upper secondary school engineer, computer systems.
Enlisted 1984, Conscript 2nd Lt 1985, 2nd Btn Lappland Brigade I 20, Umeå.
Officer’s academy 1985-1987.
2Lt 1987
Karlberg Military Academy 1st Lt 1989-1990
Company Commanders School 1992-1993 Captain.
CO Infcoy 1993-1994
Instructors course Mortar/Forward Observer
UNPROFOR 1995, TUZLA
Instructors course FO vehicle 90
1997 Lifeguards Brigade, I 1, Stockholm
Forward Observer trainer, Mortar Platoon commander.
2004-2010 Development Officer Lifeguards Regiment.(UAS/UGV, Future soldier program, Unattended Grouns sensors etc.)

2010-present FMV, Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, Optronics section.
Member of NATO Land Command Group Dismounted Soldier Systems Weapons & Sensor Group
Married since 1991, 4 children.
 

Barry Hollow

Lead Project Raven (Soldier Electronic Architecture) , SoldierWorks, British Army
Barry Hollow

Barry Hollow

Lead Project Raven Soldier Electronic Architecture, SoldierWorks, British Army
Barry Hollow

Brigadier General Constantin Nicolaescu

Chief of Staff HQ Multinational Brigade South-East, Romanian Army
Brigadier General Constantin Nicolaescu

Brigadier general Constantin NICOLAESCU is the Commander of Headquarters Multinational Brigade South-East, located in Craiova, Romania. Before being assigned to this position, BG Constantin NICOLAESCU held numerous appointments across the Romanian Army. In October 2019, he was assigned as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, for the newest NATO headquarters established in Romania, Headquarters Multinational Corps South-East and on November 19, 2020, he was appointed to his current position.
Brigadier general Nicolaescu has deployed in three missions abroad: Afghanistan 2006, Iraq 2009 and Afghanistan 2013-2014.
In 2019 he graduated from “Carol I” National Defense University with a PhD in Military Sciences. Since 2017, he has been an Associate Professor of the same institution.
 

Colonel (Ret.) Paulo Roberto da Silva Gomes Filho

Analyst and Researcher, Strategic Studies Center, Brazilian Army
Colonel (Ret.) Paulo Roberto da Silva Gomes Filho

Colonel (Retired) of the Brazilian Army, Paulo Filho completed his studies at the
Brazilian Military Academy (AMAN) in 1990. He has also completed the
Brazilian Army's basic, advanced, and high-level military courses, as well as
specialized courses in Intelligence, Physical Education, International
Humanitarian Law, and the Commander Course for Armored and Mechanized
Units. He has a Master's degree in Military Sciences from the Army Command and
General Staff College, a specialization in Military History from the University of
Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL), and a Master's degree in Defense and
Strategy from the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army (China). He was an Intelligence Officer for the 5th Armored Cavalry Brigade and an
Instructor at the Army Command and General Staff College, where he made
significant contributions to all teaching sections. Additionally, he served as the
commander of the 11th Mechanized Cavalry Regiment.
Furthermore, he was an assistant to the Brazilian Commander of Land
Operations and to the Military Commander of the West.
He was the Strategic Project Brazilian Combatant (COBRA) manager from 2019
to 2021.
In July 2021, Colonel Paulo Filho withdrew from active duty.
Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate in International Relations at the University of
Brasília, a professor of Geopolitics at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas
Gerais, and an analyst at the Brasilian Army Center for Strategic Studies.
Additionally, he composes a weekly column for the Brazilian national
newspaper Correio do Povo that addresses strategic and geopolitical matters.
 

Colonel (Ret.) Richard Hansen

Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army
Colonel (Ret.) Richard Hansen

As Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army COL (R) Hansen spent 26 years in the US Army in both the war fighting and acquisition fields. He held various command and staff positions in self-propelled, towed, and airborne artillery units and fire support elements. His research, development, and acquisition experience includes various assignments as a product, project, or program manager in electric guns, armored vehicles, and precision guided munitions. In his last 4 years of service as the Project Manager for Soldier Warrior, he was responsible for weapons, clothing, and equipment for aviation crewmen (Air Warrior), dismounted Soldiers (Land Warrior, Ground Soldier Ensemble), and vehicle crewmen (Mounted Soldier).

Colonel Jacques Bouffard

Director, Studies & Foresight, Draguignan Infantry School, French Army
Colonel Jacques Bouffard

Born of the 12th of January, 1973, colonel Jacques Bouffard is married since 1997, has 6 children and 4 grandchildren.
Graduated from the Military Academy of Saint-Cyr in 1998, he joined the Infantry school in Montpellier for a one year training as a platoon leader. He then chose to serve in the French Foreign Legion ans whas thus appointed to the 4th French Foreign Legion Battalion in Castelnaudary to train the new recruits.
He moved in 2000 to the 2nd Foreign Legion Infantry Battalion in Nîmes where he served 6 years as a platoon leader (2000-2002), deputy Coy commander (2002-2004) and Coy commander (2004-2006). During this time, he took part in five different missions & operations in French Guyana, Ivory Coast, Northern Macedonia and Djibouti.
Graduated from the War College in 2010, he joined the staff of the European Rapid Reaction Corps in Strasbourg and was sent in Afghanistan for 6 months inside HQ ISAF, as a plans officer.
Ranked as lieutenant-colonel, he returned in 2012 to the Foreign Legion in French Guyana (3rd Foreign Legion Infantry Battalion) where he served two years as the chief of operations dealing in particular with the protection of the Space Centre of Kourou and with the fight against gold smugglers coming from Brazil ans Suriname.
In 2014, he was appointed to the Ministry of the Armed Forces in Paris where he worked 4 years in Human ressources for the army.
Promoted to colonel in 2018, he took command of the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade, an infantry battalion composed of around 1300 legionnaires. This regiment was paired with the 1st Irish Guard Battalion of the British army and colonel Jacques Bouffard had then the opportunity to assist to the Shamrock & St Patrick‘s day in London.
By summer 2020, he was assigned in Clermont-Ferrand as the chief of staff of the 4th Airmobile brigade. As such, he was deployed in 2021 during 6 months in Chad & Niger as the Chief of Joined operations in the HQ of French operation BARKHANE.
Finally, he joined in 2023 the Infantry school of Draguignan (French Riviera) where he works as the Director for Studies & Foresight.

