Defence forum 2026
As allied nations race to translate rearmament commitments into deployable capability, OMFIF’s Defence forum brings together public and private finance leaders, defence industry executives and policy-makers to confront the financing and industrial challenges of western rearmament.
The agenda tackles the tensions shaping today’s defence financing landscape as multilateral mechanisms, national initiatives and private capital sources proliferate, risking fragmentation even as the case for coordinated, at-scale investment intensifies.
Discussions will explore how regulatory clarity and a fresh approach to responsible investment can unlock capital for the defence industrial base. They will also examine the policy frameworks, financing models and partnerships needed to bring next-generation technologies, including artificial intelligence, from development to deployment – driving innovation, competitiveness and economic resilience.
Speakers
Sophia Besche
Research Director and Managing Director for Transatlantic Security
German Marshall Fund of the United States
Sophia Besche
Research Director and Managing Director for Transatlantic Security
German Marshall Fund of the United States
Niloo Boroun
Director of International Policy
Finance Canada
Niloo Boroun
Director of International Policy
Finance Canada
Leena Mörttinen
Permanent Under-Secretary
Ministry of Finance – Finland
Leena Mörttinen
Permanent Under-Secretary
Ministry of Finance – Finland
Leena Mörttinen is permanent under-secretary of International and Financial Markets Affairs at ministry of Finance, Finland. She is also acting vice chairperson at the Board of Fingrid Oyj and the board member at the Arctia. Before this, she held various roles at the European Central Bank, Bank of Finland and Nordea Bank.
Rob Murray
Chairman
DSRB Charter Negotiations
Rob Murray
Chairman
DSRB Charter Negotiations
Rob Murray is chairman of the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank Development Treaty Negotiations. He was founding architect of DIANA, Nato’s first technology accelerator and the Nato Innovation Fund. At Nato, he worked within the defence investment team. He also served as head of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and became the Alliance’s first head of innovation.
Elias Sedlmayr
Finance in Defence
BDSV
Elias Sedlmayr
Finance in Defence
BDSV