Security & Defence PLuS will host the
Emerging Voices Series: Strategy, Security & Defence at King's College London on Thursday 18 June, 2026.
This one-day conference will bring together established leaders and recognised experts with rising and underrepresented voices to explore the future of strategy, security, and defence.
The Emerging Voices Series, which launched at Arizona State University in March 2026, pairs senior expertise with new ideas and talent, creating space for intergenerational dialogue and forward-looking debate. The series connects scholars and practitioners from across academia, government, private sector and the forces, drawing on the strengths of King's College London, the PLuS Alliance, and the wider policy and security community.
The programme will explore a range of themes including leadership and innovation in contemporary security, the evolution of deterrence and escalation, alliances and the Indo-Pacific, and the strategic importance of the maritime and undersea domain.
Speakers include:
- Victoria Treadell, Former-British High Commissioner to Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand & Samoa
- Jason Rheinberg, Head of Security Policy Department, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
- Professor John Bew, Professor of History and Foreign Policy, King's College London and Former Foreign Policy Adviser to the UK Prime Minister
- Dr Camino Kavanagh, Visiting Senior Fellow, King's College London
- Professor Wyn Bowen, Head of the School of Security Studies and Professor of Non-Proliferation and International Security, King's College London
- Brigadier (Ret) Dr Ian Langford, Executive Director, Security & Defence PLuS
- Dr Nicola Leveringhaus, Reader in International Relations, King's College London
- Professor Alessio Patalano, Professor of War and Strategy in East Asia, King's College London
- William Freer, Research Fellow, Council on Geostrategy
- Dr Reyhaneh Noshiravani. Research Associate, Freeman Air and Space Institute, King's College London
- Jake Thrupp, Senior Communications Advisor, UK Parliament
- Zoha Naser, PhD candidate, Department of War Studies, King's College London
- Tara Zammit, Analyst, RAND Europe and PhD candidate, Department of War Studies, King's College London
- Hayley Smith, PhD Candidate, Defence Studies Department, King's College London
More speakers and full agenda to follow.
This event will mark the second instalment of the
Emerging Voices Series, with a third conferences planned later in the year at UNSW.
We encourage in-person attendance where possible, however, live-streamed participation will be available for those unable to attend in person.