Colonel Nicolas Mueller

Head, Defence Procurement Cooperation, Armasuisse
Colonel Nicolas Mueller

Colonel Norbert Tóth

Deputy Director, Capability Development Office, Hungarian Defence Forces
Colonel Norbert Tóth

Colonel Tóth graduated from the Bolyai János Military College (Budapest, Hungary) and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF), at the 12th Air Defense Regiment in 1997. He served his lieutenant years in various Air Defender positions in the city of Gyor (home base of the 12th Regiment).
Colonel Tóth command assignments within the Air Defense have included the positions of a Platoon Commander, Deputy Battery Commander, Operations Planner, Force Protection Officer, S3 Chief, Battalion Commander and Deputy Regiment Commander.
Between 2013 and 2014 Colonel Tóth was working in the Hungarian Defense Staff, Intelligence Directorate, Intelligence Department as an intelligence analyst.
Before his current position, Colonel Tóth was a senior advisor to the Deputy State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of Defence (from 2021 to 2023).
Colonel Tóth holds a Master of Science degree in Military Leadership from the National University of Public Service (Budapest, Hungary) and a Master of Science degree from National Defense University, Eisenhower School (Washington D.C., USA).
In his carrier, Colonel Tóth has been deployed to Afghanistan three times, having served there for a total of twenty-five months.
Colonel Tóth is married – his wife also serves in the HDF – and he is a father of a ten-year-old son.
 

Colonel Paul Cummings

DE&S Dismounted Close Combat DCC Portfolio Leader, DE&S, UK Ministry of Defence
Colonel Paul Cummings

Having read for a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Liverpool before entering the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2000, Colonel Paul Cummings commissioned into The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in December of that year. His career at Regimental Duty saw him based in Germany for his early years with deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. Most recently, he commanded 6 Armoured Close Support Battalion REME between August 2017 and February 2020, deploying the Battalion to Canada twice and to Oman in 2019 where he commanded the Combat Service Support and Theatre Enabling Group for the joint Omani-British Exercise Khanjar Oman. His proudest moment in command was collecting the Worshipful Company of Turner’s trophy on behalf of his soldiers and officers, awarded to the best REME Battalion 2019. His staff appointments have largely been in capability and acquisition, with several tours of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and in logistics as Deputy Chief of Staff 102 Logistic Brigade. His first post in DE&S was as the Heavy Logistic Vehicles Requirements Manager, and then on promotion to Lieutenant Colonel as the Military Assistant to the 3* Chief of Materiel (Land). He returned to DE&S, to the Vehicle Support Team, in 2020 on promotion to Colonel, spending a year as the Senior Operations Manager heading up the Optimisation portfolio, looking to drive efficiencies across the in-service vehicle fleet, before moving to become Deputy Head and, latterly, Acting Head. He was appointed to his current post in May 2022 where he and his team are responsible for delivering Dismounted Close Combat capability - Survivability, Lethality, and Surveillance & Target Acquisition - to the Army and United Kingdom Strategic Command. Colonel Cummings is a graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course, holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Mechanical Engineering, a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College London, and is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. A keen, although slightly lapsed, cyclist, Colonel Cummings is married to Caroline a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with whom he has two young daughters.

Colonel Pete Brunton

Assistant Head, Land Environment Tactical CIS, Directorate Programmes, British Army
Colonel Pete Brunton

Colonel Peter Hofer

Head of Institute - Advanced Officer Training, Theresian Military Academy Austria
Colonel Peter Hofer

Col Dr. Peter Hofer is Head of the Institute of Advanced Officer Training at Theresian Military Academy being one of the hubs of life-long learning for all active and reserve officers in Austria. He is also head of the IRON NIKE research and development group with a focus on the requirements of a Digital Headquarters and urban operations. Infantry man by trade, Peter has served as platoon and company leader, held various staff appointments, and commanded an infantry battalion. He was deployed on operational tours in Kosovo and Tchad.

Command Sergeant Niels Moelleskov

Chairman of CCIEP under LCGDSS, Danish Artillery Regiment
Command Sergeant Niels Moelleskov

I have been a NCO for 40 years and in the last 30 years been working as an SME on Individual Equipment for the Danish Soldiers. Recently I have been involved in the project for the new Nordic Combat Uniform system as the Danish User Representative.
I have been a member of CCIEP for more than 15 years and since 2021, I have been the Chairman of the Group.
My latest Deployment was to the Afghan National Officers Academy in Kabul in 2014/15 where I acted as a mentor in the S7/Skill at Arms Section.

