Admiral Sir Tony Radakin
President

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin was Chief of the Defence Staff between December 2021 and September 2025, and was the first naval officer to lead the British Armed Forces for twenty years. As a reformer and moderniser, Admiral Radakin sought to reshape the British Armed Forces for an era of constant competition, emphasising stronger nuclear deterrence, greater lethality and the faster adoption of drones and other disruptive technology.  Defence spending rose during his tenure, culminating in the government’s commitment to meet the NATO target of spending 5% of GDP on defence and security by 2035.

  • Prior to serving as CDS, Admiral Radakin was First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from June 2019 until early November 2021, during which time he instigated a renewed Royal Navy presence around the globe, secured an expanded shipbuilding programme and helped broker the AUKUS agreement between the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States.  Commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1990, he served in numerous command and staff appointments, both ashore and afloat, and in command of UK and international forces. Operational tours have included the Iran/Iraq Tanker War, security duties in the Falklands, NATO operations in the Adriatic, countering smuggling in Hong Kong and the Caribbean, and three tours in Iraq – each in command.

     

    Born in Oldham, raised in Bristol and educated at Southampton University, Admiral Radakin is a qualified barrister with an MA in International Relations and Defence Studies. He lives in Hampshire with his wife and has four grown-up sons.

Kweilen Hatleskog
Chair

With over two decades in the defence sector, Kweilen’s experience bridges industry, private-equity and government. Having served as a Director for Group M&A at BAE Systems plc., Kweilen worked as an Operating Partner at C5 Capital and a member of the management at Inmarsat, before heading strategy and corporate development for Northrop Grumman across EMEA.

  • She now serves as a senior advisor to high-growth companies and SMEs in defence.  Kweilen is non-Executive Director at Logpoint A/S, a Danish cyber security company, a member of the Board of Jacoinvest, a multi-sector family fund; and a Senior Advisor at RAND Europe. 

    A committed connector, Kweilen chairs The Pilgrims, the oldest Anglo-American society in Great Britain and is a member of the 601 Squadron, a specialised reserve unit established to provide commercial advice into the Royal Air Force’s senior leadership.

    An American by birth, Kweilen started her career in the US Government, serving as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defence and a Director for Policy in the Department of the Navy.

Sir Peter Bottomley, MP

Peter Bottomley attended 8th grade in a D.C. Junior high school when his father served in the British Embassy.

He became Father of the House of Commons (Dean) in 2019 for the last four years of his 49 years as an MP in Parliament.

Charles V Anson, Esq CVO

Charles Anson is a strategic communications consultant who has held senior positions over the past 30 years as a spokesman in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in Number 10, at Buckingham Palace as Press Secretary to the Queen, and in the private sector as Director of Communications for three FTSE 100 companies (Kleinwort Benson merchant bank, Grand Metropolitan, and Hilton International). At Buckingham Palace, Charles Anson was Press Secretary to The Queen from 1990-97, responsible for media relations for the The Queen and the Royal Family in a difficult period. In 2002, he was communications advisor for The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Weekend celebrations.

Abdul Bhanji

Abdul is a senior business and philanthropic executive with a portfolio of various Boards.

In his earlier career he worked with a variety of high-profile media and industrial clients as a senior partner at PwC in charge of business development. Over the years he has built an extensive network of senior contacts in the City and at major plc’s and continues to act as a special advisor to a number of Chairs and CEOs of multinational organisations. Abdul is a former Vice Chair of the University of London Board of Trustees and a former Trustee of the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts. He is a former Chair of The Aga Khan Foundation UK National Committee.

Christopher Box

Christopher Box is PwC’s Global Client Partner for bp (since 1 July 2023) and also for NatWest  (since 2012). Prior to these roles, Christopher was the HR Services Middle East Leader at PwC for 3 years.

Christopher joined PwC in 1998 and specialises in work on HR and people related aspects of process and organisation transformation, regulation and risk.

