Do we need to think differently about defence? With Rachel Ellehuus and Duncan Farrow-Smith
The Green Room: Questions That Matter Most In Business
Release Date: 09/30/2025
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info_outlineFor many of us, defence is invisible.
As we go about our everyday lives, we rarely have cause to think about it. And that’s a good thing. It means that the defence sector is doing its job well and preventing threats from becoming incidents that make headlines or change lives.
But what that job entails, how it’s best done and the tools that are used to do it is changing.
As geopolitical tension and new technology transform the nature of the threats, and how we fight them, defence is becoming more important and more visible for all of us.
Defence spending has increased globally each year for the last decade. Within the UK the defence sector has been identified as key area for growth, with plans suggesting that it could boost the economy by providing more jobs, more innovation and more resilience - as well as increasing the need for greater collaboration between government, institution and industry too.
So as private sector looks to play a greater role in the evolution of defence – what could that role actually look like? What does it mean for businesses and the people who work in them? How will it affect defence operations and the society they protect? And what do we all need to understand about defence today to prepare for the future?
That’s what we’re exploring with Rachel Ellehuus, CEO of the Royal United Services Institute, and Duncan Farrow-Smith, Chief Strategy Officer and leader of the defence practice at Deloitte UK, as we ask: Do we need to think differently about defence?
Tune in to find out:
- The economic and strategic opportunities that come with a growing defence sector
- How different stages of technology and innovation are reshaping the future of defence
- The ways that public and private sector collaboration can deliver national impact
- Why zig-zag careers and talent attraction are pivotal for success
Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts
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Find out more about Scope here: scope.org.uk
Guests: Rachel Ellehuus, Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute, and Duncan Farrow-Smith, Chief Strategy Officer and leader of the defence practice at Deloitte UK
Hosts: Annie Wong and Lizzie Elston
Original music: Ali Barrett