Dave Pheasant

DE&S Future Capability Group, Strategic Command & Air Portfolio Team Leader, DE&S UK MoD
Dave Pheasant

Dave is Team Leader for the Strategic Command and Air portfolios in the Future Capability Group, which is part of the Integrated Battlespace Operating Centre. Having been through DE&S transformation David has seen first-hand how DE&S change has been implemented and embedded and now in the Future Capability Group is working on ways to accelerate the pull through of experimentation and innovation into recognised projects that will deliver capability to the end user.

Dr D. T. Selvam

Scientist G, DRDO – Defence Research Development Organization, Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Dr D. T. Selvam

Dr Darren Browning

Power Sources Lead, Dstl, UK Ministry of Defence
Dr Darren Browning

Dr Darren Browning works for Dstl as senior technical lead on Power Sources. He manages and performs research into a range of power systems for all three MOD services, but has recently specialised on the dismounted soldier. Darren also leads on a range of international collaborations including chairing the NATO Land Capability Group Power Team of Experts.
Over the past 29 years he has worked for DRA, QinetiQ and now Dstl on many aspects of energy storage including batteries, fuel cells and energy harvesting for a wide range of military and commercial applications

Dr Fabio Ibrahim

Research Associate Officer, Helmut Schmidt University - German Bundeswehr University in Hamburg
Dr Fabio Ibrahim

Dr. Fabio Ibrahim is a research associate officer at Helmut-Schmidt University in Hamburg, Germany. His research interests include military and police psychology, psychometrics, and Human-Computer interaction. He works with specialised forces of the German Armed Forces and police in aptitude diagnostics and stress management.

Dr Julie Greeves

Research Director, Army Health and Performance Research AHPR, UK Ministry of Defence
Dr Julie Greeves

Julie Greeves is the Principal Physiologist for the British Army, and has spent over 20 years researching the health and performance of service personnel?at QinetiQ, ARITC and now Army HQ. Julie’s specialist interests are female physiology and bone biology. She was appointed research lead for the Women in Ground Close Combat Review in 2015; an innovative six-year Defence physiology research programme delivering the evidence-base for the safe and effective through career employment of women in physically arduous roles. She holds honorary Chair positions at the School of Medicine UEA, and UCL, is Chair of the NATO 203 Panel on optimising menstrual health of servicewomen, actively supervises PhD students, and has published over 100 original papers in peer reviewed journals.

Dr Robb Wilcox

Chief Research Officer, US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center
Dr Robb Wilcox

Elias Lallo

Scientist, Department for Defence and Security, Systems and Technology, Swedish Defence Research Agency
Elias Lallo

Elias Lallo has a M.Sc. degree in Molecular Science & Engineering from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and works as a Scientist at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). His key areas of research focus on battery safety and performance, to ensure robust and safe operation in various military applications.

James Gavin

Head of the Future Capability Group, DE&S, UK Ministry of Defence
James Gavin

James Gavin is the head of the Future Capability Innovation (FCI) at Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S).

FCI exists to help explore new capabilities and to accelerate into Operational use, as part of the new DE&S Operating model. Increasingly projects are ‘Agile By Default’ to deliver early operational advantage. The Group works closely with all the Front-line Commands, DSTL and central MOD areas such as the DIU and DASA. James has served in the military, the civil service and industry before joining DE&S. He is a passionate advocate of delivering Operational Advantage through a better application of strategic thinking on innovation and inclusive cultures.
 

Jon Russell

Principle Scientist Platform Systems, DSTL, UK MoD
Jon Russell

Jonathan is a Senior Principal Scientist within the Physical Sciences Group at Dstl, Porton Down, UK. He is technical lead for the Land Systems Programme Dismounted Protection Project, and Dstl’s Project Technical Authority for the Dismounted Solder Systems project. He is an active member of the NATO Land Capability Group Dismounted Soldier System (LCGDSS) Combat Clothing Individual Equipment and Protection (CCIEP) group, member of the STANAG 2920 Team of Experts, chair of the Head Borne Systems Team of Experts, and chair of STANAG 2902 Test and Evaluation Criteria for Combat Helmets. He is a subject matter expert in physical protection having joined Dstl in 2005, developing and analysing vulnerability and lethality concepts for UK land vehicles. He has spent the last 12 years working in the dismounted protection domain, researching, developing and supporting UK MOD procurement programmes, and technical lead for INVICTUS – the technical programme board for VIRTUS. Jonathan is also the Project Technical Authority for the Dismounted Soldier Systems Project, delivering an articulation of future dismounted soldier system capability that will enhance Ground Manoeuvre operational effectiveness. Focusing on the integration of technology from the broader S&T portfolio: lethality, protection, mobility, C4ISR and sustainability domains.

Jose Collazo-Castillo

Assistant Program Manager, Soldier Tactical Power, US Army
Jose Collazo-Castillo

Klaus Schmitt

Head Batteries Department, Bundeswehr
Klaus Schmitt

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Watzenig

Professor, Virtual Vehicle Research, Graz University of Technology
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Watzenig

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Watzenig is CTO at Virtual Vehicle Research and Professor of Autonomous Driving at Graz University of Technology, Austria. Since 2019 he is invited Guest Lecturer at Stanford University, USA, teaching multi-sensor perception and data fusion. He also teaches vehicle autonomy at Tongji University in Shanghai, China. He is militia officer of the Austrian Armed Forces.
 

