ChamberForce is delighted to invite you to join us for a conversation with Brigadier  (Ret) Paul Harkness MBE. Paul served in Germany during the Cold war, commanded the Royal Highland Fusiliers, took part in planning the 2003 invasion of Iraq, served as Chief of Operations to a 130000-strong multi-national force in Afghanistan and represented the Army on the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, and much more besides, during his 30-year army career. Since leaving the military in 2017 Paul has provided strategic planning and change management advice and support to armed forces, governments and businesses across the world.

We are proud to come together with our ChamberForce partners to give you this unique opportunity to hear the insights he has acquired leading high performing people and developing and executing complex strategies and operational plans in the most challenging of environments and circumstances. Companies from Dundee, Angus, Moray and Dunbartonshire will be joining you at this unique event, allowing you to widen your network of business contacts while learning from our speaker.

Programme

10.00am - Welcome - Michelle McKearnon, Head of Engagement, Highland Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association on behalf of ChamberForce 

10.05am - Welcome from our sponsors at Amazon

10.15am - Leadership & Planning - Brigadier (Ret) Paul Harkness MBE

10.35am - Q&A Session facilitated by Alan Mitchell, Chief Exec, Fife Chamber of Commerce

11.10am - Closing remarks

ChamberFORCE is a partnership formed by four chambers of commerce (Dunbartonshire, Dundee & Angus, Fife and Moray) and the Ministry of Defence (represented by Highland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association) – to strengthen the links between businesses and military bases and personnel in the four chamber areas.

Guest Speaker: Paul Harkness MTheol (Hons), MA

Paul Harkness is a specialist in strategic analysis, and risk and resilience management. He has worked on several key projects in the Middle East for both the UK Government and GCC countries. He is adept at planning and delivering strategic reviews, national risk registers and successful large scale change management programmes designed to deliver greater efficiencies.

Paul retired early from the British Army as a Brigadier to work as an advisor on national strategy, and risk and resilience management. As the Commander of the Army in Scotland he was responsible for the security operation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. As the Chief of Operations in Afghanistan he was responsible for the day-to-day delivery of all military and civilian operations across the entire country, with an annual budget of $110 billion. In 2016 Paul led an international team that identified and established a new commercial logistics hub and Special Economic Zone at Duqm in the Oman.

As a consultant, Paul has worked with large companies and international charities to diversify their operations and improve their efficiencies. He established the National Risk Unit and the National Disaster Management Centre (equivalent to the UK’s COBR) in Saudi Arabia. He was contracted by the Foreign Office to update the UK’s global contingency plans for overseas emergency relief operations. As a member of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Forum, he was responsible for developing the national resilience plans for all hazards and threats, as well as the Scottish Government’s business continuity plans for all departments.

At present Paul is working in Qatar setting up a new Government organisation to manage all national strategic risks, develop the National Risk Register and coordinate the resilience planning for the State. He is also leading on the Tournament Risk Register for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Paul has a Master’s degree in Theology from St. Andrew’s University and a Master’s degree in Defence Studies from Cranfield University. He has been a non-executive director for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce. He founded the charity Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland, which looks after the victims of modern day slavery.

Cost

Chamber Members - FREE

Non-Members - £20.00 + VAT

With thanks to our sponsors at Amazon