Episode 11 of 'The Resilience Brief' podcast, a collaboration between the International Military Council on Strategic Risks (IMCCS), Frazer-Nash Consultancy, and NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (NATO CCASCOE).
As defence institutions adapt to the growing pressures of climate change, technological innovation is often presented as the answer. Yet this episode of The Resilience Brief makes clear that resilience is not only about new systems or platforms. It is also about the people able to identify problems, connect expertise, and ensure that technological solutions are actually relevant to operational demands.
In this episode, hosts Dr Sarah Ashbridge and Lt. Col. Ali Beard are joined by Erin Sikorsky (Council on Strategic Risk) and Victoria Doherty (QinetiQ) to discuss the role of personnel in climate-focused research and development (R&D). The conversation explores how defence can work more effectively different actors - with industry, what expertise military personnel uniquely bring to technological adaptation, and why innovation depends as much on organizational culture and collaboration as on hardware itself.
A central theme throughout the discussion is that resilience gaps often emerge not from a lack of technology, but from a lack of coordination. Climate experts, defence planners, procurement teams, industry professionals, and operational personnel often work across institutional silos, even though many of the challenges they face are deeply interconnected. Bridging these divides and sustaining those relationships over time, is presented as essential to strengthening defence resilience.
The episode also highlights the importance of experiments and practical learning. Rather than relying only on classroom-based education, the speakers emphasize the value of exposing personnel to tangible examples of how new technologies can improve operational effectiveness. In this sense, innovation is framed not as an abstract sustainability agenda, but as a way to solve concrete defence problems.
The central message is clear: climate resilience in defence requires more than strategy or technological innovation alone. It depends on empowering personnel, breaking down silos, and creating the institutional conditions for constructive risk-taking, collaboration, and informed decision-making among a diverse set of actors.
Main takeaways
Personnel are central to resilience innovation. Defence personnel brings operational insight that is essential to shaping useful and realistic technological solutions.
Collaboration matters as much as technology. Effective climate resilience depends on connecting military, scientific, industrial, and policy communities that too often work separately.
Experimentation drives adoption. Practical exposure should work in tandem with formal education to build confidence and buy-in.
This text is based on extracts from Episode 11 of the Resilience Brief podcast hosted by Dr Sarah Ashbridge (SA Consultancy, Yorkshire), and Lt. Col. Alistair Beard, featuring Erin Sikorsky (The Center for Climate and Security) and Victoria Doherty (QinetiQ). To listen to the full episode and/or read the transcript, follow the link here.
Photo credit: Simon Kadula on Unsplash