Jonathan Bird is BAE Systems Country Director for
the United Arab Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi. With
nearly 25 years of defence industry experience, he
leads the company’s efforts to build and develop key
strategic relationships with the UAE government,
its defence and security services, across multiple
domains.

Prior to taking up this assignment, Jonathan served
as the company’s Head of Industrialsation for the
Middle East, where he was tasked with developing
strategies to expand partnerships and joint ventures
covering knowledge transfer, supply chain and
investments in new technology.

Jonathan has led a number of high-profile education
initiatives in the Gulf region, such as the acclaimed
Make-It Challenge, run successfully across the UAE
for nearly 10 years. Internships and apprenticeships
are another area where his leadership has delivered
significant results in promoting awareness of the
critical role STEM subjects play in the diversification
of local economies.

Jonathan’s depth of experience in defence and
engineering, along with his knowledge of the
MENA region, make him well suited to support and
accelerate the company’s vision and ambitions in the
UAE through stakeholder engagement and building
strategic partnerships, with both the private and
public sectors.

Prior to joining BAE Systems, he served as CEO for
HESCO Bastion Inc, a world leader and innovator in
the design and manufacture of rapidly deployable
barrier systems, flood control and accommodation
bunkers. He was also the co-founder of MOHOC
Ltd, a startup that produced the world’s first military
optimized helmet camera.

Rob Bricker joined the British Embassy here in Dubai in January 2023, taking on the Country Director role for the Department for International Trade. Rob has responsibility for leading the department’s efforts in deepening and enhancing bilateral trade and investment between the UK and UAE. Prior to his arrival in Dubai, Rob was based in Abu Dhabi (between 2021-2023) acting as First Secretary Defence and Security (FSDS), within the Department for International Trade. In this role, Rob led on Defence and Security Exports to the UAE. Prior to his arrival in the UAE, Rob was posted in Kuwait, acting as the Department for International Trade FSDS representative. He was in that role from the summer of 2018, working closely with Kuwaiti Defence and Security stakeholders and the United Kingdom Defence and Security industry.

Between July 2012 and June 2018, Rob worked for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UK MOD), based in Riyadh. Working under a Government-to-Government agreement between the UK MOD and the Saudi Arabian National Guard Signal Corps, Rob fulfilled two separate roles during his time in Riyadh. Up until May 2016, Rob was the Head of Training Transformation. Between May 2016 and June 2018, Rob performed the role of Head of the Programme Management Office. In this role, Rob reported to the Programme Director and managed the programme performance of a series of projects, alongside the National Guard.

Prior to 2012, Rob worked for the UK MOD, based out of their procurement headquarters in Abbey Wood, Bristol. Rob joined the UK MOD in August 2004 and in his eight years at the procurement headquarters; he performed a variety of roles supporting the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. In support of the Royal Navy, Rob was the Engineering Officer for data communication systems fitted to Type 23 Frigates. In his work with the Royal Air Force, Rob worked as a Programme Manager on a high-value flight simulation programme.

Miles Chambers is Director of International Business for EDGE Group – an advanced technology group for defence and beyond. In this capacity, he is responsible for driving business development across the cluster and its entities. Miles possesses a wealth of experience in international markets and, more specifically, the UAE industry, which he is able to leverage to support EDGE in its domestic and export market objectives.

Prior to this, he worked at Emirates Defence Industries Company (EDIC), an entity which was consolidated within the EDGE group. Miles has also previously overseen several of EDGE’s entities, namely NIMR Automotive, leading the international expansion of the business and the acquisition of Manurhin – a 100-year old French company specialising in ammunition manufacturing machinery.

Mark is the Director of UK Defence and Security Exports at the Department for International Trade (DIT).

Mark spent over 30 years in the British Army before joining DIT in January 2019. He held a variety of senior roles particularly in the defence engagement capability and equipment areas in the UK and overseas.

Mark’s previous roles include Director, Army Equipmen, running the MOD Urgent Operational Requirements and Counter Improvised Explosive Devices programmes supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and Defence Advisor in New Delhi.

Sampson was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1986. After passing pilot training he flew the SEPECAT Jaguar for 3 years until moving over to the Harrier jump jet following the Gulf War. He was a Qualified Weapons Instructor on the Harrier and flew over 500 missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, and Kosovo. He served 3 years with the United States Marine Corps on an exchange tour flying the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II and the F-5.

He became air officer commanding No. 1 Squadron in 2004, during that period the Harrier GR9 was brought into frontline service, with numerous carrier deployments and multiple tours in Afghanistan to support Operation Herrick. In December 2008, he was promoted to group captain and became Assistant Head Joint Strike and ISTAR. In 2010, Sampson became station commander at RAF Coningsby as the RAF Typhoon Force Commander. During that time he was deployed to Gioia Del Colle, Italy as a part of Operation Unified Protector and served as Expeditionary Air Wing Commander for the RAF fast jet operations over Libyan airspace. Additionally, Sampson flew 2 seasons with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flying Spitfires and Hurricanes.

In November 2012, he was promoted to air commodore and appointed Joint Force Air Component Commander. In 2014 he assumed command of the No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group and the position of UK Air Component Commander. He commanded all RAF operations over Iraq and Syria during Operation Shader.

In February 2021, he was promoted to air marshal and appointed serving as UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa. Over the course of his flying career Sampson has accumulated over 3500 hours flying hours in several different types of fast jet aircraft including the Jaguar, the Harrier and the Hawker Typhoon.