Women in Leadership Forum 2019 Booklet

Oxford University Officers’ Training Corps

THE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP FORUM

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Oxford University Officers’ Training Corps would like to thank JP Morgan Chase and Co. for their support:

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Thank you for coming to the 2019 Oxford University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC) Women in Leadership Forum. At its heart, the Forum is about Leadership; the ability to motivate and persuade people to do ones will.

What makes this Forum special however is that we will discuss leadership within the context of women as leaders to both inspire and develop the Oxford UOTC Officer Cadets who represent a cohort of our future leaders both in the military and wider society. In doing so we will learn from both men and women who are and have been leaders in many fields, both in and out of the military, many of whom have faced significant challenges specifically relating to women in leadership. The Forum features inspiring speakers, a high calibre assembly of guests and opportunities for networking which I urge you to take full advantage of. It is only through discussing this subject and recognising the challenges, that we can begin to address the issues which affect and hinder women in leadership. I would particularly like to thank JP Morgan Chase, our partners in this venture, for all their support in making this Forum possible.

Lieutenant Colonel Ben Walters MBE, Commanding Officer, Oxford University Officers’ Training Corps.

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Programme: TIME

EVENT

HOST

1830-1900

DRINKS RECEPTION

Lieutenant Colonel Ben Walters MBE

1900-1930

WOMEN IN GROUND CLOSE COMBAT TALK

Officer Cadet Jessica Daniels

Major Suzanna Cox (p4) Warrant Officer Class 1 Gareth Bowen (p4) 1930-2115

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

2115-2145

Major General Sharon Nesmith (p5) Colonel Lucy Giles (p6) Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes (p7) Major Héloïse Goodley (p8) Michelle Osborne (p9) CURRY SUPPER

2145-2359

NETWORKING

2359

BAR CLOSES

Officer Cadet Hannah Richards and Junior Under Officer Toby Hudson

Personal hosts Personal hosts

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WOMEN IN GROUND CLOSE COMBAT TEAM

MAJOR SUZANNA COX Major Suzanna Cox was commissioned from RMAS in 1999. Her tours have included Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Romania. Her command appointments have been in training establishments as well as 3 staff appointments which is where her true passion lies. Major Cox has an MSC in Logistic Management with Distinction which she completed during her time as SO2 Logistic Support in Joint Helicopter Command. She enjoys all forms of physical training especially endurance based, handicraft and has a passion for cars and motorbikes.

WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 1 GARETH BOWEN Warrant Officer Class 1 Gareth Bowen joined the British Army in July 1999 aged 20. Serving a traditional Infantry career from Fusilier (rank of Private) up to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 as a Company Sergeant Major, WO1 Bowen was then promoted and posted in May 2018 to the role of WO1 WGCC at British Army Headquarters. The primary responsibility of this role is to facilitate the implementation of the WGCC program and to then assure the projects successful continuance. As the WGCC program is Tri Service (Navy, Army and Air force), WO1 Bowen also attends Tri service meetings and working groups to understand any lessons learnt and that best practice has been captured. WO1 Bowen is married to Lisa who is a Sgt in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, they have a son Noah who is 4.

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MAJOR GENERAL SHARON PM NESMITH

Major General Sharon Nesmith was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals in 1992. She spent much of her early years at Regimental Duty in Germany, serving in the Electronic Warfare Regiment and 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment, during which time she completed 3 tours in the Balkans. Major General Nesmith commanded 1st Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (215), over the period of the Brigade conversion to Bowman and deployment on Op TELIC 10. She later commanded 22nd Signal Regiment as the Regiment re-roled to provide command support to Headquarters ARRC, and led on the introduction of FALCON into Service. She also commanded MOD Stafford.

Following the Advanced Command and Staff Course (2001/03), Major General Nesmith’s black bag appointment was within the Directorate of Capability, Resources and Scrutiny in the Ministry of Defence, where she provided affordability advice to senior officers and Ministers at key investment decisions for equipment programmes. She subsequently served as SO1 Capability in Army Resources and Plans. On promotion to Colonel she served as the Assistant Director Capability Plans, leading on the delegation of capability development to the Army Headquarters in support of Director General Capability, and attended the Higher Command and Staff Course (2014).

Major General Nesmith commanded the 1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade from August 2014 to July 2016, supporting Headquarters ARRC and the UK JTFHQs. She assumed the appointment of Head of Manning (Army) in July 2016.

