Interested in all things defence? Take a peek inside our
Monthly Members' Newsletter
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For new friends, welcome! We are an interdisciplinary network of Masters, PhD and Early Career Researchers focused on defence, security and military topics in relation to policy, strategy, history, culture and society. We hope you find our network interesting, exciting, informative, and supportive.
For old friends, thanks for your continued involvement. We would be nothing without you! This December, our newsletter is a short bumper edition sharing some of our plans for the DRN this year and reintroducing our (fabulous) committee members!
Scroll down to get up to date with our 2023 wrap up, 2024 aims and learn a bit more about our committee...
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A reminder that if you have been forwarded our newsletter and are not already subscribed, you can sign up here.
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Welcome to the final Defence Research Network Newsletter of 2023!
You will notice that this editorial is not authored by our Chair Hannah West but me! Tegan Harrison, the new Newsletter Editor. Any mistakes are unfortunately therefore, my own! More on our committee roles below.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! On behalf of the committee, I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas and are able to take a bit of a break from everything before the new year commences. But we appreciate too that not everyone will have had the same experience over Christmas, perhaps because of being ill, feeling lonely or working to deadlines early in the New Year so we hope that if this is how it is for you that you are able to reach out and find support. And please know that we are a supportive bunch so if you are struggling with your studies or work, have just got stuck on something or need a friendly chat with someone who is going through something similar please do message us. We hope that our reintroductions to the committee below can show what an eclectic set of members we have and that you can find someone who shares a similar interest, background or vocation as you.
You will notice that this is a much shorter version of our newsletter than usual. Between work, holiday plans and various other engagements, this time of year is always a busy one so we thought it a perfect time to wrap up another fantastic year of the DRN, share some of our aims for what we're sure will be an exciting 2024 and reintroduce our super committee. I hope you enjoy reading the summary from our most recent committee ‘Big Meeting' which includes some information about our 2023 growth, how we will operate and make decisions going forward, our aims for the new year as well as the latest biographies of some of our committee members. Below you will notice a few committee changes but in particular you will see that Veronika Poniscjakova and Baris Celik have joined Hannah West as DRN Co-Chairs. I would like to thank all three for your continued dedication to the DRN. You’ll make for a wonderful team and I for one, feel very assured under your leadership!
Of course, my biggest thanks go to you all! Your support and readership is invaluable and we would love to hear from you if you have any ideas you would like to work with us on ahead of our 2024 program. We have made it our mission to try and connect with different networks and organisations so if you are part of one we haven't been in touch with then do give us a shout, we would love to have a chat and share what you do with our network. And if you think that you would be interested in being more involved with the DRN then we are always on the look out for new committee members both to share the workload but also to make new friends.
Our newsletter readership of continues to grow as does our X (previously Twitter) interaction. This is great news for all of you too because it means we have a platform to share your research to an interested audience and we know from the responses we receive that it is read far beyond the ECR community. So please don't forget to share your publications (we love to promote these!), calls for papers, events and anything else you have been up to (from reviews of events, books, podcasts).
All the best for a refreshed start to 2024!
Tegan Harrison
Newsletter Editor of the Defence Research Network
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Our 2023 Wrap up
Edited by Tegan Harrison
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To kick this issue off we would like to share with you all our 2023 wrap up. The infographic below showcases our continued growth which we plan to build on moving forward.
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Committee (Re)introductions
Edited by Tegan Harrison
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For this month's newsletter, we asked our committee to share their latest research interests and updates. You might recognise many but there might well be a few new faces to introduce yourselves too as well. We hope you enjoy learning a bit more about our voluntary committee!
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First up, our Co-Chairs, Hannah West, Baris Celik and Veronika Poniscjakova.
