THE ROYAL FUSILIERS MEMORIAL CHAPEL COMMITTEE

invites attendance at

The Fusiliers Annual Memorial Lecture,

on Wednesday 21st May 2025 – 6pm for 6.30pm

in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre London EC1

(at the junction of Holborn Viaduct and Giltspur Street)

when

Mr Ben Short, Head of the Secretary of State’s Office of Net assessment and Challenge (SONAC)

will speak on

“Why clever people make bad strategy”

Previous to his role in SONAC Ben has worked across the National Security Community. He was the lead author of the 2022 Defence Strategy, NATO lead for the UK’s 2021 Integrated Review, and previously served as a senior Russia analyst in the Joint Intelligence Organisation during the Salisbury poisonings. His career has included roles in the MOD Policy, NATO, and as a deployable analyst with Standing Joint Force Headquarters. Ben has twice received the Vice Chief’s Commendation, first developing the MOD’s first post-Cold War Russia Strategy, and again for his contributions to the 2021 Integrated review.

This lecture is free of charge, but there will be a retiring collection for the Chapel. Allowing time for questions, the lecture is likely to end at about 7.30pm, but further discussion may take place informally over a glass of wine afterwards.