Published 2 December 2025
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Congratulations to Catherine Smith who has been crowned winner of the Resolute Spirit Award at the prestigious Women in Defence UK Awards.
Catherine, Senior Logistic Operations Manager, was recognised for her steadfast spirit to persevere whilst overcoming adversity at this week’s awards ceremony.
The Resolute Spirit Award celebrates women who demonstrate exceptional resilience and determination in their roles across the defence sector.
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Women in Defence UK Awards honouring a decade of outstanding contributions from individuals and teams throughout Defence.
Catherine was one of two DE&S colleagues shortlisted for awards this year, alongside Lisa Thorne, Head of Support Capabilities and Commodities, who was nominated in the Inspirational Award category. Also celebrating on the night was Rebecca Findlay from dstl, one of our NAD Group colleagues, who won the Innovation and Sustainability Award.
On receiving her award, Catherine said:
“I am still in shock I won and in awe of the women I met on the night! To every woman in Defence and beyond: You belong here. You are not an exception; you are the example. You add value. You change culture. You make a difference.
“Every day, we rise. We rise tired, we rise scarred, we rise uncertain, but we rise anyway. Here’s to shining, unapologetically, fiercely, and resolutely.”
Jo Osburn-Hughes, DE&S People Director, said:
“What a privilege it was to join colleagues across defence for the Women in Defence Awards. The evening celebrated the great achievements of women across our defence sector, with stories of leadership, teamwork, inclusion, support and a real commitment to our shared purpose.
“Inspiring, humbling and amazing sums up the evening. A huge congratulations to Catherine for winning the Resolute Spirit Award and Rebecca Findlay for winning the innovation and sustainability award. Both are a testament to their outstanding contributions to Defence.”
Women in Defence UK is an independent not-for-profit organisation, founded in 2011 by former Army officer Angela Owen OBE. With a network of more than 15,000 people and 40+ partners spanning every level of the defence sector, it aims to stimulate positive change across Defence.
Find out more about what we do at DE&S.
Defence Experts Delivering for the Nation
DE&S helps our armed forces protect the nation, our territories and our allies. Few other organisations have a higher collective purpose. It’s this purpose that drives our experts to deliver every day, making sure the soldiers, sailors and aviators serving our country have what they need to succeed.
Partnering with industry for growth
Our commitment extends beyond delivering world-class equipment and support to the UK Armed Forces; we are dedicated to supporting UK economic growth, driving exports, championing sustainability and creating social value across our operations and the contracts we place with industry.