He is Editor-in-Chief of the SAE Int. Journal of Connected and Automated Vehicles.

https://www.sae.org/publications/collections/content/E-JOURNAL-12/
 

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Hanlon

SO1 Soldier Systems, British Army
Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Hanlon

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Hanlon was commissioned into the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carbiniers and Greys) in 1999. He served his early Regimental career in Germany as a Challenger II (Main Battle Tank) troop commander. As a Squadron Commander he converted to a Reconnaissance role serving with 1st The Queens Dragoon Guards.
Operational tours include Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. Staff appointments include Military Assistant to the General Officer Commanding the UK Support Command in German, Land capability lead in British Embassy in the USA and the programme manager for the CT40 Cannon in Defence Equipment & Support.
He is currently leading the Army’s SoldierWorks team which is taking a ‘platform’ approach to delivering an Integrated Soldier System.

Lucy Waldrom

SoldierWorks Human Factors Lead, , SoldierWorks, British Army
Lucy Waldrom

Major General Adrian Ciolponea

Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Representative in Europe, NATO HQ
Major General Adrian Ciolponea

On the 1st of August 2023, Major-General Constantin-Adrian Ciolponea has been appointed as SACT Representative in Europe. Prior to this, he was the Land Component Commander and also a Special Advisor to the Defence Minister. MGen. Constantin-Adrian Ciolponea received his commission in 1988, after graduating the Military School for Officers, Sibiu, as an infantry officer. In 2004, he graduated the High Military Studies Academy, Bucharest. He has been assigned to numerous command and staff positions for operations and training, reconnaissance, special operations and airborne operations (1000 + military jumps), both in Romania and abroad. Starting 2008, he commanded the 1st Special Operations Battalion, starting 2009 the 1st Special Operations Regiment and starting 2011 the 6th Special Operations Brigade. In 2015 he has been appointed Deputy Commander at the 4th Infantry Division and in 2016 became deputy Land Forces Commander for training and operations. During 2017-2021, MGen Constantin-Adrian Ciolponea was the Romanian National Military Representative to Supreme Headquarters Allied Power Europe (SHAPE), Mons, Belgium and was the Dean of the National Military Representatives. From 2021 to 2022, he was appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Multinational Corps Southeast in Sibiu, Romania. Abroad, he served in a variety of assignments, most notably being: UN Military Observer Democratic Republic of Congo (2000-2001); Staff Officer in Afghanistan (2008, 2010, 2013); Staff Officer in Kosovo (2009). His military education includes several international courses, including: Army's Rangers Course for Officers, USA, (1996 – 1997 completion certificate) Special Operations Course, USA (2005); Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA (2006 - 2007); Advance Program in Security Studies, George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies, Germany (2010); Counter Terrorism Special Forces Advanced Course, USA (2014); National War College, USA (2014 - 2015). MG Constantin-Adrian CIOLPONEA's decorations and awards include: UN Medal; The Army Achievement Medal; The Army Commendation Medal; General Staff Badge of Honour; Romanian Army Honour Emblem; Military Veteran Honorific title; Land Forces Emblem of Honour; National Order Military Virtue in rank of Knight; Air Force Emblem of Honour; Naval Forces Emblem of Honour in service of the Homeland – for 25 years of service" Honorary sign. Major-General Constantin-Adrian CIOLPONEA is married and father of two.

Major General Chris Barry CBE

Director Land Warfare, British Army
Major General Chris Barry CBE

Major General Chris Barry grew up in Cambridge and was commissioned into the Royal Anglian Regiment, later transferring to The Royal Welsh on command. He completed 15 years at Regimental duty as well as time on the staff of a Bde and a Corps, serving in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Germany, and the Falkland Islands and on repeated operations in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan as well as Iraq and the Yemen.

On the General Staff, he has served as Assistant Head of the Army 2020 Programme, Chief of Staff of the Army Recruiting and Training Division, Chief of Staff of the Land Warfare Centre and Commander of the Collective Training Group. Major General Barry is a graduate of both the Joint Advanced Command and Staff Course (Australia) and the Royal College of Defence Studies. He was appointed OBE in 2014 and CBE in 2021.

His interests include European literature and history. He is the Vice President of Army Boxing and the Colonel of the Regiment, The Royal Welsh.

Major General Barry was appointed Director Land Warfare in December 2021.
 

Major Hugh Hemsley

Army DCC Lethality Requirements Manager, SoldierWorks
Major Hugh Hemsley

Major Hugh Hemsley

Army DCC Lethality Requirements Manager, SoldierWorks, British Army
Major Hugh Hemsley

Major Magnus Hallberg

LCG DSS Chairman, NATO/Swedish Armed Forces
Major Magnus Hallberg

Infantry officer, the career consists of a mix of different positions within infantry and Mechanized battalions.
Graduated from Staff collage 2002 and completed Battalion Commander Course 2003, since 2004 at Land Warfare Centre development department.
Test and trial manager on Swedish soldier modernization, PM/ReqM on Combat clothing and PPE.
A member of LCG DSS since 2004, Deputy Chairman 2012-18, Chairman 2019---
Involved in the NORDEFCO project on Nordic Combat Uniform as leader of the User Working Group.

Major Matti Finnila

Research Officer, Finnish Defence Forces, Research Center
Major Matti Finnila

Major Matti Finnilä is a research officer in the FIN Army Research Center. His main field of research are the Small Arms Family 2030, Night Combat Capability 2025 and Soldier Equipment projects of the Dismounted Soldier Program in the Finnish Army. He is also the chief instructor of the Sniper Center of Excellence. Major Finnilä has 22 years' experience in both light and mechanized infantry including two deployments to Afghanistan.

