Joining Dame Penny Mordaunt DBE and Rear Admiral Jude Terry CB OBE on the panel for the evening’s discussion and skilfully chaired by Sarah Kenny OBE, Chief Executive Officer of British Maritime Technology (BMT), Rhett’s remarks focused on how commercial shipping should be recognised not simply as an economic enabler, but as a strategic national asset. With shipping carrying more than 95% of UK trade, he outlined how the sector underpins food security, energy security, defence readiness and economic competitiveness. 

Reflecting on the changing risk landscape, Rhett highlighted the growing pressures facing the maritime sector, from geopolitical instability and disruption to critical trade routes through to cyber threats and increasing threat to subsea infrastructure. As he noted, "the cloud is not in the sky, but on the seabed", underlining the maritime sector's role in supporting the systems that enable global connectivity. 

A key theme of the discussion was also the need for greater coordination between industry and government. Referencing the National Resilience Action Plan, Rhett warned that important conversations about resilience can too often happen in silos, with defence, transport, energy, treasury and industry addressing interconnected challenges separately rather than through a collaborative approach. 

From the Chamber's perspective, building resilience starts with a clearer shared understanding of where the UK is dependent on maritime flows, ports, services, people, digital systems and international partners. That must be supported by stronger coordination between industry and government, with clear mechanisms for information sharing and operational engagement established before, rather than during a crisis. Rhett also highlighted the need for commercially credible arrangements that ensure access to shipping capacity in times of crisis can be secured in ways that both reflect operational realities and market conditions.