Western defence has made massive strides, but the sector has a massive gender problem – and it’s costing business, writes Naomi Hulme

At 28 years old, I found myself sitting in a boardroom of 18 men – all middle-aged, white men. Over four hours, I contributed nothing. Not because I had nothing to say, but because no one thought to ask me – until the very end, when someone finally acknowledged me by asking, “Where did you get that coat? My wife would love that coat.”

In those four hours, I learned that culture matters. I’d landed in that room not by accident, but because I’d been identified for a high-performers leadership scheme aimed at developing my skills in board management. And yet, there were certainly no skills developed that day.

Little did I know, this would become standard throughout my career. Women in defence and tech often hear they got where they are because they “ticked a box”. I’ve been told outright, “well, you were in the right place at the right time” or “it doesn’t hurt that you’re a female”. These statements imply that my skills and expertise are secondary to my gender.

While Western

© City A.M.