Nominations Open: techUK’s Defence Board
Nominations are now open for 25 seats on techUK’s Defence Board!
About techUK’s Defence Board
techUK's Defence Board provides an opportunity for industry leaders working in digital, data and technology across the Defence enterprise to address strategic-level concerns that impact the UK’s Defence technology sector. The Defence Board represents the breadth of techUK’s Defence membership, including scale-ups and SMEs.
The Board works in collaboration with the techUK Defence Programme to:
- Oversee and provide guidance to the Defence Programme’s Forums:
- Defence Commercial Business Forum
- Defence Research & Technology Forum
- Information Superiority Forum
- Defence SME Forum
- Provide strategic advice and support across the breadth of techUK’s Defence Programme activities;
- Represent the interests of techUK’s wider Defence membership;
- Support engagement and relationships with key stakeholders across the Defence sector
Board membership is held on an a company basis and will be valid for two years from January 2025 - December 2026. All elected Board members are required to comply with techUK’s Code of Practice, techUK’s Values and the techUK Defence Board’s Terms of Reference.
Click here to download the Terms of Reference for techUK's Defence Board
About techUK's Defence Forums
Information Superiority Forum
The Information Superiority Forum (ISF) examines C4ISR and information superiority across the Ministry of Defence. It leads engagement with the MOD's FLCs and the department's Defence Digital organisation and provides techUK members insight into the future strategies of key stakeholders in the MOD's information community.
Click here to download the Terms of Reference for techUK's Information Superiority Forum.
Defence SME Forum
The DSMEF brings together SME companies from techUK’s membership working in defence and security, providing exclusive opportunities for networking and engagement with the Ministry of Defence.
Click here to download the Terms of Reference for techUK Defence Security SME Forum
Defence Commercial Business Forum
The Defence Commercial Business Forum (DCBF) provides a conduit for the Commercial professional community within the techUK membership to engage with their Commercial counterparts and other stakeholders within the Ministry of Defence and in particular Defence Digital.
Click here to download the Terms of Reference for techUK's Defence Commercial Business Forum.
Defence Research and Technology Forum
The Defence Research & Technology Forum (DRTF) represents the interests of techUK members to Defence stakeholders involved in funding and conducting research and technology across the UK Defence markets. The DRTF assists the MOD in formulating effective R&T policy and brings greater government awareness to the capabilities within the UK's technology industry.
Click here to download the Terms of Reference for techUK's Defence Research Technology Forum
techUK is committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion across our leadership bodies, and we encourage member companies successfully elected to the Defence Board to put forward diverse representatives that will bring a range of views and experiences to the Board.
Nomination information
Who can be nominated?
Any techUK member or affiliate member company can stand for nomination. 5 Board seats are exclusively reserved for small-medium enterprises (SMEs).
What information is required for nominations?
Companies nominating themselves are required to submit written answers to the following questions:
- Medium to large companies only: Why is your company a strategically important organisation in the UK Defence sector? (max. 250 words)
- SME and Scale-Up companies only: What experience and expertise can your organisation demonstrate in the UK Defence sector? (max. 250 words)
- All nominated member companies: As a member of the Board, how would your company help to ensure the voice of techUK’s wider Defence company membership is seen as relevant, credible and influence by key UK Defence stakeholders? (max. 250 words).
Individuals nominating themselves for the Forum Chairs/Vice-Chairs are required to submit written answers to the following questions:
- Please write a short biography/profile (max 150 words).
- Please provide a short paragraph on what you will bring to the Forum and the wider Defence Programme (max 200 words).
N.B. All nominations submitted will be uploaded to the nominations page which will be publicly viewable and used as the key information to inform voting.
What happens next?
Please find below a reminder of the key elections dates:
- 11 November 2024: Nominations open.
- 29 November 2024: Nominations close COP.
- 04 December 2024: Voting opens.
- 03 January 2025: Voting closes COP.
- (Week Commencing) 13 January 2025: Results of elected Board elections announced.
Once the Board is formed, internal elections for the Chair and Vice-Chair positions will take place [only elected Board members will be eligible to vote].
What is the voting process?
- Voting eligibility: One voting representative from one techUK member company is permitted to cast up to 25 votes on behalf of their company.
- As 5 seats are ring-fenced for SMEs, when voting the voter must pick up to 5 SME choices and up to 20 large organisation choices.
- If multiple individuals from the same company submit votes, only those of the most senior employee will be counted.
- Votes cast by non-techUK members are invalid and will not be counted.
- The voting representative may vote for themselves or the nominee from their own techUK member company.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss what it means to be a member of the Defence Board, please do contact one of the techUK Defence team below.
Defence Programme activities
The Defence programme works to help the UK’s defence technology sector align itself with the MOD. techUK members are able to navigate and better understand the UK Defence sector to successfully align their own investment and resources to take advantage of business opportunities. Visit the programme page here.
Upcoming events
Latest news and insights
Learn more and get involved
Defence updates
Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities from our Defence programme.
Meet the team
Fred Sugden
Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK
Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.
Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.
Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07985 234 170
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Raya Tsolova
Programme Manager, techUK
Raya Tsolova is a Programme Manager at techUK.
Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week.
Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there.
Outside of work, Raya's interests include baking, spin classes and true-crime Netflix shows!
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07712630603
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Jeremy Wimble
Programme Manager, Defence, techUK
Jeremy manages techUK's defence programme, helping the UK's defence technology sector align itself with the Ministry of Defence - including Defence Digital, DE&S, innovation units and Frontline Commands - through a broad range of activities including private briefings and early market engagement events. It also supports the MOD as it procures new digital technologies.
Prior to joining techUK, from 2016-2024 Jeremy was International Security Programme Manager at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) coordinating research and impact activities for funders including the FCDO and US Department of Defense, as well as business development and strategy.
Jeremy has a MA in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Social Policy from Swansea University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
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Tracy Modha
Team Assistant - Markets, techUK
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