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COLONEL LUCY M GILES BSc MA PGCE Hon LLD RLC

Colonel Lucy Giles was commissioned in 1992 after studying at Exeter University. Early regimental duty in the newly formed Royal Logistic Corps included postings within Germany, UK and South Africa and deployments to Bosnia (1994, 1997, 1999), East Timor and Sierra Leone. After gaining her Masters and completing the Advanced Command and Staff Course from 2001-03, she posted to HQ Northern Ireland. She commanded 47 Air Despatch Squadron enabling operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world. She also led within a training regiment prior to her appointment as an instructor at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in 2011. Here she focussed on command, leadership and management, represented the College in military ethics and leadership development and gained her PGCE in 2013. Appointed Commander of New College, RMAS in January 2015, she was humbled to receive an entry into the Debretts’ People of the Day in 2016 and was the winner of the ‘Inspirational’ and ‘Woman of the Year’ awards at the inaugural Women in Defence event in October 2016. She is an ambassador for First Women UK, is part of the Girls School Association teachers’ mentoring programme and was delighted to receive an honorary doctorate from Exeter University for services to the military in July 2017. Promoted in 2018, she is now President of the Army Officer Selection Board in Westbury.

Lucy is married to Nick. They have two children; Jess (2004) and Alex (2008).

She enjoys drama, singing and support to Girl Guiding. She also coaches, competes and runs orienteering to UK Armed Forces level.

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL J E R RHODES RLC

Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes commissioned into the Royal Logistic Corps in April 1998. Serving as a Subaltern in 2 Close Support Regiment RLC deploying to Bosnia and Kosovo. Thereafter, 1 General Support Regiment RLC; captaining the RLC Alpine Ski Team to victory winning the Princess Marina Cup for two consecutive years. A short tour at the School of Logistics, Deepcut teaching the RLC Troop Commanders’ Course was followed by a returned to 2 Close Support Regiment RLC as the Adjutant, deploying on Op TELIC 1. As a Major he served as SO2 Equipment (Distribution) in Headquarters DRLC. Commanded 66 Fuel Squadron, 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment including deployment on HERRICK 11 commanding the multinational HQ ISAF Force Protection and Transport Company. Returning to the Staff as SO2 Combat Service and Support (Commitments) within HQ Land Forces.

On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he attended Advanced Command and Staff Course 16 before deploying on Op HERRICK 18/19 as SO1 J4 within Joint Force Support (Afghanistan). Thereafter, he served as SO1 Logistic Capability Development with Capability Directorate Combat Service and Support, Army Headquarters. He Commanded of 29 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps from June 2015 – September 2017 before becoming SO1 Personnel Plans, Headquarters Field Army.

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MAJOR HÉLOÏSE GOODLEY

Héloïse Goodley commissioned into the Army in 2007 having worked for the previous five years in London as a management consultant. In her Army career she has deployed twice to Afghanistan, serving with the British Forces and the United States Marine Corps, and also deployed in support of the NATO mission in Libya. Most recently she has returned from working in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Héloïse is also a part-time PhD student at King’s College London, and author of the book ‘An Officer and a Gentlewoman’, which chronicles her experiences of joining the Army and undergoing training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Héloïse currently holds the rank of major and serves as the Chief of General Staff’s Visiting Fellow at Chatham House.

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MICHELLE OSBORNE

Michelle is currently the Head of Military Veteran’s Affairs for the EMEA region, she is responsible for setting the strategy and overseeing the delivery of all of the activity that seeks to provide opportunities for veteran’s and the wider defence community within JPMorgan Chase.

Michelle joined JPMorgan Chase in March 2018 direct from a 23 year career in the Royal Air Force where she reached the rank of Group Captain. During her military career Michelle completed 13 tours in 8 different countries including time serving alongside the US Intelligence branches at Central Command in Florida. She studied for a Masters of Defence with King’s College London and following a command tour, served the last 5 years of her career in the UK Ministry of Defence undertaking various roles in International Policy and Defence Strategic Planning.

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Oxford University Officers’ Training Corps Oxford University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC) is an Army Reserve unit that recruits primarily from Oxford University, Oxford Brookes, University of Reading, Royal Agricultural University and University of Gloucestershire. Its aim is to train the future generation of Officers for both the Regulars and Reserves, however there is no commitment to join after university.

University students who join Oxford UOTC will undertake Reserve Officer training modules. This will teach students everything from how to wear a uniform correctly to the ability to lead others in stressful situations.

Oxford UOTC also develops leadership through Sport and Adventurous Training. Oxford UOTC has teams for most major sports and in Adventurous Training.

Oxford UOTC OCdts with Maj Heather Stanning OBE 10

Guests: Maj Gen Susan K Ridge CB Maj Gen Sharon PM Nesmith Col Lucy M Giles Lt Col James Rhodes Lt Col Deborah Taylor Lt Col Fiona Gordon Lt Col Alastair Field MBE Maj Héloïse Goodley Maj Suzanna Cox Maj Victoria Deakin Maj Nicola Roberts 2Lt Taha Nazir WO1 David Bagnall WO1 Rachel Robb WO1 Sarah L Cox

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WO1 Gareth Bowen WO2 Kelly Caswell-Treen WO2 Ivan James Snow LCpl Kat Dixon Mrs Samantha Gordon Ms Paula Humphry Ms Michelle Osborne Mrs Felicity Dick DL Mrs Sarah Turner Miss Elena Hoffmann Mr Peter Morris Ms Tabassum Rasheed Mrs Penny Daniels SUO Phoebe Russell SUO Anastazja Masters

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