Sea Power Laboratory senior dinner

  • This event has passed.

3 December 2024 All day

On 3rd December, the Council on Geostrategy hosted its inaugural Sea Power Laboratory senior dinner, featuring an introductory speech by Adm. Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO. This invitation-only event brought together distinguished guests to discuss the theme: Enabling closer partnerships between the defence, government, and finance sectors in the face of intensifying geopolitical competition.

As part of the broader Sea Power Laboratory initiative, the dinner aligned with the programme’s mission to advance the Royal Navy’s vision for 2040. It emphasised strengthening collaboration across the Navy, government, industry, and academia. The initiative also seeks to nurture the next generation of maritime professionals while enhancing engagement on maritime security with key allies and partners.

With the Royal Navy already facing increasing demands on its resources, the Sea Power Laboratory’s activities aim to build a deeper strategic understanding of the UK as a sea power state. The programme aspires to cultivate a new generation of maritime leaders and expand maritime discourse to reach a broader audience.

Welcoming remarks

Adm. Pierre Vandier

Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO

Adm. Vandier joined the French Navy in 1987 training as a naval aviator. He has served in a number of conflicts including the First Gulf War, Kosovo and Afghanistan. His commands have included the frigate Surcouf and the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. He was appointed head of the Military Cabinet of the French Minister of Defence in 2018 before being appointed Chief of the French Navy and in 2023 Vice Chief of Defence of the French Armed Forces. Since September 2024 he has served as NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) and is one of NATO’s two strategic commanders. SACT is at the head of Allied Command Transformation and, as such, is responsible to NATO’s highest military authority – the Military Committee – for promoting and overseeing the continuing transformation of Alliance forces and capabilities. He helps to identify and prioritise future capability and interoperability requirements and channels the results into NATO’s defence planning process.