Conference – Youth Panel with Airbus at BEDEX

What role and expectations for youth in the European defence industry?

Airbus Defence and Space invited us to their stand at BEDEX – Brussels European Defence Exhibition & Conference to moderate an exchange between Airbus professionals and a mixed group of young professionals and students.
This informal fireside chat bridged the gap between the high-level stakeholders that were present at BEDEX, and a younger audience interested in security and defence topics, wanting to learn more about the defence industry and its wider role within society.

Participants and bystanders had the chance to learn about the industry professionals’ personal motivation and background, and what they think of the interconnection between defence and sustainability, democracy, resilience. Additionally, we touched upon questions of youth involvement and diversity, and were glad to see much interest to ask deeper going questions from the audience, both during the conversation and in follow up personal exchanges at the stand.