Lt Gen Sir Tom Copinger-Symes KCB CBE

Lieutenant General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes is a senior military leader who has spent over 35 years in the UK Armed Forces, combining frontline combat command with strategic leadership of the Ministry of Defence's digital transformation. He served as Deputy Commander Cyber & Specialist Operations Command and Director General Joint Force Development. For the past decade, he has focused on how the Army and MoD can make better use of data and information, whether supporting traditional combat operations or employed as a weapon in its own right.

Tom's commands have included 1 ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Brigade and 6th (UK) Division, and as Director of Military Digitisation he was responsible for the Digital Strategy for Defence, with its central concept of a Digital Backbone that connects sensors to effectors via the appropriate decision-maker. He founded both the Digital Foundry and the Defence AI Centre, and was a sponsor of Digital Skills for Defence and Commercial X. These were all designed to accelerate the MoD's adoption of software-defined capabilities and AI.

Tom explores how data and artificial intelligence, and the new warfighting domains of space and cyber, are transforming military operations across both competition and conflict. This includes how organisations must adapt their processes and cultures if they are to adopt the latest technology and platforms, as well as the vulnerabilities that come with increased dependence on digital technologies and how to counter them. He has a particular interest in cybersecurity and resilience, including of critical national infrastructure and the digital and AI supply chain.

Drawing on his combat command in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as more recent lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, and his experience of leading transformational change, he examines modern leadership and team-building. He addresses how to create supportive and purpose-driven cultures, develop talent, and make decisions with incomplete information. His insights span the geopolitics of modern conflict and alliances, translating these into priorities and concepts that must influence modern strategy for all types of organisation.

As an insatiably curious team-builder and people-centric leader, Tom emphasises that whilst digital transformation is enabled by technology, people remain our most critical assets. He explores how organisations can reach out to new talent pools, equip them with the skillset and mindset to succeed, and embed resilience and adaptability. His work includes examining the use of esports and serious games to engage, recruit, develop and retain the next generation of talent, and he is active in growing esports and gaming across the MoD and international allies to increase digital, warfighting and cyber skills.

Tom spent his early career with The Rifles on operations across multiple theatres and in operational and strategy posts at the Permanent Joint Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence. His voluntary roles have included Colonel Commandant of The Rifles, Honorary Colonel of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, Chair of Army Cresta Tobogganing, and Vice President of Army Football and Cricket, and Trustee of Heropreneurs. He is also co-Founder of the International Defence Esports Games.