Piers Coleman
Honorary Secretary

Piers Coleman was a partner at global law firm K&L Gates: his bread and butter was commercial real estate work, but he also specialised in the law on elections and that occupied most of his time in the six or so years up to his retirement in 2020. Now he is a consultant on several projects with a public policy angle, and also advises on governance issues, and there are seven grandchildren to be entertained too. He and his wife Lizzie live in Piltdown, East Sussex.

Mrs. Fionuala Goritsas

Fionuala is the Global Head of Analyst Relations at AMS, a global talent acquisition and management solutions business which provides recruitment process outsourcing, contingent workforce management and talent and technology consulting services. In her role, Fionuala works closely with ExCo across the global business with overall responsibility for all analyst relationships including the creation and dissemination of relevant market insight and research within the talent acquisition space.

  • Fionuala’s key efforts in recent years has been to educate the external analyst community in understanding AMS’ wider business offerings including its tech and analytic capabilities and how it differentiates itself in the global market. Fionuala is also co-Chair of the AMS ERG on Social Mobility and has helped AMS move up to twelfth place on the Social Mobility Employers Index.

    Based in London, Fionuala has UK and Irish citizenship. Fionuala is married to Demetri Goritsas and together they have a daughter. Any spare time she has is spent with her family.

    In addition to her work in the private sector, Kate served during the pandemic at UK Government Investments, advising HM Treasury, BEIS, and the British Business Bank on Covid-related investment and support measures.

    Personally, Kate is an avid skier and competitive tennis player.

Katherine Ireland

Katherine (Kate) Ireland is a private equity investor with a transatlantic career spanning the US and UK. She is American by birth and a dual citizen, having been based in London for over 15 years. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in History and Economics from Williams College.

  • Kate began her career at Goldman Sachs in London, advising on European industrial M&A. She then helped launch the European office of Centerbridge Partners, deploying capital into complex distressed and special situations. Following her MBA at Harvard Business School, she focused on growth equity at Palamon Capital, investing in digital consumer and fintech businesses.

    She has held board roles at companies including Currencies Direct (now RedPin Holdings), Feelunique (acquired by Sephora), and Onyx Insight (previously owned by bp). She now leads her own advisory practice, working with family offices and funds on investments, portfolio management, and growth. She is a senior advisor to PMB Capital, a merchant bank based in London. She also advises Samos Energy, and sits on the board of Verde Magnesium, a critical metals project in western Romania.

    In addition to her work in the private sector, Kate served during the pandemic at UK Government Investments, advising HM Treasury, BEIS, and the British Business Bank on Covid-related investment and support measures.

    Personally, Kate is an avid skier and competitive tennis player.

Sarah Laessig

Sarah Laessig holds dual US-UK citizenship. She has had a 30 year career across international banking, investment management and pensions, now maintaining a portfolio career of board roles in financial services. She has previously been a Civil Service Commissioner and has held two other public appointments. Sarah holds a BA in International Affairs from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, a MA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, and a MBA in Strategic Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Capt. Gregory Leland

Captain Gregory J. Leland serves as the US Defense Attache for the United Kingdom. Captain Gregory Leland hails from Marlborough, Massachusetts, and received his commission through Officer Candidate School and designated as a naval aviator.

  • At sea, Captain Leland served with Anti-Submarine Squadron 7, Dusty Dogs, embarked with Carrier Air Wing 3, completing deployments aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in support of Operation Desert Fox and aboard USS Harry Truman (CVN 75); His second at sea tour was with Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW 14) deploying aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

    He was forward deployed as an air liaison officer for Naval Special Warfare Task Unit in Al Anbar Province, Iraq during the summer of 2005. In 2006, Captain Leland reported to the Black Knights of HS-4, flying combat missions forward deployed from the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) to the British Joint Helicopter Force base in Basrah, Iraq; he completed two additional deployments aboard the Reagan serving as Operations and Maintenance officer.

