The All Round Look - April 2024 - Ep 8 - Women in the Defence Industry
A regular podcast from the perspective of SMEs working in the defence arena
This month Dan and Jamie host a panel of female veterans for our regular podcast, The All Round Look.
They ask Ellie Ablett, Lucy Ottley and Anne Baxter why fewer female veterans appear to move into Defence sector roles than their male colleagues. Do female veterans have the same expectations as male veterans? Do they feel that they have more choices as they look to a second career than men do? How much do the culture and values of a company matter to a female veteran and what practical examples can we give to make sure that both SMEs and larger companies are doing all they can to attract a balanced, diverse workforce that includes an equitable number of female veterans?
Ellie Ablett MBE
With over 28 years as a Royal Navy Logistics Officer achieving promotion to Commodore, Ellie is an Executive Coach, a Public Speaker and an Adventure Activities Leader and Instructor, using her wide-ranging leadership experience to enhance the quality of life and workplace performance of both individuals and teams.
Ellie read Modern History at Somerville College, Oxford, before joining the Royal Navy in 1993 in the first wave of women to serve on the same terms as men following the integration of the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Highlights of her naval career include extensive service at sea and on joint operations, serving as Executive Assistant to the First Sea Lord and 2 years in Command of the Navy’s main training base, HMS RALEIGH - the first woman to do so. She is an alumni of the Windsor Leadership Trust programme and of London Business School’s Senior Executive Programme, she earned a Masters degree in Defence Studies and the Cormorant Fellowship for academic excellence from Kings College, London.
Dedicated to promoting inclusive leadership and nurturing diversity, she founded a highly successful professional network for Naval Servicewomen in 2013 and was subsequently awarded the MBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List. Her commitment to supporting other women and the Defence’s Diversity and Inclusion agenda was further recognised when she was awarded The Spirit of everywoman.com Award in 2013, WeAreTheCity’s Rising Star Champion Award in 2018 and a Vice Chief of the Defence Staff’s Commendation in 2022.
Anne Baxter MBE
Anne is a Royal Navy Veteran who served as a Logistics and Supply Chain Specialist; leaving in 2012. Since leaving the Armed Forces she has worked within the Defence Sector as an independent Consultant and working for SMEs where she has always championed women in defence. In 2018 she joined Allan Webb Ltd (AWL) and as a member of the AWL Board she leads a number of initiatives to create an inclusive culture that supports all of our personnel and ensures Armed Forces Veterans are given the opportunity to demonstrate when they can bring skills transferable skills into the wider Defence Sector.
Lucy Ottley OBE
Lucy served in the Royal Navy as a Logistics and HR specialist for 23 years serving at sea and operations globally and is a veteran of the Iraq War and conflict in Afghanistan.
From 2021, she led the Naval Servicewomen’s Network representing the 3,200 servicewomen and acted as a Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for Defence in addressing recommendations made by the Atherton Report in July 2021. For her work and dedication to improving Diversity, she was awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List. More recently, Lucy has embarked on a civilian career remaining in the Defence Sector to deliver training solutions.
Dan Bryant
Dan Bryant’s first career was in the Royal Navy where he undertook appointments as a Logistics Officer in surface ships, submarines, UK and international headquarters and training establishments. A veteran of the Iraq War, he left the RN to pursue a career in commercial shipping and logistics. He is the Managing Director of the IWH Group, a consultancy focusing on the Defence, maritime and aerospace sectors.
Jamie Pindard
Since leaving University in 2009, Jamie’s career has been focussed within the Aerospace and Defence market. Starting off as part of an international team within a large defence contractor, he has spent the last 11 years leading the commercial efforts of Artemis Optical Ltd, a high-tech SME within the A&D arena. Most recently, Jamie has taken the role of A&D product Line Director at G&H Photonics since their acquisition of Artemis in July 2023.
