King's College London

In an uncertain moment for the global international order, leaders including representatives from King’s College London met in Arizona last week to discuss the important role of women in strategy and defence.

The Athena Series: Women in Strategy Conference, Phoenix brought together leaders in strategy, security, and defence at Arizona State University (ASU). Hosted by Security & Defence PLuS, a trilateral partnership between King’s College London, ASU, and the University of New South Wales, women from across the military, government, academia, and industry explored the evolving challenges and opportunities in their fields

Professor Linda McKie, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy at King’s College London hosted a discussion with Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director of the McCain Institute, which explored the strategic inflection points shaping global security today.

Dr. Farkas underscored the profound impact of the outcome of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warning that it could embolden or deter China’s actions toward Taiwan, in the South China Sea, and beyond. Dr Farkas said: "The outcome of the war on Ukraine, the war of aggression that Russia launched on Ukraine, will determine the future… this is the most important inflection point we’ve been at since WW2."

Speakers at the conference included retired US Army General Laura J. Richardson, Former Commander of US Southern Command, Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and Retired Navy Admiral Alma M. Grocki.

Commenting on the event afterwards, Professor McKie noted the significance of the event in the week of International Women’s Day.

In her comments opening the event Lauren Mellows, engagement lead for Security and Defence PluS, noted: “The nature of global threats has transformed—from cyber warfare and geopolitical competition to humanitarian crises and hybrid conflicts. But amidst this complexity, one thing is clear: to develop effective, innovative and sustainable solutions, you need a diverse range of perspectives and expertise. Women's leadership is not just strategically valuable, but essential.”

Dr Ian Langford, Executive Director of Security and Defence PluS, also spoke of the relevance of the Athena Series to the wider ambition to be inclusive while shaping the future of global security.

The next Athena Series event will take place at UNSW Canberra on 7 April. Read more: https://securityanddefenceplus.plusalliance.org/events/the-athena-series-women-in-strategy-conference-canberra/

The School of Security Studies (Departments of Defence Studies/MoD Academy and War Studies and the King’s Institute for Security Studies), based at the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, have been at the forefront of Security and Defence PluS initiatives, in education and short courses online, as well as research and policy work.