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Hannah West
Role: Co-Chair
Dr Hannah West has volunteered as Chair of the DRN (in both co- and sole- chair capacity) for some years now! Her experiences in the military underpin her research into the gendered characteristics of conflict and the military organisation. She has most recently completed an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow with Cardiff University. Hannah was also a Research Associate at Newcastle University for the ESRC project 'Conflict, Intimacy and Military Wives: A Lively Geopolitics', led by Dr Alice Cree and using participatory theatre as method. She is currently working as the Communications and Engagement Officer or the Female Veteran’s Transformation Programme at the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association, Winchester.
Hannah's doctoral research explored how the British Army has attempted to control women’s war labour and how women have negotiated their participation, through the lens of the British counterinsurgency campaigns of Malaya, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. Through her research Hannah is committed to uncovering women's stories of conflict, whether as military partners or as combatants, in order to question gendered understandings of how we know war.
In her own words:
'Drawing on my background as a former servicewoman, I have employed creative methods, from music, video and photography to help me to reflect on my own military service and to navigate my - sometimes awkward - position in relation to feminism and military power. These reflections have led me to writing variously on the critical voice of the veteran researcher, critical thinking in the Armed Forces and the ethics of military research.'
You can connect with Hannah on Linkedin, X (prev. Twitter), or visit her website!
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Veronika Poniscjakova
Role: Co-Chair, Events and Opportunities Editor, Books and Podcasts Editor.
Veronika has actively been involved in research around military forces, contributing articles for various news outlets such The Conversation UK, and has repeatedly featured in other media channels such as TVP WORLD, FRANCE 24. She has also been a guest panellist on the BBC World Service Radio Weekend program where shared her thoughts on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, Israel. You can find the links to all of these contributions in previous newsletters!
Veronika can be contacted on Linkedin and X.
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Baris Celik
Role: Co-Chair and Teaching Lead
Dr Baris Celik is a Teaching Associate at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield. His teaching areas include international security and defence, the politics of the European Union and the Middle East, and research methods in political science. Baris is also a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.
Baris researches security, defence and diplomacy in Europe. He has been disseminating his research on these topics through a number of academic publications, as well as policy and public engagement blogs and podcasts.
You can find Baris through LinkedIn, his University profile and blog!
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Now the rest of the team!
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Ann Bajo
Role: Secretary
Ann Bajo was a former Division Chief at the Social Healing and Peacebuilding Department of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU). She managed the healing and reconciliation (H&R) program for indigenous peoples in conflict-affected areas in the Philippines. The H&R program aims to promote social cohesion and rebuild relationships between former rebels, their family and community, and the national government.
Before working in the Office of the President, she was a Senior Defense Analyst at the Office for Strategic Studies and Strategy Management, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). She has written several internally published works, including Challenges to Military Operations in Urban Terrain in the Philippines; China’s Military Militia, the Philippine’s Counterstrategy, and the AFP Joint Special Operations Doctrine.
Apart from her research work, Ann was also involved in several strategic planning initiatives of the AFP. Some of the projects she worked on include the Philippine Army’s Capability Plan, the Philippine Army’s Strategic Assessment, the AFP’s Joint Force Operating Concept, the AFP’s National Military Strategy and, the AFP’s internal security campaign called Development Support Security Plan “Kapayapaan.”
She participated in the Command Post Exercises for US-PHIL BALIKATAN (2017-2018) and the Network of ASEAN Defense and Security Institutions.
In 2017, Ann worked with the Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) and was sent to Marawi to document the military operations during the Marawi crisis. In 2019, she was deployed to Maguindanao to conduct a study on the decommissioning of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and to Sulu to support the Philippine Army with their CVE and counterterrorism efforts. Currently, she is working with the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in developing their Joint Special Operations Operating Concept.
She is also the founder of a start-up social enterprise called the Coffee Press Co. that supports communities that are victims of armed conflict by selling locally produced coffee from Sulu, Philippines.
Ann Bajo received her M.A. in Asian Studies from the University of the Philippines and B.A. in International Studies from De La Salle University-Manila. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at University of Portsmouth. Her research project examines Malaysia’s role in insurgent conflicts in the Philippines (Mindanao) and Thailand (Pattani).
