The tenth Senior Strategic Leadership Programme (SSLP) has successfully concluded at the Defence Academy.
Hosted and delivered by International Group in the historic Beckett House, SSLP is offered to senior politicians, civil servants and military officers from countries selected by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The event is the MOD’s most senior defence engagement course, providing the UK government with levels of access to countries that might not otherwise be possible. It is designed to put the MOD at the centre of a strong and diverse network of allies and friends. Attendees were all strategic leaders and national opinion formers in their own countries.
Across the five-day programme, 24 delegates from 20 countries were represented. They were:
- Azerbaijan
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Greece
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Nigeria
- Maldives
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Portugal
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Ukraine
Some of the UK’s leading subject matter experts and academics led sessions covering:
- leadership paradigms
- the strategic context
- thinking skills
- ethics
- international law
- decision-making
- strategy development
Air Chief Marshal The Lord Peach delivered a key-note speech to attendees, who also spent a day in London where they were able to enjoy an informative tour of the Houses of Parliament, a briefing on the political-military interface at No.10, and a series of topical briefs at MOD Main Building in Whitehall.
In addition to the academic and military emphasis of the course, two social functions and a cultural event were also laid on for the delegates. An evening reception was hosted by Head of International Group, Captain Des Donworth RN, as well as a formal dinner hosted by the Chief Executive and Commandant of the Defence Academy, Major General Peter Rowell MBE, where Major General (Retd) Gary Deakin CBE gave the after-dinner speech.
Delegates also visited Oxford for a guided tour of the university.
SSLP is delivered annually by International Group in conjunction with Cranfield University, to provide a framework to enhance strategic leadership performance and understand the challenges of leadership at this level. Offering unique exposure to key speakers, the course examines leadership models and ethics, managing major changes and decision making at higher ministerial and strategic level.