RUSI, London, 18:00-20:30 21 November 2024
*Numbers are limited so book your place now at our Eventbrite page now! *
The oceans are of critical importance to global trade, power relations, communications, energy security, and environmental sustainability. Yet the maritime order faces a myriad of threats and challenges, whether it be from pirates, Houthi rebels, cyber criminals, attacks on undersea data cables or conflicts between states.
The question of how to achieve maritime security is addressed by Professors Christian Bueger (University of Copenhagen) and Tim Edmunds (University of Bristol) in their new book, “Understanding Maritime Security,” published by Oxford University Press in 2024.
This event presents key findings from the book, in dialogue with a panel of experts from academia, government, and industry. Together, we consider the future of the maritime security agenda, and what it means for the UK and its partners, asking:
- What is the strategic and economic context for maritime security?
- What maritime security threats should we be preparing for, now and in the future?
- What responses and solutions should we prioritise?
- How can states work together with allies and industry to achieve maritime security?
Our discussion will be followed by a drinks reception.
Programme
17:30: Doors open
18:00-18:05: Welcome, Professor Tim Edmunds, University of Bristol
18:05-18:20: Understanding Maritime Security, Professor Christian Bueger, University of Copenhagen
18:20-19:05: Roundtable discussion on New Frontiers in Maritime Security
- Chair: Emma De Angelis, Director Special Projects, Royal United Services Institute
- Tim Edmunds, University of Bristol
- Matthew Parker, Head of Maritime Security Strategy, UK Department for Transport.
- Chris Chant, Deputy Director, UK Ministry of Defence.
- Michelle Wiesse Bockmann, Principal Analyst Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
19:05-19:30 Audience Q&A
19:30-20:30 Drinks reception
Registration information and joining instructions
Location: The event will take place at 18:00-20:30 on 21 November 2024, in the Library at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), 61 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET.
Registration: Numbers are limited so ensure your place via our Eventbrite page here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-frontiers-in-maritime-security-tickets-1015371542617?aff=oddtdtcreator
Speaker Biographies
Michelle Wiesse Bockmann, Principal Analyst Lloyd’s List Intelligence
Michelle Wiese Bockmann is a London-based energy commodities and shipping editor and analyst employed as Principal Analyst, Lloyd’s List Intelligence. She has more than 25 years’ experience across three continents covering the global maritime and oil and gas sectors. She provides editorial analysis of the energy commodities and shipping markets for Lloyd’s List and Lloyd’s List Intelligence, with a special focus on how the intersection of regulations, sanctions and geopolitics has reshaped global trade. As well as writing for specialist maritime news providers, she has led shipping coverage at Bloomberg News, worked as an analyst and editor for oil price reporting agency OPIS, and provided maritime intelligence as senior analyst for New York-based data analytics firm, ClipperData (now part of Kpler). Before moving to England from Australia, Michelle was a political writer for The Australian, the country’s national newspaper and the Americas Editor for global shipping magazine, Fairplay. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of South Australia.
Christian Bueger, Professor of International Relations, University of Copenhagen
Christian Bueger is professor of International Relations at the University of Copenhagen. He is widely known for his research on maritime security, including responses to blue crime, naval operations, maritime domain awareness and maritime security strategy. He holds a PhD from the European University Institute and has held visiting professorships and fellowships including at the Graduate Institute Geneva, University of Malta, National University of Singapore, the University of Stellenbosch and the University College London. He is the author of Understanding Maritime Security (with Tim Edmunds), published by Oxford University Press, 2024, and has explored issues of maritime security and international relations in over 200 publications.
Chris Chant, Deputy Director, Resilience, Ministry of Defence
Chris Chant first joined government in 2006 where he worked primarily in intelligence and national security roles. He has held positions across Whitehall in policy development, intelligence assessment, and operational delivery. From 2010-11 Chris served in the Private Office of the Security Minister, acting as an advisor to three successive ministers and contributing to the development of national security and resilience policy within the Home Office and the Cabinet Office. In 2020 Chris was appointed as Director of the Joint Maritime Security Centre in Portsmouth, the UK’s operational coordination and information sharing organisation for maritime security. During his tenure he oversaw a period of significantly enhanced joint working and coherence between the many UK agencies involved in maritime security. Concurrently Chris also served as the United Kingdom’s National Coordinator for Maritime Security Response. In 2022 Chris joined the Department of Transport as Head of the Transport Security Operations Centre. In 2024 he moved to the Ministry of Defence and is currently a resilience advisor to the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Support Operations).
Tim Edmunds, Professor of International Security, University of Bristol
Timothy Edmunds is Professor of International Security and director of the Global Insecurities Centre at the University of Bristol. He is also a director of the SafeSeas network on maritime security and author of Understanding Maritime Security (Oxford University Press, 2024, with Christian Bueger). Between 2015-19, he was founding Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of International Security for Cambridge University Press and the British International Studies Association (BISA). His work addresses issues of security policy, capacity building and security sector reform, with a focus on the maritime domain. He is author or editor of over 90 publications on these themes, including 12 books. He has advised government departments including the UK Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for Transport, most recently on the 2022 UK National Strategy for Maritime Security. He has also provided written and oral evidence to the UK parliament. His maritime security research has been funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council, British Academy and EU Horizon 2020 programme.
Emma De Angelis, Director, Special Projects, Royal United Services Institute
Emma De Angelis completed a doctorate on the European Parliament’s identity discourse and EU enlargement at the London School of Economics (LSE). During her PhD, she taught courses on contemporary European history and foreign policy analysis. Between 2007-09, Emma worked as a programme assistant at LSE IDEAS. Between September 2010 and October 2011 she was managing editor of the journal Cold War History. In 2009-10, Emma was a Scouloudi fellow at the Institute of Historical Research, London. She has a BSc in International Relations and History and an MA in History of International Relations, both from LSE. Emma also has an MA in Arts and Cultural Enterprise from the University of the Arts London.
Matthew Parker, Head of Maritime Security Strategy, Threat and Risk, Department for Transport
Matthew is an experienced security professional and risk manager. Matthew has held a number of policy and operational security roles across the UK government, this has included working in the Middle East covering for the Department for Transport, supporting aviation security implementation for flights inbound to the UK. Working with partner states to collaboratively develop operational responses to emerging physical and cyber threats. In 2022 he led the development of the UK’s National Strategy for Maritime Security, setting a comprehensive strategic approach to the developing the UK’s maritime security principles for the next 5 years. Matthew’s current areas of activity include policy development for; maritime cyber security, HMG’s approach to emerging threats to the maritime domain and international engagement.
Cdre Toby Waite, Head of Naval Staff UK Ministry of Defence
Cdre Toby Waite is a surface warfare officer specialising in underwater warfare. He spent time in command of HMS Sabre then went on to be the Executive Officer in HMS Westminster. Prior to joining the Naval Staff he was Captain Navy Plans for the Finance and Military Capability area of the MOD.