Major Michael O'Connor

Capability Director Soldier Modernisation Office, New Zealand Defence Force
Major Michael O'Connor

Major O’Connor enlisted into the New Zealand Army in January 1981 serving as an Infantry soldier in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. He has served with the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in both Singapore and New Zealand, and has completed postings to the 2nd/1st Infantry Battalion and reserve infantry units obtaining the rank of Warrant Officer Class One holding a number of senior appointments. Throughout his soldier career Major O’Connor has undertaken a range of regimental, staff and training appointments including postings as an instructor at the Army Schools and Cadre appointments, completing his soldier career in Army General Staff as the infantry career manager. Major O’Connor was commissioned in 2012 as a general list officer at the rank of Captain and appointed as the adjutant for 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and was subsequently promoted to Major as the Executive Officer in 2015. In 2017 he was posted to Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand as a Staff Officer planning, for overseas operations. He was posted to the Australian Army Land Warfare Centre in 2018 as an instructor at the Officer Training Wing. Major O’Connor has deployed on operations with the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt, the United Nations in East Timor, the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan and as a staff officer within the Headquarters of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve based in Kuwait. Major O’Connor is a graduate of the New Zealand Command and Staff College (Joint) and holds a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Victoria University, of Wellington. Major O’Connor was appointed as the Capability Manager Soldier Modernisation Office on 12 December 2021.

Major Nicholas Reynolds

Dismounted Close Combat Surveillance and Target Acquisition Requirements Manager, SoldierWorks, British Army
Major Nicholas Reynolds

Major Nicholas Reynolds joined the Army in 2012 and has served within a variety of roles within Light Role, Mechanised and Specialised (now Ranger) infantry, gaining operational experience within Afghanistan, Iraq and Mali. Having recently promoted to Major and completed the Battlespace Technology course, he is well suited to his current role, requirements managing for DCC STA, where his breadth of experience and expertise play a crucial role in bringing new STA capabilities into service.

Nils Teschner

Technical Project Officer, OCCAR-EA
Nils Teschner

Currently working as a Technical Project Officer, Nils Teschner is the technical focal point of the Night Vision Capability programme in OCCAR-EA. In this role, he manages technical, ILS & ISS requirements, drafts statements of work, manages risks, and monitors contract execution.
Nils holds MSc degrees in both aerospace engineering and philosophy. From 2004 to 2014, he served in the German Army and left as a Captain. In previous positions, he worked in OCCAR-EA as the Technical Publication Manager for the Tiger helicopter programme and as In-Service Support Officer in the German Army Aviation branch.
 

Paul Lincoln CB OBE VR

Second Permanent Secretary, UK Ministry of Defence
Paul Lincoln CB OBE VR

Paul Lincoln is the Second Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). He was appointed in May 2023.

As Second Permanent Secretary, his responsibilities include digital transformation across Defence, security and resilience (including cyber security), space policy, science and technology, safety, net assessment and challenge, trade and economic security, and strategic relationships with industry.
Paul’s career has covered a broad range of roles in the MOD, the Home Office and the Cabinet Office. Prior to his return to the MOD, Paul spent time on secondment to the private sector.
From 2017 to 2021 he was Director General of UK Border Force in the Home Office, with responsibility for protecting border security and overseeing immigration and customs checks. During this time, he successfully led one of the largest law enforcement organisations in the UK, delivering generational improvements to passenger processing and, with a real focus on preparations for Brexit, oversaw one of the largest and most complex EU exit programmes in government. He also led on the cross-government health measures at the border at the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Other senior roles at the Home Office included Director General of the Crime, Policing and Fire Group, and Acting Director General of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism.
His roles at the MOD have covered oversight for a range of operational campaigns, defence resourcing, programmes, and security policy.


Second Permanent Secretary Responsibilities

The Second Permanent Secretary works closely with the Permanent Secretary on all aspects of the Department’s leadership, and has specific Accounting Officer responsibility for digital, innovation and science and technology.
The Second Permanent Secretary is a member of the Defence Board and is a non-executive member of the Single Services’ Boards and UK Strategic Command Board.
 

Sebastian Gies

Project Lead Soldier System D-LBO, Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw)
Sebastian Gies

Dr. Sebastian Gies is the Project Lead for the Soldier System D-LBO (Digitization of Land-Based Operations) at the German Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw; Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support). Graduating from the Philipps-University Marburg after obtaining a B.Sc., M.Sc. and PhD (Dr. rer. nat) in physics, he worked at Sandia National Laboratories as a Postdoctoral Appointee before joining the BAAINBw as a project management professional

Steffen Gondolff

Fuel Cells Officer, Bundeswehr
Steffen Gondolff

Wilhelm Sahlen

Scientist, Swedish Defence Research Agency
Wilhelm Sahlen

Wilhelm Sahlén is a scientist at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). Wilhelm is the deputy Head of Department of the Directed energy weapons and energy department. Wilhelm has a background in mechanical engineering and performs work like researcher and project manager within the area. Most of the projects are towards the Swedish armed forces to ensure a safe implementation of lithium batteries and other energy systems in military applications.

Dismounted Situational Awareness Focus Day: 10 March 2025

The conference will feature a dedicated Dismounted Situational Awareness Focus Day with updates from British and NATO allied armed forces discussing the modernisation of dismounted soldier communications and spatial awareness capabilities using existing and emerging next-generation equipment and technologies.

