The future of strategy and security will be shaped as much by trust, leadership and partnerships as by technology, capability and competition. This message was at the centre of the recent Security & Defence PLuS Emerging Voices: Strategy, Security and Defence event at King's College London.
The one-day conference marked the second instalment of the Emerging Voices Series, following its launch at Arizona State University in March, with a third convening planned later this year at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
As Professor Wyn Bowen, Head of the School of Security Studies, noted in his opening remarks, the series is designed to bring together senior expertise and emerging talent, creating dialogue between experienced leaders and the next generation of strategic thinkers.
The importance of partnerships emerged as a defining theme throughout the day. During his keynote discussion, former US Deputy Secretary of State The Honourable Dr Kurt Campbell argued that "the only way to deal with the challenges on a global stage is to basically assemble allied capacity."
He added: "We need to find ways to work with allies and partners that transcend paternalism." This was echoed by former British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell, who encouraged partners to provide agency rather than force choices upon smaller states.
Several speakers also emphasised that technological advantage alone is insufficient to maintain a competitive edge. Moderator Dr Kristin Lord noted that, despite rapid advances in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, "we still have that human dimension we keep coming back to", while Steven Musholt argued that technology cannot replace human judgement, urging organisations to "not substitute humans doing what they do best - thinking - and leaders doing what they do best, which is decision making."
A recurring message throughout the conference was the responsibility of investing in the next generation of leaders. By placing emerging researchers and practitioners alongside senior policymakers, the Emerging Voices Series encourages open debate, challenges assumptions and equips future leaders to navigate an increasingly uncertain strategic environment.
Dr Campbell left the emerging leaders in the room with a final piece of advice:
You never know when the moment is going to call for you and you have to be prepared."
