DAIC Connect Dinner & Defence AI Awards 2026
Monday 16 March 2026│City of London
In partnership with
Warfighter Impact Award
This award recognises AI solutions that made a genuine difference for people delivering operationally in the past year. The award is for work that has been used in live operations, major exercises or deployments, or mission‑rehearsal settings, and that can clearly show improved outcomes for the user. The focus is on real‑world impact: helping someone make a faster decision, spot something they would otherwise have missed, or operate more safely and effectively.
Suggested areas to evidence:
The operational context and the problem being addressed
Before‑and‑after impact, such as time saved, improved detection or a stronger decision advantageEndorsements or feedback from front‑line users
Any safety measures, assurance steps or ethical guardrails applied during trials or use
Qualitative or quantitative evidence acceptable
Experimentation‑to‑Adoption Award
This award celebrates teams who didn’t stop at a good idea but carried it all the way through to something Defence could use or fund. It highlights the journey from early experimentation to a pilot, and then into capability. Rather than requiring a solution to have been fully adopted, the emphasis is on practical progress in the past year, collaboration and overcoming the barriers that often slow Defence adoption.
Suggested areas to evidence:
Engagement and backing from users, sponsors and other stakeholders
Successful integration with existing systems
A credible sustainment or follow‑on plan showing how the capability will be supported
Partnership of the Year Award (Government–Industry–Academia)
This award recognises the partnership that in the last year best demonstrates genuine collaboration, co-creation and shared values. It is for teams who came together across organisational boundaries, whether UK Government, industry, academia or Allies, to solve a Defence problem collaboratively, making the most of organisational strengths. The focus is on teamwork, openness and a shared commitment to Defence outcomes.
Suggested areas to evidence:
The roles each partner played and how responsibilities were shared
Approaches to contracting, IP or commercial structures that enabled open collaborationUse of shared testbeds, ranges, data or tools
Specific outcomes that were only possible through joint effort
Rising Star in Defence AI Award
This award shines a light on emerging talent, whether civilian, military or reservist, who has already made a meaningful difference to Defence AI. It recognises people who in the last year have delivered at pace, supported others, acted as role models and contributed beyond what would normally be expected at their grade or rank.
Suggested areas to evidence:
Tangible contributions to delivery, community building or capability developmentEndorsements or feedback from peers, leaders or stakeholders
Examples of initiative, leadership or influence beyond formal responsibilities
A clear pattern of growing impact, forward momentum and potential for future leadership
Brandie is a catalyst, mentor, guest lecturer, trustee, non-executive director, advisory board member, and CEO - all while being a twin mom!In early 2021, Brandie joined the NHS as Chief Executive Officer in Primary Care, demonstrating that leadership skills are transferrable across sectors. Prior to this, she was the Managing Director at Marco Pierre White Restaurants, drawing on over 20 years of experience in consumer service delivery across hospitality, retail, and aviation. Brandie previously held senior leadership roles at British Airways, Tesco, Whitbread, Travelodge, and Hilton Hotels, where she started as a graduate trainee and worked her way up.Brandie is a true trailblazer - the first female MD at MPW Restaurants and currently the only Black female NHS primary care super-partnership CEO. As of 2020, she was the first Black female MD within branded restaurant groups in the UK. Brandie has been recognised as one of the top 15 BAME high flyers in the travel and tourism industry, and was a finalist at the Black British Business Awards for Senior Leader in the Consumer and Luxury sector. Voted as one of the top 50 listening leaders, and a finalist at the National Diversity Awards for positive role model and gender diversity, Brandie demonstrates her commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion everyday.Most recently, Brandie authored a book titled "The Sector Agnostic Leadership Playbook: Pivoting In Heels".
I blame Lego. Not for everything. They probably had nothing to do with my inability to play tennis. And they would undoubtedly mount a robust defence against any involvement in the madness that combines chocolate and orange. Either that or they're more devious than they let on... They are, however, firmly to blame for my passion for product design, construction and, inevitably, deconstruction. This passion has led to 30+ years of creating award-winning software solutions, delivering innovative world-firsts, and executing complex organisational transformations. It has also led to a first-principles, design-led approach to problem solving that has been successfully applied to both in-house and commercial applications, and across multiple sectors / functions including Consumer Electronics, Mobile Telephony, Finance, Global Banking & Markets, Risk, Anti-Financial Crime and Collateral Management.