MAST Seminar Recap: Trump – The First 100 Days, So What?

30 April 2025 | The Royal Automobile Club, London

MAST was proud to host an insightful morning seminar exploring the strategic implications of Donald Trump’s presidency following his first 100 days in office. Held at the iconic Royal Automobile Club, the event welcomed a full room of attendees from across the defence, diplomatic, and strategic sectors.

Building on the momentum of last year’s inaugural Canary Wharf conference, this year’s session encouraged attendees to "think differently" about the evolving geopolitical landscape and the deeper ramifications of American political dynamics on global affairs.

A Thought-Provoking Panel

We were honoured to be joined by an exceptional group of speakers, each offering a distinct lens on global security, diplomacy, and strategic foresight:

Major General Jonathan Shaw CB CBE

Chairman
Former Assistant Chief of Defence Staff and Director of Special Forces

A former senior British Army officer with operational and policy experience across the globe, Major General Shaw’s career included service in the Falklands, Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. His leadership included command of the Multinational Division in Basra and oversight of UK cyber security policy. He is now a commentator, public speaker and author.

Nicholas Hopton

Diplomat and Former British Ambassador
Nicholas served as British Ambassador to Libya, Iran, Qatar and Yemen, also holding posts in Rome, Paris, and Morocco. He led the UK’s first National Security Strategy drafting team and has brought deep diplomatic experience to some of the world’s most complex environments. He is now Director General of the Middle East Association.

Dr Keith Dear

CEO of AI Strategy Start-up Cassi
Formerly a Royal Air Force Intelligence Officer and advisor at No. 10, Keith played a central role in the Defence Modernisation and UK space strategy. He holds a doctorate from Oxford, an Exec-MBA from Cambridge, and frequently writes and speaks on the intersection of AI, national security, and strategy.

Robert Fox MBE OSI (Italia) MA

Defence and Security Editor, The Evening Standard
With a journalistic career spanning over 50 years, Robert has reported from conflicts in the Falklands, Middle East, Balkans and Afghanistan. Awarded both an MBE and Italy’s Order of the Star, he contributes to major UK and international outlets including BBC, GB News and Times Radio.

Michael David Shipster CMG OBE

British Former Diplomat
Michael’s diplomatic career included postings in the USSR, India, South Africa, and the US. He led Middle East and Africa policy after 9/11 and later joined Rolls-Royce as International Director. He now supports UK charities and NGOs working in high-risk global regions, including Ukraine.

Introduction by Phillip Cable

CEO of MAST

Thank You

We extend our sincere thanks to all who attended and contributed to the dialogue. The event reaffirmed the importance of multi-disciplinary insight and strategic foresight in navigating today’s uncertain global climate.

Stay tuned for more photos, highlights and speaker quotes on our social channels.