Main Conference: 11-12 March 2025

The two-day main conference will cover all other aspects vital to the modernisation of the future soldier. The morning of both days will feature plenary sessions, focusing on international soldier modernisation programme updates and with industry sponsor partners showcasing their solutions to the audience.

The afternoons on both days will split into parallel streams, to focus on more specifically aspects of the dismounted soldier and their equipment.

sponsors

Future Soldier Technology 2025 will return to London larger than ever to discuss Soldier Modernisation Programmes, and how these projects are driving infantry capabilities into the future and making the dismounted soldier more lethal, protected and ready to fight in the challenging conditions of the modern-day battlefield.
 


Project Manager
Swedish Defence Materiel Administration
Lead Project Raven (Soldier Electronic Architecture)
SoldierWorks, British Army
Lead Project Raven Soldier Electronic Architecture
SoldierWorks, British Army
Chief of Staff HQ Multinational Brigade South-East
Romanian Army
Analyst and Researcher, Strategic Studies Center
Brazilian Army
Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior
PEO Soldier, US Army
Director, Studies & Foresight, Draguignan Infantry School
French Army
Head, Defence Procurement Cooperation
Armasuisse
Deputy Director, Capability Development Office
Hungarian Defence Forces
DE&S Dismounted Close Combat DCC Portfolio Leader
DE&S, UK Ministry of Defence
Assistant Head, Land Environment Tactical CIS, Directorate Programmes
British Army
Head of Institute - Advanced Officer Training
Theresian Military Academy Austria
Chairman of CCIEP under LCGDSS
Danish Artillery Regiment
DE&S Future Capability Group, Strategic Command & Air Portfolio Team Leader
DE&S UK MoD
Scientist G
DRDO – Defence Research Development Organization, Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Power Sources Lead
Dstl, UK Ministry of Defence
Research Associate Officer
Helmut Schmidt University - German Bundeswehr University in Hamburg
Research Director, Army Health and Performance Research AHPR
UK Ministry of Defence
Chief Research Officer
US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center
Scientist, Department for Defence and Security, Systems and Technology
Swedish Defence Research Agency
Head of the Future Capability Group
DE&S, UK Ministry of Defence
Principle Scientist Platform Systems
DSTL, UK MoD
Assistant Program Manager, Soldier Tactical Power
US Army
Head Batteries Department
Bundeswehr
Professor, Virtual Vehicle Research
Graz University of Technology
SO1 Soldier Systems
British Army
SoldierWorks Human Factors Lead,
SoldierWorks, British Army
Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Representative in Europe
NATO HQ
Director Land Warfare
British Army
Army DCC Lethality Requirements Manager
SoldierWorks
Army DCC Lethality Requirements Manager
SoldierWorks, British Army
LCG DSS Chairman
NATO/Swedish Armed Forces
Research Officer
Finnish Defence Forces, Research Center
Capability Director Soldier Modernisation Office
New Zealand Defence Force
Dismounted Close Combat Surveillance and Target Acquisition Requirements Manager, SoldierWorks
British Army
Technical Project Officer
OCCAR-EA
Second Permanent Secretary
UK Ministry of Defence
Project Lead Soldier System D-LBO
Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw)
Fuel Cells Officer
Bundeswehr
Scientist
Swedish Defence Research Agency

Gold Sponsor

Sponsors

Exhibitors

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Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square

Grosvenor Square, London, United Kingdom

A number of our clients have been approached by third party organisations offering to book hotel rooms. We would advise that you do not book through them as they are not representing the SMi Group. SMi Group books all hotel rooms directly. If you are approached by a third party organisation then please contact us before making any bookings. If you have already booked a hotel room using a third party organisation, we would highly recommend contacting the hotel you were booked into to ensure a booking has been made for you. We would also advise you to please check the terms and conditions of the booking carefully.
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Sponsors and Exhibitors


Leidos

Gold Sponsor
https://www.leidos.com/

Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defence, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 33,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers.

Our Defence and Intelligence business provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide – including the UK MOD, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), NATO, and the Intelligence Community. Our solutions include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. From our airborne work with sensors alerting warfighters to what's over the next hill, to our autonomous maritime platforms protecting sea lanes and shores, Leidos enables customers to achieve mission success and multi-domain dominance at home and abroad.



Marathon Targets

Gold Sponsor
http://marathon-targets.com

Marathon Robotics provides Lethality Today to US, NATO, and Coalition Partners on four Continents. We’ve been selected by USMC to provide mobile trailers of Intelligent Robotic Targets at all key CONUS and OCONUS sites. We reinvent Live Fire Training with Intelligent Robots that look, move, and behave like real people. It’s the world’s most realistic live fire training: shoot one robot, the rest autonomously scatter for cover, or self-organize a swarming counterattack.

The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act describes our Autonomous Robotic Targets as “a vast improvement to training modality over existing systems and was value added in all training events/scenarios.”

Trevor Nash of Shepard Defence says: “The Marathon argument is very persuasive, but its challenge is to change a mindset - present for many centuries – that the aim of the range is to ‘train marksmanship.’ That mentality is wrong” overmatch and winning the firefight are more important.”

Marathon also cuts Range Modernization costs and time by 85% through ZIRM (Zero Infrastructure Range Modernization). No need to buy robots: use ZIRM cost avoidance to fund Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) to rent robots for a week or year, with robot operators – 95% of them military veterans. Offices and rental fleets on 4 continents.


