Changing the face of defence – what next?
The Women in Defence UK Critical Mass Summit 2026 concluded with an inspiring keynote address from General Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB ADC (Gen), Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, who shared her personal leadership journey while setting out a compelling vision for the future of defence.
Reflecting on her own experience of rising through the ranks, General Dame Sharon spoke about the transformation taking place across defence and why change is essential, not only for the betterment of serving women, but for the success of the whole force.
She said:
"If there was ever a time when we need change, it's now. If we're to meet the challenge we now face in defence, more than ever, we seek commitment to mission from across the nation. Service needs diverse teams, high performing, inclusive leadership, innovation and ingenuity. We need a challenge culture with less hierarchy and more multidisciplinary learning. A whole force in its wider sense - the military, Civil Service, strategic partners and defence industry. The mission we face is serious…the world is more uncertain and unpredictable than ever. We need the integrated force to be more ready today and to transform for tomorrow."
Her message reinforced a theme that had resonated throughout the Summit: the future of defence depends on unlocking the full potential of people across the entire defence enterprise.
General Dame Sharon explained that meeting today's challenges requires new ways of working and delivering capability. This means empowering the whole defence supply chain and drawing together expertise from across every skill set to drive collaboration, innovation and pace. It also requires systems that embrace appropriate risk, enabling defence to learn faster, adapt more quickly and build greater agility.
As she continued:
"For this reform we will build the right team to do different. Through a new people system and a workforce plan…Whole force. Best talent, best for role, regardless of service or background."
The keynote concluded with a powerful reminder that representation matters. Being visible, being willing to be different and having the confidence to lead authentically creates opportunities for others to do the same. Individual actions, when combined with collective confidence and allyship, have the power to change organisational culture and shape the future of defence.