Eurodefense – United Kingdom Council
President – Robert Walter
Bob Walter has had a distinguished career as a stockbroker, international banker, and politician, serving as a Member of Parliament for North Dorset from 1997 to 2015. During his parliamentary career, he held key roles including President of the Assembly of the Western European Union (European Security and Defence Assembly), and Vice President of both the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. He was also President of the Berlin Security Conference and currently leads the European Security and Defence Association and Eurodefense – UK.
Vice President – Nicholas Watts
Nick Watts is a defence and security consultant, advisor and freelance journalist with over twenty years of experience in aerospace and defence. He specialises in defence acquisition, European defence and security policy (EU-NATO), cybersecurity, hybrid warfare and counterterrorism. He is Deputy Director, UK Defence Forum with a focus on fostering cooperation between European politicians and defence sectors. He chairs the Eurodefense Working Group on Unconventional Warfare.
Secretary General – Robin Ashby
A qualified engineer, Robin built his business to become one of the leading advisers to multinational defence companies in the UK market. He founded the U K Defence Forum in 1996 as a non-partisan, not for profit organisation which encourages understanding of defence issues by UK parliamentarians. He supported the establishment of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces and that for Defence; curates a leading defence blog www.defenceviewpoints.co.uk ; and edits Distant Voices, which encourages people around the world to recall the experiences of their forebears in the conflicts of the 20th century.
Alan Sharman
Major General Alan G Sharman CBE CEng FIMechE has extensive strategic expertise in UK Ministry of Defence acquisition processes, having held senior roles in operational units, research and development, policy, and equipment procurement including the Challenger 2 tank program. Following his military career, he served as Director General of the Defence Manufacturers Association for a decade, representing industry interests and promoting defence exports with a deep understanding of export controls and market dynamics. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, was Chairman of its Automobile Division and
has been a member of the CBI Council and the Defence Industries Council. He was appointed a CBE in 2002 for services to the Defence Industry.
John Howe
John Howe CBE is a former President of Eurodefense UK. With a distinguished career in the UK Ministry of Defence culminating as Deputy Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency, he later served as Vice Chairman of Thales UK and remains on its Advisory Board. He has held numerous key roles including founding Head of the Defence Arms Control Unit and Private Secretary to the Defence Secretary. Additionally, John chaired the ADS-hosted Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers Community group, contributing to the 2012 ‘National Security Through Technology’ White Paper that explored self-regulation in the security sector.
Mary Ann Griffiths
Mary Ann Griffiths brings over 30 years of experience in aerospace and defence, specializing in PR, media liaison, government affairs, and marketing communications. She has collaborated with notable figures like Richard Branson and managed high-profile events such as the Farnborough International Airshow, handling press relations for figures including former Prime Minister Tony Blair. With expertise in marketing campaigns, product launches, and crisis communications, she has supported companies at major international defence exhibitions and leads
her own UK-based PR consultancy working with international clients and agencies.
Ian Taylor
Ian Taylor MBE is an experienced advisor and former UK MP who served as Minister of Science, Space & Technology from 1994 to 1997. He has held key roles in the past including chairing the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee and the Space Committee, advising the European Space Agency, and supporting satellite operator Inmarsat. He led the UK Innovation & Science Seedfund advisory board and the National Space Academy steering group and currently advises PlanIT Ventures which invests in technology innovations to create interconnected, intelligent, enhanced urban environments. He is President of the League of Remembrance charity.
John Gardner
An Oxford graduate, John entered backroom UK politics in the late 1980s, culminating in a role as Special Adviser at MOD before the 1992 Election.
He then switched to multi-client political consultancy, largely focused on US defence clients, including Lockheed Martin, as part of the advisory team that helped win them the C-130J Hercules contract in 1994.
After 8 years at the Chemical Industries Association, he became, in October 2006, the in-house government relations lead at engineering giant Babcock International Group PLC. Turnover quintupled during tenure, which also saw John lead the campaign for the Type 31 frigate order,
epitomising his particular interest in maritime industrial issues.
Since spring 2021, he has freelanced, mainly advising defence-related clients, for example 18 months as retained senior policy adviser to trade body Make UK Defence; working with the comms agency 5654, principally on defence issues for Microsoft; and political advice to Cohort
PLC on a successful £100m+ MOD naval bid.
Alex Walmsley
Dr Alex Walmsley is the Director of Ashbourne Strategic Consulting Ltd, UK Managing Director of GEL Laboratories, and a Senior Adviser to several defence and public affairs organizations. She has a background as a defence analyst and consultant, has served on the Defence Advisory Group for the UK Department of International Trade, holds fellowships with RUSI and the Royal Aeronautical Society and is National Vice Chair of SSAFA the armed forces charity. Additionally, Alex has authored numerous publications on defence and Lithuanian history and has lectured on history and politics at St Andrews University.
PATRONS
Rt Hon Lord Anderson of Swansea
Andrew Douglas Bate MBE
Sir Nick Harvey
Doug Henderson
Lt General David Leakey CMG, CBE
Sir Graham Watson