After 25 Years in Defence: A Reflection on People, Purpose and Change

When I joined Defence in October 2001, I certainly had no plan to stay for 25 years.

The world had changed only weeks earlier following 9/11 and, before long, our Armed Forces were heavily committed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Looking back, my career has unfolded against a backdrop of constant change: operational commitments overseas, defence reform, austerity, COVID-19, and today's renewed focus on European security. I've also witnessed remarkable changes in the workplace, from paper files to digital systems, office-based working to hybrid models, a shift from manpower planning to talent and skills, and now the emergence of AI.

I started my career as an occupational psychologist, seeking to understand how people experienced Service life: what motivated them, what frustrated them, what made them stay, and what made them leave. Leadership, family life and operational pressures all played a part, and those early experiences shaped much of my thinking throughout my career.

 Over the years, I had the opportunity to work with colleagues across Defence and internationally through NATO and other partnerships. Wherever you go, organisations face many of the same challenges: attracting talented people, supporting them to succeed, and giving them reasons to stay.

In later years, my focus shifted into HR, workforce planning, and recruitment. While the subject matter evolved, the fundamental question remained unchanged: how do we make Defence a better place for its people while ensuring it has the talent and skills needed for the future?

One lesson I've carried throughout my career is the importance of bringing together evidence, theory, and practical experience. I have often encouraged my teams to start with the data, ask questions, and dig a little deeper. Meaningful change rarely comes from a single transformational initiative. More often, it comes from small improvements, thoughtful conversations and people quietly leaving things better than they found them.  As I leave the Ministry of Defence, that is perhaps the lesson I value most.

Over the past 25 years, it has been a genuine privilege to work with talented, supportive, and generous colleagues. I've learned a great deal, made lifelong friends, and been given opportunities I could never have imagined back in 2001.

Defence has changed enormously during my career, but one thing has remained constant: success depends on people. It always has, and it always will.