Sponsors


Marlborough Communications LTD

Sponsors
https://www.marlboroughcomms.com/

MCL are the leading supplier of INVISIO soldier communication ancillaries, hearing protection and situational awareness to the British Army and Specialist Ground Forces. INVISIO deliver seamless communication and hearing protection capability across dismounted infantry, ground manoeuvre platforms, littoral manoeuvres and aviation and air. These capabilities are deployed in huge numbers not only in the UK but globally including in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Denmark, among others. The simple, modular, and flexible design ensures the communication and interoperability needs of the soldier both mounted and dismounted are met whilst reducing the physical and cognitive burden. Continuous product innovation and spiral development as technology and new warfighting concepts develop are incorporated smoothly and continuously into the product portfolio to seamlessly support the future soldier. To learn more visit www.marlbroughcomms.com and www.invisio.com.



rheinmetall

Sponsors
http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com

Rheinmetall - Taking responsibility in a changing world

As an integrated technology group, the listed company Rheinmetall AG , headquartered in Düsseldorf, stands for a company that is as strong in substance as it is successful internationally, and that is active in various markets with an innovative range of products and services. Rheinmetall is a leading international systems supplier in the defence industry and at the same time a driver of forward-looking technological and industrial innovations in the civilian markets. The focus on sustainability is an integral part of Rheinmetall's strategy. The company aims to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2035. Through our work in various fields, we at Rheinmetall take on responsibility in a dramatically changing world. With our technologies, products and systems, we create the indispensable basis for peace, freedom and sustainable development: security.



Ultra

Sponsors
http://www.ultra-pcs.com

Ultra specialises in providing application engineered tailored solutions. We focus on our customers’ mission critical and intelligent systems in the defence, security, critical detection & control markets. Our capabilities and technologies can be found on many of the world’s long-term military programmes.

UltraLYNX is a key component in the realisation of future dismounted situational awareness systems; Increased operational tempo, improved operational agility and effectiveness. By empowering the user to employ UltraLYNX as their role or mission demands, for the first time soldier technology can truly adapt to the users needs and evolve with the constant and rapidly changing situation on a modern battlefield.

Designed from the ground up to deliver smart, open architecture, capable of providing users with a simple plug and play function of a range of common bearer and end user devices, while also providing the necessary technological infrastructure to support future systems growth and development; UltraLYNX provides the definitive standard for future soldier systems and delivers a truly integrated, scalable and open solution to meet current and future close combat challenges head on.


Exhibitors


Bertin Exensor

Exhibitors
https://www.exensor.com/

Founded in 1987, Bertin Exensor is a world leading provider of networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) systems, providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our headquarters in Lund, Sweden, our network communications and research lab in Kalmar and our production site in Basingstoke, UK, we design, develop, and produce rugged UGS solutions to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. With firsthand experience in Force/FOB Protection, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and monitoring of critical assets and sensitive areas Bertin Exensor have designed solutions for both military and homeland security applications. Part of the French group ‘Bertin Technologies’, Bertin Exensor has a strong capability offering, well-established and trusted within the Defence and Security industry.



Bren Tronics

Exhibitors
http://www.bren-tronics.com

Bren-Tronics, Inc. (BTI) is a technology-based Power Systems company with over 45 years of experience in the design, development and manufacture of primary and rechargeable batteries, along with associated chargers and complete power systems. From design to production, BTI maintains complete in-house capabilities to develop fully integrated systems supporting US and Worldwide Military and Commercial markets.

BTI has traditionally supported the dismounted soldier by providing the highest portable power and energy available in the smallest, lightest packages, whilst always maintaining the highest level of safety standards. Through the evolution of rechargeable battery systems, initially with Nickle Cadmium, through Nickle Metal Hydride to the current forefront of technology, Lithium Ion, BTI have consistently provided the warfighter with the best technology available.With reliability at the forefront of user’s requirements, BTI pride themselves with an outstanding field-proven record of dependability. In addition, BTI was the first battery manufacturer of rechargeable batteries to provide a visual state of charge indicator to further enhance the confidence of the user.

Specific to the arena of the Future Soldier ideology, in 2004 BTI were the first to provide a battery specifically designed to be used as a centralised power source for the dismounted soldier. The SMP battery range from Bren-Tronics is unique in so much that the battery is designed around the most energy efficient Li Ion cell available. Consequently, the energy density (run time per weight and size) is the highest currently achievable.

The SMP battery is currently in use by the German IDZ programme and recently the same battery has now been selected as the battery of choice for the Benelux “VOSS” Future Soldier programme.



L3Harris

Exhibitors
http://www.l3harris.com

L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18 billion in annual revenue, 48,000 employees and customers in over 100 countries. L3Harris.com



SoldierWorks

Exhibitors
http://

SoldierWorks is a cross functional team consisting of Civil Servants, Military Personnel, and partners in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) who work together to enhance our soldier’s capability further. The SoldierWorks team was established with a single focus’ to put the soldier at the centre of the solution. By optimising the performance of the individual Soldier to enhance lethality, survivability, agility and resilience, enabling our soldiers to fight and to win across the full spectrum of war fighting scenarios. The SoldierWorks team continues to exploit the Army’s experimentation programme, across Human Factors, Survivability, lethality and C4i putting emerging technologies in the hands of the &soldier to support the development of new capabilities. This supports design, development and delivery of enhancements to the soldier’s performance and equipment. The team speed up the introduction of new soldier system capabilities . Including the Integrated Soldier System and Soldier Electronic Architecture, to the Field Army by being involved in the experimentation process and exploiting data from tests, trials and experimentation to inform decision making and driving through the procurement of new solutions ensuring that the capabilities delivered by SoldierWorks are the best they can be for our soldiers.



