Chris Parry – Keynote Speaker

Chris Parry runs his own strategic forecasting and trouble-shooting company, advising governments, leading commercial companies and financial institutions about geo-political and strategic developments, all aspects of future human activity and systemic risk. He is also an internationally recognised authority on Russia, China, Iran and the Greater Middle East. With a doctorate in organisational and behavioural psychology, Chris teaches strategic leadership, senior and elite psychology and how to thrive in conditions of change and uncertainty, both at universities (in the UK and abroad) and within corporates. An active author, his most recent book is ‘Super Highway: Sea Power in the 21st Century’.

Previously, after reading Modern History at Jesus College Oxford, Chris spent 36 enjoyable, rewarding years in the Royal Navy as an aviator and warfare officer. He commanded two destroyers, an amphibious assault ship, the UK’s Amphibious Task Group and the Maritime Warfare Centre. He also held three senior Joint and UK Ministry of Defence strategy and policy appointments. As well as sailing every sea, he experienced regular operational tours and combat operations in Northern Ireland, the Gulf and The Falklands, where he disabled an enemy submarine and rescued 16 SAS troopers from a glacier during a hurricane. His best-selling Falklands’ war diary was published by Viking Penguin as ‘Down South’.