Find Ann on LinkedIn here.
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Tegan Harrison Role: Newsletter Editor
Tegan Watt Harrison is a PhD candidate and tutor at Cardiff University in the department of Politics and International Relations (POLIR). Her research is focused on conceptions of space weapons and warfare in the United Nations agenda the 'prevention of an arms race in outer space' (PAROS). Covering the period 1981-2023 it investigates four thematic areas in the space-based disarmament agenda: space weapons and lethality; peaceful imaginaries and the limits of force; seeing space threats through verification, monitoring and situational awareness; (re)framing PAROS in environmental and human security terms.
Beside her PhD focus Tegan's other research interests include space as a critical infrastructure and issues of resilience.
Tegan tutors on a range of POLIR modules at Cardiff University and is currently completing an Associate Fellowship. She gained her M.A. in Security and BSc Sociology from Loughborough University.
To connect with Tegan see her LinkedIn and University profile.
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Lucy Robinson
Role: X (Twitter) Manager, Events and Opportunities Editor, Books and Podcasts Editor.
Lucy Robinson is a third-year DPhil candidate in Education at the University of Oxford, funded by the Economic and Social Science Research Council's Grand Union DTP studentship. Her DPhil research aims to engage in a meaningful and creative way with service children to explore how military life has shaped their experiences of education and sense of self. By choosing this focus, the research seeks to widen and nuance current understanding of service children’s educational experiences in addition to furthering knowledge into how service children see themselves. As a result of this, it is hoped that the research will support in developing the professional body of knowledge and understanding of this group of children in schools and help inform the Service Pupil Premium (SPP) funding choices in addition to wider school practice.
Before embarking on her DPhil at Oxford, Lucy completed her PGCE and MEd in Primary Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. Alongside her role as Twitter Manager for the DRN, Lucy is a Trustee for the Armed Forces Education Trust (AFET) – a grant-giving charity for service children.
For more about Lucy see here and here!
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Robb Bloomfield
Role: Website Coordinator
Robb Bloomfield is a PhD student at the University of Buckingham investigating the concept of cyber peacekeepers, and specifically the feasibility of conducting UN-style peace enforcement operations in cyberspace - his previous research looked at contemporary British cyber defence capability. Robb holds a BSc(Hons) in IT and Computing, and an MA in Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History. In his 'spare' time, Robb is the national lead for the CyberFirst programme in the Army Cadets.
Scott Mackie
Role: Website Coordinator
Scott Mackie's research interests focus on emergent systems and space policy, with a particular focus on military and defence applications, and issues of resilience in the face of space denial. He also takes a keen interest in matters of global maritime security, especially as they pertain to the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Indo-Pacific regions.
For more about Scott, see here.
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Rupak Rattanmoj Pathak
Role: LinkedIn Manager
She holds her masters in political science and Bachelors in political science and history from University of Delhi, India. Rupak have experience in working and volunteering with NGOs and different organization back in India.
Apart from her academic interest, she is also a trained Indian classical dancer and have immense interest in art, culture, music and books.
You can find Rupak on LinkedIn here!
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Sally Coulthard MBE
Role: Advisory Team
Sally Coulthard, during her transition from a career in military education, training and personnel strategy, completed an MSc in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture at Coventry University, graduating with Distinction. As a result of presentations on the masters programme, from the welfare and justice sectors, both using horticultural therapy effectively with military personnel, she recognised that it was culturally suited to a military cohort and was keen to increase access to this particular avenue of community based mental health support. Awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2019, Sally travelled to Denmark and the USA to study best practice.
As a result of the Fellowship, as well as the experience gained by coordinating a Nature Based Therapy (NBT) pilot programme in Northern Ireland in 2019. Sally has founded the Defence Gardens Scheme (DGS) which is currently expanding to selected sites in England. Further details of her research and DGS can be found here.
