The second online event for the collaboration between Australian Defence Magazine Women in Defence and National Security Network and Women in Defence UK was hosted by both organisations on 24 June 2026. The theme was On the Home Front and focused on charities and their programs supporting veterans, their spouses and their families.
Representing the Australian side of panellists was Defence Kidz, CEO and Founder, Hayley Boswell and National Defence Director, Kelly Hopkins.
Boswell is also a Veterans Advisory Council Member – South Australian Government, a legal practitioner, a veteran families advocate and a veteran spouse.
Hopkins is also a Non-Executive Director, defence innovator and connector, and a veteran program manager.
The panellists from the UK were STEM Returners, Founder and Director, Natalie Desty, and RFS, Programme Manager, Helen Callis.
Desty’s STEM Returners is a program for people who wish to return to STEM roles after a career break. According to her, over 650 people have restarted their careers including those from BAE Systems, EDF and Leonardo UK.
Callis is also a military spouse, professional coach and ex Royal Air Force (RAF) Navigator.
Head of Defence and Security Industry at the Australia and New Zealand British High Commission Canberra, Kathryn Essex, was MC.
When asked about how to elevate the profile of veteran support charities and programs to make it a priority for the whole of industry, Hopkins provided practical advice.
“I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel. I think we need to look at everything as you can't eat an elephant in one bite but also recognise the amazing people we have in our community that are experts in this space, like all of us,” Hopkins indicated.
“So, communicating, getting experts in, having conversations, transparency across the group, sharing ideas, this is how we fix the problem. This is what I would say to industry. We have to take the first step to change this, and that's the first step.”
When asked about how much responsibility the government and industry both need to hold with regard to spousal employment, Desty offered a universal perspective for both Australia and the UK.
“It's not about changing the individual, it's about changing the culture of industry,” Desty stated.
Callis argued for greater support for military families to create a stronger defence force overall.
“There's something to be said about national security and our armed forces and how important they are, especially in this sort of volatile and unpredictable world we're all in right now,” Callis explained.
“And hence RFS's strapline: stronger families, stronger workforce, stronger defence. If you support military families, if they are stronger, then ultimately that has a ripple effect across the defence industry and national security.”
Desty also highlighted an issue currently effecting the UK and soon to effect Australia with regard to building and maintaining the nuclear submarine workforce without depriving other industries of their workforce.
“We’ve got 40,000 people needed for nuclear by 2040. It’s a big drive to pivot people to nuclear. But to pivot people, you’re just taking them from other industries that need them,” Desty remarked.
“There seems to be a lack of understanding about people that would love to return, potentially pivot to working within these industries. I just find it bizarre, when we're in advanced skills gaps in a number of industries, that we'd be looking to take people from one and solve a problem in another.”
Hopkins summarised the importance of getting together with other countries to have these conversations.
“The more times we get together in rooms and have open conversations and communicate, the better it is for us all. Every day is a learning day. But I think, again, it's highlighted that the UK and Australia, even though we are separated, are very much the same,” she said.
Please continue to check the ADM Women in Defence Network website for upcoming events like this one.