Cityforum and AFCEA (the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association)


This topical round table focuses on what an extended period of war means for defence acquisition.  The approach that was developed in the Cold War has not delivered what is required and much has had to be done through urgent operational requirements to provide what is needed and to do so fast.  UORs have been very effective, but they raise the fundamental question of why the conventional approach made them necessary in the first place and what should now be done to change the whole of defence procurement.  Adding to the problems is the stringent financial situation that governments now face, whether they are the superpower United States or less wealthy, but active players, such as the United Kingdom.  Defence inflation makes the situation worse.

The agenda for 7 September pays particular attention to the hindrances to faster and better acquisition with discussion grouped around the integration, assurance, political and financial issues that have bedevilled acquisition.  UK, US and NATO experience is covered in the agenda and the Round Table will also feature Australia, with its growing acquisition budget, and new ideas on delivery.

For the countries engaged in the fight, the need to service troops on operations is an absolute priority and war fighter needs to form a substantial part of the agenda for Acquisition in Time of War.  The Rt Hon John Hutton MP, the recent UK Defence Secretary, keynotes and Lieutenant General Dick Applegate opens the discussion on the challenges.  AFCEA (the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) co-sponsors this one day Round Table and contributes to the international dimension of the discussion.

Format
Cityforum events are structured to both provide an occasion for comparing and pooling relevant experience and create a thoughtful and conducive environment in which to advance issues surrounding the formulation and implementation of policy.  The intention is to develop a searching agenda, always with more emphasis on discussion than presentation. 

This forum is run on the basis of short speeches followed by extended round table discussions.  Contributors are invited to participate in whole sessions, each panel member making a short speech and taking part in a carefully moderated extended round table discussion at the end of the session. 

The proceedings are held strictly under the Chatham House Rule.

Participants

In all its programmes Cityforum’s aim is to bring together a range of interested parties for a well planned and carefully moderated discussion of issues of importance.  Participants include relevant decision makers and those responsible for implementation from the public sector, expert representatives from industry, financial institutions, academia and politics. 

Objectives

Cityforum is committed to advancing understanding between public and private sectors and to giving government departments/official bodies fair wind in helping make possible the evaluations the commercial sector requires.  The Cityforum stance is neutral.

FEES

Standard Fee - £660 + VAT = £759
Members of AFCEA discounted Fee - £561 + VAT = £645.15
Military / Public Sector Fee - £320 + VAT = £368
Members of AFCEA Military / Public Sector discounted fee - £272 + VAT = £312.80

A limited number of concessions are available for small SMEs on a case by case basis.  Please contact Katherine Law for details: email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   tel: 01373 831900