In January 2026, Sympodium Founder & Director Dr Neville Bolt and Chairman Sir Lloyd Dorfman attended the NSBT (Network for Security Business and Technology) Strategic Forum in Tokyo, contributing to a high-level discussion on the future of security business and the growing importance of Strategic Communications in an increasingly unstable world.
The Forum
The Forum, themed around "Shaping the Future of Security Business through Innovation," brought together senior experts and practitioners from across Japan to examine how innovation is reshaping security business — and the critical role Strategic Communications plays within it. The event provided a timely platform for exploring these questions against a backdrop of growing geopolitical complexity and shifting global dynamics.
Key Themes from the Discussion
Dr Neville Bolt participated in a panel titled "Strategic Communications & Security Business: The Significance of Strategic Communications in an Unstable World," which explored:
- The centrality of Strategic Communications to security resilience and decision-making
- How trust is built and maintained in complex geopolitical conditions
- The intersection of innovation and communications in shaping the future of security business
- The implications of global instability for governments, institutions, and practitioners
Voices in the Room
The session brought together a distinguished group of voices from academia, strategy, and defence:
- Dr Neville Bolt, Founder and Director, Sympodium Institute for Strategic Communications
- Prof. Chiyuki Aoi, Director, SCERU and Professor of International Security, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo
- Moderated by Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Kazuo Tokito, Strategist, SBIJ; former Vice Commander of Northern Air Defense Command, Japan Air Self-Defense Force
- Concluding remarks by Prof. Toshiro Nishizawa, Project Professor, University of Tokyo College of Design Planning and Coordination Office
Together, they examined how Strategic Communications is becoming indispensable to security resilience, and what this means for governments, business, and international stability.
Looking Ahead
The Forum underscored the growing recognition of Strategic Communications as a discipline central to navigating today's security challenges. As geopolitical pressures intensify, the conversations held in Tokyo reflect a broader global imperative — to equip leaders and institutions with the tools to communicate with clarity, credibility, and strategic purpose.