    Prior to his department head tour he was assigned to Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, the Firehawks, flying over 60 combat missions and serving as operations officer in Ballad Iraq. His shore assignments include; Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1, where he was selected to attend Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) school in Fallon, Nev. He served as an operational test pilot for the MH-60R and MH-60S evaluation programs; Chief of Naval Air Forces staff, as the liaison officer to Naval Special Warfare Command (NSW WARCOM); he served on the Joint Staff, J-8, Joint Capabilities division for the Joint Capability Integration and Development System serving the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) and lead for International capability development for the Joint Staff J-8 and guided initial International JROC plans. He also served as the Joint Urgent Operational Needs action officer and Assistant Special Activities Program Coordinator (SAPCO) for the Vice Chairman. During his career, Captain Leland has flown over 3,400 flight hours and held command of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 Blackjacks, and 25, the Island Knights in Guam. He served as Commanding Officer of the USS Bataan (LHD-5), deploying twice as XO and CO and as the Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Navy. He has been the Defense Attache to the United Kingdom since June 2022.

    Captain Leland holds a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and was selected by peers for the Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership award. He was selected to represent the Joint Staff for the MIT Seminar XXI Fellowship program. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Strike/Fighter Air Medal (4 awards), Air Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards), Australian Silver Commendation from the Australian Defense Force and various unit and service-related awards.

Marshal of the Royal Air Force the Lord Stirrup KG GCB AFC

BLord Stirrup was born in London, and educated at Merchant Taylors’ School and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. He was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1970, and after pilot training completed a number of tours in the instructor and fighter reconnaissance roles. This included two years on loan service with the Sultan of Oman’s Air Force during the Dhofar War, and three years on exchange with the United States Air Force in Texas.

  • In the 1980s Lord Stirrup commanded No II (AC) Squadron, flying Jaguar aircraft from RAF Laarbruch in Germany, and from 1990 to 1992 he was Officer Commanding RAF Marham in Norfolk, a period that covered the first Gulf War. After attending the Royal College of Defence Studies and the Higher Command and Staff Course, Lord Stirrup served as the Director of Air Force Plans and Programmes in the Ministry of Defence before becoming Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group in 1997. He was Assistant Chief of the Air Staff from 1998 to 2000, and then took up the post of Deputy Commander in Chief Royal Air Force Strike Command.

    In 2001 he was deployed to United States Central Command immediately following 9/11, and commanded British forces during Operation Veritas, the UK’s contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Following a tour as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff for Equipment, he became Chief of the Air Staff in 2003, and was appointed as Chief of the Defence staff in 2006. Lord Stirrup was CDS when British forces were committed in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Following retirement from the military, he was appointed to the House of Lords in 2011, where he is particularly involved in the areas of defence, security, foreign relations and the arts. He lives in Marylebone, is married with one son, a practising cardiologist, and maintains a keen interest in history, music and the theatre.

Mark Seligman
Honorary Treasurer

Mark Seligman is Treasurer of The Pilgrims. An investment banker by profession, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and has served on five FTSE 100 Boards, most recently as senior independent director of NatWest Group plc and of Smiths Group plc.

He is a former Chairman of HMG’s Industrial Development Advisory Board and a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers.

He is Chairman of Brooklands Museum and a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey.

Air Marshal Sir David Walker, KCVO OBE

Air Marshal Sir David Walker was educated at the City of London School and then commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1974 at the age of 18. His early career included the appointment of Equerry to Her Majesty The Queen, secondment to the Diplomatic Service in South Africa, and command of RAF Halton.

He was promoted to Air Commodore in 1998 as Director of Public Relations (RAF), and then became Director of Personnel and Training Policy in 2001.