The DGS NI programmes have recently been awarded funding for delivery 2020-22 from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund. These funded interventions will form the basis of further research and evaluation in the field of NBT and its potential mental health recovery benefits for the armed forces community.
As well as the links above, you can connect with Sally on Linkedin and through the DGS email sally@defencegardens.org.
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Daniel Leightley
Role: Advisory Team
At present, Dan is the Principal Investigator of DrinksRation (www.drinksration.app), an app designed to reduce alcohol use in the Armed Forces. Using Capacitor framework, the app is designed to support, manage, and reduce alcohol intake using behaviour change theory. Harnessing the latest open-source technology, the app is fully automated and uses machine learning to personalise and tailor at an individual level. The app is publicly available, powered by machine learning and has been shown to be effective in significantly reducing alcohol use in users.
For more on Dan visit his LinkedIn and website .
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Major Jeff Tibbett Role: Committee member
Jeff Tibbett has completed a Doctorate in Business Administration and Master of Science, both focussed on Military Leadership. He is now completing an MSc in Strategic Leadership.
For his DBA, Jeff explored the presence of elements of Dark Leadership traits within Officer Cadets at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Find Jeff here.
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Georgie Eckersley
Role: Committee member
Georgie Eckersley is a Teaching Fellow in Physiotherapy and is a second year, part-time, PhD student at the University of Liverpool. Her research focuses on transition from Armed Forces service and what helps or hinders this process. This research utilises a mixed method approach and will explore aspects of mental health and quality of life. Georgie is also an Armed Forces Charity Trustee in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Find Georgie on X (Twitter!).
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Phillip Mayne
Role: Committee member
This year Phil is teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate modules on international relations. He is also supervising postgraduate dissertations on a number of IR topics.
Phil have previously taught on international relations, human rights, western political thought, terrorism and political violence, and international security.
He is currently working on publishing my PhD thesis 'Ethics or Efficacy? Examining Strategic Ethics and Counterinsurgency'. Phil's research examines the relationship between ethics and strategic success. His research furthers the understanding of the ethical dimension of strategy, and challenges assumptions of Western COIN doctrine.
Connect with Phil here and here.
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What, No Twitter Hour!?
Edited by Tegan Harrison
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"But where is Twitter hour!?" I hear you ask.
Don't worry everyone, Twitter hour is on Christmas break but will be back in no time - January to be exact - to help kick off our 2024 run.
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As always, keep an eye on our Twitter for new events and opportunities posted/retweeted every day!
Planning a future event?
If you are planning a defence-related event and you would like to reach an audience of like-minded researchers, we'd love to come along! Drop us an email and we can include it in our next newsletter.
If you are interested in any of our events but don't want to go alone, or simply want to expand your network, please reach out on Twitter or drop us an email and we can connect you with fellow DRN members who may be planning to attend.
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January: New Year, New Theme(s)!
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We hope you've enjoyed our news, tips and recommendations so far. In case you missed our previous newsletter editions, check out our archive section here!
As usual, we will be looking to showcase some early-career researchers in research spotlights in the newsletter so don't be shy! And we welcome any suggestions for 'in conversation with' pieces with more established academics. And let us know about any relevant events, from book launches to webinars. We'll keep an eye on our Twitter account to keep you posted!
Keep an eye on @DefenceResNet for more information and check out the website for a preview of the questions for the next #DefResChat. You can also find all our previous #DefResChats on the Archive section of our website. Make sure to tag @DefenceResNet and hashtag #DefResChat to join the conversation.
See you soon and many thanks for being part of our network!
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Do you have a blog or publication you would like to promote? Don't hesitate to share it with us via email and we can add it to our newlsetter.
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Thank you so much for joining our network.
Have you recently won an award, had your paper published, launched a book or are you organising an event? We want to hear from you! We are always looking for new content for our newsletter and would love to showcase the great work of our members.
For queries, more information, or just to tell us about yourself, don't hesitate to contact us on Twitter @DefenceResNet or at defenceresearchnetwork@gmail.com
The DRN team
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