Steatite

Exhibitors
https://www.steatite-communications.co.uk/

Steatite is the UK’s only re-seller of Persistent Systems Wave Relay products, including the astounding MPU5 secure MANET radio. The company is at the forefront of advanced radio communications with an emphasis on defence, security and autonomous vehicle applications. However, our technology and knowledge extends far beyond this, making us well placed to help you with your most challenging communications requirements

Behind the delivery of every Steatite Communications deployment is a group of skilled, motivated and dedicated experts. This team combines decades of valuable and varied industry experience with incredibly detailed product knowledge, the result of which is a team of specialists at the top of their class to guide you with the selection and deployment of your Steatite Communications system.



Thermoteknix

Exhibitors
http://www.thermoteknix.com

Thermoteknix is a global leader in the design and manufacture of thermal imaging, night vision and fusion systems for defence and security forces. At Future Soldier Technology 2024, Thermoteknix will be demonstrating the latest Fused Night Vision Binocular with AR (FNVG-AR) which utilises the latest night vision technology fused with thermal imaging, combined with an intelligent battery pack (ARTIM) delivering a real-time Augmented Reality overlay. The user can easily interchange between night vision, fused thermal imaging and AR for maximum target detection and surveillance capabilities. FNVG-AR fully integrates with ATAK (or similar Battle Management Systems) to deliver enhanced situational awareness, including Blue Force Tracking, routes, markers, GPS and Compass heading. Thermoteknix, with its AR head-up display systems, together with its range of mission-critical day/night surveillance and target acquisition systems, is supporting Soldier Modernisation programmes worldwide.


TRELLISWARE TECHNOLOGIES

Exhibitors
https://www.trellisware.com/

TrellisWare Technologies, Inc. is a global leader in highly advanced algorithms, waveforms, and communications systems that range from small form factor radio products to fully integrated solutions. TrellisWare’s technology is a critical component of modern tactical networks. The TrellisWare® TSM® waveform is incorporated into a wide range of systems, including TrellisWare radios, trusted industry partner radios, and multiple government and commercial solutions.

Our highly adaptable network facilitates secure mission-critical voice and data delivery in the most severe conditions. The result is an exceptionally robust, flat network that provides unprecedented scalability and supports hundreds of nodes, using less spectrum than any other Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) technology.

TrellisWare is delivering the next generation of communications for defense, public safety, and uncrewed markets When Nothing Else Works™.


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Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square

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WHAT IS CPD?

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development’. It is essentially a philosophy, which maintains that in order to be effective, learning should be organised and structured. The most common definition is:

‘A commitment to structured skills and knowledge enhancement for Personal or Professional competence’

CPD is a common requirement of individual membership with professional bodies and Institutes. Increasingly, employers also expect their staff to undertake regular CPD activities.

Undertaken over a period of time, CPD ensures that educational qualifications do not become obsolete, and allows for best practice and professional standards to be upheld.

CPD can be undertaken through a variety of learning activities including instructor led training courses, seminars and conferences, e:learning modules or structured reading.

CPD AND PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

There are approximately 470 institutes in the UK across all industry sectors, with a collective membership of circa 4 million professionals, and they all expect their members to undertake CPD.

For some institutes undertaking CPD is mandatory e.g. accountancy and law, and linked to a licence to practice, for others it’s obligatory. By ensuring that their members undertake CPD, the professional bodies seek to ensure that professional standards, legislative awareness and ethical practices are maintained.

CPD Schemes often run over the period of a year and the institutes generally provide online tools for their members to record and reflect on their CPD activities.

TYPICAL CPD SCHEMES AND RECORDING OF CPD (CPD points and hours)

Professional bodies and Institutes CPD schemes are either structured as ‘Input’ or ‘Output’ based.

‘Input’ based schemes list a precise number of CPD hours that individuals must achieve within a given time period. These schemes can also use different ‘currencies’ such as points, merits, units or credits, where an individual must accumulate the number required. These currencies are usually based on time i.e. 1 CPD point = 1 hour of learning.

‘Output’ based schemes are learner centred. They require individuals to set learning goals that align to professional competencies, or personal development objectives. These schemes also list different ways to achieve the learning goals e.g. training courses, seminars or e:learning, which enables an individual to complete their CPD through their preferred mode of learning.

The majority of Input and Output based schemes actively encourage individuals to seek appropriate CPD activities independently.

As a formal provider of CPD certified activities, SAE Media Group can provide an indication of the learning benefit gained and the typical completion. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the delegate to evaluate their learning, and record it correctly in line with their professional body’s or employers requirements.

GLOBAL CPD

Increasingly, international and emerging markets are ‘professionalising’ their workforces and looking to the UK to benchmark educational standards. The undertaking of CPD is now increasingly expected of any individual employed within today’s global marketplace.

CPD Certificates

We can provide a certificate for all our accredited events. To request a CPD certificate for a conference , workshop, master classes you have attended please email events@saemediagroup.com

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SAE Media Group , Ground Floor, India House, 45 Curlew Street, London, SE1 2ND, United Kingdom
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Website: http://www.smgconferences.com Email: events@saemediagroup.com
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