Join us as we explore what evolving conflict dynamics might reveal about the future operating environments, what’s changing and what’s not, what’s surprising us (even though it perhaps should not), and if it changes our thinking about the future.

We’ll be examining (if and) how recent conflicts challenge core assumptions about the operating environment, questioning established beliefs about escalation, control, and the behaviour of states and proxies. Building on this, we’ll explore how capabilities are being combined and applied in practice. Rather than focusing on individual systems, we will consider how different elements of power are increasingly integrated across domains, including the growing influence of AI-enabled processes on decision-making, tempo, and operational interaction. Finally, we will consider how advances in AI and automation are reshaping military–industrial relations. Using recent conflict dynamics as a reference point, the discussion will explore to what extent and how supply chains, commercial actors, and technology providers are becoming more central to both the development and delivery of capability.

This webinar will be taking place under the Chatham House Rule. After a series of short provocations from the panel, we will open the floor for questions and discussion.

Hear from:

Air Vice-Marshal Mark Ridgway DBA RAF
Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff, Futures & Force Design

Air Vice-Marshal Mark Ridgway grew up in North London and joined the Royal Air Force in 1999, commissioning as an Intelligence Officer. His staff tours to date have included in the Permanent Joint Headquarters, in the Air Warfare Centre, in 11 Group at Air Command, in the United States Central Command and in various professional roles across the RAF, Joint, Defence and international organisations. He has also had the privilege of commanding in single Service, Joint, pan- Defence, and multi-national entities. Mark has further deployed multiple times to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the wider Middle East. Following a tour as Commander of the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence, he became Director Defence Futures on promotion to Air Vice-Marshal in October 2024. Mark is a graduate of the UK Advanced and Higher Command and Staff Courses and an alumnus of the Windsor Leadership Trust. Academically, Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Politics from the University of Nottingham and three Master’s degrees in: Terrorism Studies from the University of St Andrews; Defence Studies from Kings College, London; and Leadership and Management from the University of Portsmouth. The latter was conducted under a Chief of the Air Staff's Fellowship and focused on leadership of military and civil servant analysts. He subsequently completed a Doctorate in Business Administration under a further CAS Fellowship, studying empowerment and mission command in the Information Age military. Mark is a strong advocate of lifelong learning, diverse perspectives and empowered innovation. In his spare time he enjoys running, reading and piano playing.