Dr Charlotte Kirk
Inspiring your adventures
Military expertise
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I served in the British Army for 5 years, and became the first woman to pass selection into the previously all-male infantry unit when I joined.
As a platoon commander I led training operations, organised international exercises in Cyprus & France, & built & led a team of outstanding soldiers.
Advanced problem solving in challenging and high-pressure environments including extreme fatigue, is definitely great preparation for endurance sports. These experiences instilled the grit and resilience in me that now underpins everything I do.
The army was also the catalyst for both my triathlon and cross-country skiing careers, and I enjoyed captaining teams and leading overseas training exercises for both sports.
In skiing, I won the infantry championships and podiumed at international ski marathons. In triathlon, I won the Army Triathlon Championships across multiple distances, as well as relay races with some great teams.
Energy security, resilience & reindustrialisation - The defence sector as a catalyst for revolutionary climate technologies
For the past 10 years I've built a career investing in, developing, and scaling revolutionary technologies to power the energy transition. There is significant crossover with my military experience, and the defence sector is emerging as a powerful catalyst for the next generation of these solutions.
Bridging national security and climate innovation, they are uniquely positioned to accelerate solutions, offering specialised pathways to market and commercialisation. They serve as robust test beds for rapid iteration, piloting, and validation of emerging technologies before these reach broader markets. For example, GPS and drones were first proven in defence settings before transforming civilian industries.
As global priorities shift towards security, resilience, and reindustrialisation, dual-use technologies like those that also deliver national security benefits are gaining momentum, especially in sectors where strategic assets are highly valued.
There are also several tactical and operational benefits to developing decarbonised military equipment, and defence organisations are already deploying and testing advanced climate solutions not only to lower emissions, but also to improve operational effectiveness and reduce logistical burdens.
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Renewable & distributed energy systems, such as solar arrays on bases, inherently enhance energy security for off-grid military operations by reducing reliance on vulnerable fuel supply lines.
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Onshoring of manufacturing & domestic technology production can further mitigate geopolitical risks, strengthen supply chain resilience & reduce value chain dependencies.
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Vehicle electrification and micro-reactors enable silent mobility and surveillanc
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Predictive maintenance and real-time energy management systems provide cutting-edge tacital operations where every margin counts
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In 2022, the RAF Voyager, a military version of the Airbus A330, completed the world's first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flight and this year the UK's MOD has mandated that all military aviation fuel procured must include SAF.
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Fusion innovation beyond clean firm power can have military applications in focused energy, amplifiers, shielding, and power electronics.