Navigating a World Where Rules No Longer Apply 2025

The LMA is pleased to invite you to our exclusive event, Navigating a World Where Rules No Longer Apply, featuring conversations with General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen and Alex Creswell OBE.

This session will explore evolving global risks and cutting-edge technological developments, offering insights into the geopolitical landscape and how emerging tools, such as AI, quantum computing and fusion, are shaping new frontiers for risk assessment and underwriting practices.

Programme:

16.30: Welcome | Elizabeth Wooliston, LMA

16.35: Scene-setting: geopolitical events and conflict | General Sir Patrick Sanders

16.50: Emerging technologies: fusion, AI, quantum computing and beyond | Alex Creswell OBE

17.05: Q&A with speakers

18.00: Networking drinks and canapés

Speakers:

• General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen: General Sir Patrick Sanders is a highly respected military strategic thinker and leader, recognised internationally for leading the debate in Europe and, often controversially in the UK, on the need to better prepare ourselves for deteriorating global threats. He has 40 years of experience as a military leader and five years as one of the UK defence chiefs, first creating the new UK Strategic Command and then as the UK’s Army Chief.

  He is one of the most decorated and operationally experienced of his generation earning a DSO for leading his battalion under almost constant fire in Basra and a CBE for commanding the UK Brigade in Afghanistan. He brings strategic insight and operational experience from multiple tours of command on most UK operations since the end of the cold war, including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, UK resilience and global counter-terrorism, and international humanitarian operations in Africa. He has been responsible for the direction of military operations in the Ministry of Defence, frequently sitting on COBR, the National Security Council, briefing the PM and Cabinet and accompanying the Prime Minister to war zones.

  His role creating UK Strategic Command lent him valuable experience in the challenges of scaling start-ups and the techniques and dynamism needed to disrupt powerful market incumbents. Bringing together the UK’s Special Forces, Defence Intelligence, Space capabilities, Defence’s digital arm, national defence and offensive cyber capabilities and forming the Defence AI centre and Defence’s leading innovation hub also gave him exceptional insight into the exponential power of combinations and of applying disruptive technology to live operational problems. He created and led the UK’s National Cyber Force alongside Director GCHQ.

  As Army Chief he led the response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, training, equipping and advising Ukraine’s Armed Forces, mobilised the British Army, tripling productivity and readiness, led a wholesale programme of cultural transformation and launched the most ambitious and radical programme of modernisation and regeneration for 40 years. Known as ‘the soldiers general’ he was held in great affection by the rank and file for his honesty, authenticity and moral courage, and has spoken powerfully on mental health.

  Proficient in four languages, he is a charismatic and engaging speaker, known for simplicity and clarity. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Exeter University and is an Honorary Professor at Exeter’s Security and Strategy.

• Alex Creswell OBE: Alex left UK government service at the end of 2020 having served in a number of national security roles often including a technology angle. He led a division of GCHQ and was the Director of the 70-strong team of analysts (JIO) which provides the Prime Minister’s daily intelligence briefing and writes strategic assessment papers for the National Security Council. In addition to advising Beazley, Alex is co-Chair of the Turing Innovation Catalyst, an AI accelerator in Manchester which secured funding in the Spring 2023 Budget.
  We look forward to your participation in what promises to be a timely and thought-provoking discussion.

Due to restricted numbers, if you register and subsequently are unable to attend, please email jackie.clark@lmalloyds.com.

Audience

This event is open to Chief Underwriting Officers and Active Underwriters in the Lloyd’s market.