International defence heads and industry influencers lead exciting speaker list at second edition of World Defense Show
As the countdown begins to its second edition in February, the World Defense Show (WDS), under the esteemed patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has revealed some of the industry titans and senior government figures who will address the show’s visitors and exhibitors. WDS 2024, which will be held between 4 and 8 February 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the exclusive Future Defense Leadership Forum on Preview Day, followed by four days of exciting interactive industry discussion and demonstration in the main conference room and across dedicated content theatres in three of the exhibition halls. The Future Defense Leadership Forum at the WDS 2024 will commence with an address by HE Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI). This exclusive event, attended by high-level government and private-sector delegates from the global defence industry, is set to delve into national policy, technology, and innovation, offering insights into both Saudi and global perspectives on defence and security challenges over the next decade. The forum will feature a series of compelling keynote addresses, including ‘Enhancing KSA’s Investment Ecosystem’ by HE Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Investment, and a discussion on ‘Defense/Force Readiness by HE General Fayyadh Al Ruwaili, Chief of the General Staff of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces. Additionally, HE Ahmed Al Khateeb, Chairman of SAMI, will address ‘Security and Stability in the New Saudi Era’, underscoring the importance of innovation and adaptation in defence technology. The forum will also host pivotal panel discussions. ‘The People Challenge: Attracting, Upskilling and Retaining the Right Talent for the Defense sector’ will bring together Professor Haluk Görgün, President of the Turkish Defence Industry Agency (SSB); Walid Abukhaled, CEO of SAMI; Sulaiman Albabtain, CEO and Chairman of SOFON Industries; and Éric Béranger, CEO of MBDA. Another significant panel, ‘Innovating at the Speed of Relevance: Managing the Defense Technology Challenge’, will feature HE Dr Faleh AlSulaiman, Governor of GADD; Dr Charles Woodburn, CEO of BAE Systems; Stephanie C Hill, President of Rotary & Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin; and Pierre Éric Pommellet, Chairman and CEO of Naval Group. Innovation is a strong theme of the Day 2 programme, which hosts key industry figures such as Rob Merriweather, Technology Director, BAE Systems, and Chris Brown, Vice President for Strategy & Global Business Development, General Dynamics, who lead a panel on achieving innovation goals across the industry, while Tim Cahill, President of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business will discuss exploiting innovation across the battlespace. General (rtd) Tom Middendorp, Chairman of the International Military Council on Climate and Security and the former chief of defence of the Netherlands, will deliver a keynote speech on environmental sustainability in the defence industry. Nichola Bates, Managing Partner at Aerospace Xelerated and Head of Global Accelerators and Innovation Programs at Boeing, will provide insight on defence innovation units to foster collaboration with start-ups. Technology development steps into the spotlight on Day 3, with Major General (rtd) Adam Findlay, formerly Australia’s Special Operations Commander, addressing civilian-military technology development and co-operation, Sir Stuart Atha, Director of Training Strategy for BAE Systems, providing insight on the future of human-machine interface and Stephanie C Hill, President of Rotary & Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin, discussing transforming aerospace and defence for the 21st Century. Building on the huge success of the programme in 2022, the International Women in Defense programme returns, spearheaded by HRH Ambassador Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States. The event will also feature Heidi Grant, Vice President of Defense Global Growth & Engagement at Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS), and be joined by national diversity champions and industry figureheads, including Major General Adel Al-Balawi, Head of the Saudi Armed Forces Education and Training Authority. On Day 5 the Future Talent programme will recognise the importance of nurturing and developing the next generation of defence professionals. The session will be opened with a keynote address by HE Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Minister of Education, setting the stage for insightful discussions on the future of human capital in defence. Dr Alex Walmsley, defence analyst and RUSI Associate Fellow, will moderate a high-level panel on ‘The Human Capital Growth Model for Defence’. Additionally, the programme will feature a presentation on ‘The People Challenge: An Industrial Perspective’ by Jason Monahan, VP & General Manager, General Dynamics, offering valuable insights into workforce development from an industry standpoint.