  • In 2003, on promotion to Air Vice-Marshal, he assumed command of 22 Group, where he was responsible for recruiting, flying and aeronautical engineering training for all 3-Armed Services, and a broad spectrum of education and other training for the RAF. This embraced 7 major RAF Stations, over 300 fast jet and other aircraft including the RAF Red Arrows, and the leadership of around 10,000 people. In 2004, Sir David was again seconded to Buckingham Palace, as Master of the Royal Household, remaining in this post until 2013. He then moved to the Financial Services Industry as Senior Advisor on people and culture to the Group Chairman of HSBC.

    This was followed by similar advisory work to the CEO of Barclays, and for PwC. He was also, until 2020, the pro-bono Chair of the Advisory Board of Auticon, a social enterprise employing autistic people as IT consultants. He has been a member of the Board of AMS, a global talent solutions business, since 2015 and in 2020 was appointed Senior Advisor to the Board of Sova Assessment, an international deliverer of SaaS psychometrics to the public and private sectors.

    Sir David remains an Extra Equerry to The Queen, and is a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. He is President of the RAF Club and of the Montrose Air Heritage Centre, one of the Honorary Air Commodores of 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron (the other being HM The Queen), Deputy Honorary Air Commodore of 601 (County of London) Squadron, and a Vice Patron of the Royal International Air Tattoo. He is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Companies of Bakers, and Distillers. His interests include classic cars, the countryside, and history. He is married to Jane, a retired specialist nurse, who is Chair of the Gloucestershire County Priory Group of the Order of St John (St John Ambulance).

Sir Peter Westmacott, GCMG LVO

Sir Peter Westmacott draws on over 40 years of diplomacy, including four years in Iran and ending with 14 years as British Ambassador to Turkey, France and then the US, to contribute to Chatham House’s understanding of international affairs, help improve transatlantic links, and foster dialogue, particularly with countries that are less well understood in the West.

  • He brings a wealth of experience from his diplomatic career. After retiring from the Foreign and Commonwealth in January 2016, he spent a semester teaching and lecturing at Harvard’s Kennedy School as a fellow of the Institute of Politics and of the Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs.

    Since returning to the UK, Sir Peter has taken up appointments as an independent non-executive at Ernst & Young, chair of the international advisory board of Tikehau Capital, distinguished ambassadorial fellow at the Atlantic Council, and board positions with We. Soda Ltd, Volex Plc, Campbell Lutyens & Co and Glasswall Holdings.
    He also speaks regularly at international conferences, and on radio and television.

Xenia Wickett

Xenia Wickett runs an executive coaching, moderation and geopolitical advisory business, Wickett Advisory, that helps clients distinguish signal from noise.

Xenia brings extensive cross-sectoral and cross-cultural experience to the conversation. Prior to launching her own business, Xenia was the Vice President of Political Analysis and Integrity Due Diligence at Equinor.

  • She has also held positions as Head of the US and Americas Programme and founding Dean of the Academy for Leadership at Chatham House, Executive Director of the PeaceNexus Foundation, which she helped found, and Executive Director for Research at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center.

    Xenia served with the US government as Director for South Asia on the National Security Council (NSC) and at the State Department as Special Adviser at the Homeland Security Group and as an Officer in the Bureau of Non-Proliferation. Shortly after 9/11, she was detailed to the US Office of the Vice President to help launch the Office of Homeland Security Affairs. Xenia is a trustee and director of Transparency International UK, a member of the Executive Committee of the Pilgrims, and the faculty at Chatham House’s Leadership Academy.

    She has spoken, moderated and facilitated high-level discussions at events including Aspen, the FT Weekend Festival, ONS and the Brussels Forum, and has extensive experience with the written media, tv and radio. Xenia holds a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching from Henley Business School, a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Physiology from Oxford University. She is a qualified coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas, GCB, DSC, ADC, DL, FRAeS

Sir George Zambellas is a former First Sea Lord, now in executive positions in a portfolio of technology companies in the US and UK. He has strong and continuing transatlantic links, born of senior Royal Navy and NATO command, now reinforced by support to the Centre for European Policy Analysis, and technology interests in nuclear policy, quantum physics, AI, cyber, encryption, robotics and data exploitation.