The West Midlands Regional Defence and Security Cluster (WM RDSC) has appointed its inaugural Advisory Board, bringing together experienced leaders from defence, industry, academia and innovation to help guide the cluster’s next phase of development.
The Board will provide strategic advice, challenge and advocacy, while strengthening connections across the regional defence and security ecosystem. It will also help champion the West Midlands’ capabilities and opportunities nationally and internationally.
It will be chaired by Major General (Retired) Robin Anderton-Brown, Chair of Allium Associates Ltd and former Director of Capability at UK Strategic Command.
Professor Christopher ‘Kit’ Windows-Yule, Director of Innovation at the University of Birmingham, and Lieutenant Colonel John Tucker of Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land and the British Army Reserve have been appointed as Deputy Chairs.
Supporting the regional defence and security ecosystem
Launched in May 2026, WM RDSC is part of the Ministry of Defence-backed Regional Defence and Security Clusters programme and is delivered in the West Midlands by the West Midlands Growth Company.
The cluster has been established to strengthen collaboration across the defence and security ecosystem, support innovation and technology development, increase SME participation and strengthen regional supply chains.
It also aims to raise the profile of the West Midlands’ capabilities across defence, advanced manufacturing, engineering, cyber security and related sectors, supporting regional economic growth and the UK’s wider defence and security priorities.
The Board brings together experience from across defence, manufacturing, engineering, cyber security, professional services, innovation and higher education, giving WM RDSC access to a broad range of expertise as the cluster develops its programme of activity and regional partnerships.
Its members bring experience from across defence, manufacturing, engineering, cyber security, professional services, innovation and higher education.
Advisory Board members
Alongside the Chair and Deputy Chairs, the inaugural Advisory Board includes:
- Samantha Brettell DL, Prevent Consultancy
- Professor Peter Matthews, Keele University
- Samantha Lewis, NMITE
- Rowan Crozier, C Brandauer & Co Ltd
- Elizabeth Williams, Gowling WLG
- Bankie Williams, Greenlands Consulting
- Jane Sommerville, Bowers & Jones Ltd
- Phil Shaw, MTC
- Giles Bond, QinetiQ
- Joanna Cavan, UK Telecoms Lab
- Jonathan Sword, Agility Cyber
- Neil Donnelly, Somers Forge
The inaugural meeting of the Advisory Board is scheduled to take place in September 2026.
To learn more about WM RDSC, its Advisory Board and opportunities to engage with the cluster, explore our website.