"Smart Resourcing for the Future - Thinking Outside the Box" was the central theme of the second consecutive NATO Resource Conference 2011 which took place in Split, Croatia 16-17 November.

During the two-day panel discussions, National representatives and NATO’s Resource Leadership engaged in vigorous discussions over the most important resource initiatives within NATO and the way ahead for common funding.

“As the global financial crisis confronts Europe with fundamental choices, it is important that this Alliance remains a credible security actor and preserves the ability of the transatlantic community to think, act and work as one,” Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Bieniek said in his address to the NATO Resource Community.

He told delegates that NATO is well positioned to facilitate, support and act as a hub for nations to venture into joint partnerships in order to build capabilities and share resources, pointing to recent successes in this area.

The Resource Conference is an annual event and has transformed into a hub for new ideas in the resources area. The conference provided an unparalleled opportunity for major decision makers within the resource community become informed about ongoing efforts in resource reform and to discuss the way ahead for NATO’s resourcing in an informal setting which stimulates creative thinking.

The key message during the conference was that taking a “Smart” approach to Defence and Resources should happen in an evolutionary rather than revolutionary manner. This could be achieved through establishing an integrated approach across all resource pillars, providing cross-functional inputs across all planning disciplines, ensuring enhanced emphasis on the Human Capital element, maintaining transparency and accountability, developing a life-cycle costing approach and committing to using one requirements resources hierarchical framework.

The NATO Resource Leadership and National representatives were further privileged to receive the first presentation delivered to the Nations on Smart Defence- Multinational Approaches to Capability Development delivered by Vice Admiral Pottenger.

Some of the most important outcomes of the conference identified by participants were the ability to network with colleagues and the opportunity to learn about major resource initiatives within NATO and become part of the larger transformational effort through providing valuable inputs and committing to act and work together.

More than one hundred and seventy participants from the Nations, NATO Staff and Military Commands attended the conference. Amongst the distinguished speakers and panel members were the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Croatia, Chairpersons of the Resource Policy and Planning Board, Budget Committee and Investment Committee, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development and Deputy Chief of Staff for Integrated Resource Management from ACT, and the Vice President and Chief Technical Officer for Cloud Computing and Growth Initiatives at IBM Corporate Strategy.

The conference was kindly hosted by the Croatian Ministry of Defence. ACT, in collaboration with NATO Headquarters, was responsible for setting the agenda, as well as leading, organizing and facilitating the conference.

KEEP THE MOMENTUM IN IMPROVING THE REFORM.