UTAC Millbrook
16th - 17th September, 2026
DVD2026 Industry Conference – Tuesday 15th September 2026
The latest schedule is shown below
| Time | Session / presentation title | Speaker(s) | Presentation summary |
| 13:15 | WELCOME | Sponsor: Dr. Justin Goldberg, VP Defence and Security, Amentum | |
| 13:20 | OPENING [20 mins]
Connected for Combat — Opening Address |
Maj Gen Lizzie Faithfull-Davies, Director Land Environment | • Sets the conference purpose and case for closer Defence–industry integration. |
| 13:40 | S1 • STRATEGIC CONTEXT [10 – 15 mins]
Strategic Context |
Lt Gen Sir Simon Hamilton, Deputy Chief of the General Staff; Keynote | • Frames the threat, future battlespace and need for change. |
| 14:00 | S2 • RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGE [45mins]
From Urgency to Advantage |
Lt Gen Anna-Lee Reilly (DG Materiel); Tex Marshall (DG P&P); Lt Gen Sir Simon Hamilton (DCGS); Lt Gen Zac Stenning (CLF)
Moderator: Mark Goldsack |
• Explains how Defence Reform turns policy and intent into fielded capability. |
| 14.45 | Break | ||
| 15:15 | S3 • DELIVERING THROUGH [45 mins] INTEGRATION
Delivery is a Warfighting Advantage |
Lead: Maj Gen Lizzie Faithfull-Davies (DLE). Panel: Richard Murray (L&P); Vikash Patel (SDC); Dave Williams (CTO DSI); Anthony McGee (RAPSTONE); Maj Gen Chris King (D Integrate)
Moderator: Nick Cowey |
• Shows how integrated delivery and operational insight generate combat power at pace. |
| 16:00 | S4 • DOING BUSINESS WITH DEFENCE [30 mins]
Together or not at all: Changing how UK Defence does business |
Ben White Director Defence Industrial Strategy NA -C&I | • Sets out earlier partnership, clearer demand, acquisition reform and industry investment. |
| 16:30 | S5 • INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE [20 mins]
It’s all connected until somebody unplugs something. |
Helen Simms, VP Technology, Amentum | • The advantage isn’t in the individual elements, but in the connections between them. |
| 16:50 | CLOSING ADDRESS [10 mins]
Connected for Combat — Strategic Close |
Maj Gen Lizzie Faithfull-Davies, Director Land Environment | • Reaffirms conference priorities before networking. |
Venue Information & Parking:
Leonardo Hotel (formerly Jurys Inn) Milton Keynes
Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 2HP
Tel: +44 1908 843700
Off-site parking is available opposite the hotel on Midsummer Boulevard, approx. 50m away.
Standard bays (purple) are available from 50p per hour and Premium bays (red) are charged at £2.00 per hour.
Please note parking is free of charge between 6pm and 7am and methods of payment are ‘Pay & Display at the meter’, ‘card payment via telephone’ or the ‘RingGo smartphone app’ and can be paid in advance.
