When: Thursday 1 June, 7.30pm
Where: Online via Zoom: link
Roger Hutton will talk about the origins of Defence Humanists, the group’s role and purpose, and the range of issues on which it is engaged, including Remembrance and pastoral care for armed forces personnel. Roger will also touch on Defence in the wider context of humanism, including such ethical questions as Is there any such thing as a just war, what responsibilities does a Humanist warrior have towards their enemy, can one justify investments in defence industries and do international conventions have any real purpose?
Roger Hutton is President of Defence Humanists (a section of Humanists UK). He retired from his role as Director, International Security, in the UK Ministry of Defence in 2020. He is ally representative for the Proud Valiants (Charlton Athletic’s LGBTQ+ supporters’ group); and an honorary associate professor at the Strategy and Security Institute at the University of Exeter.
Roger’s earlier Civil Service career encompassed strategic planning, resource allocation and operational and international security policy. He has a BSc(Hons) in Physics with European Studies; an MSc in Science Policy; an MA in International Relations; and a PhD in Social and Political Science (with a thesis on UK defence policy). He speaks fluent German. He lives in South East London.
