We are proud to announce that Paul Lyall OBE has been recognised by the Royal Logistic Corps Institution (RLCi) for his insightful contribution to the 2026 RLC Review.

Paul’s article, “Closer Collaboration: How the Commercial Sector Can Help MOD”, was selected by the RLCi Chair, Maj Gen Angus Fay CB, as the winner of the General Interest category.

The award comes at a pivotal moment for the Ministry of Defence (MOD). In the wake of the Strategic Defence Review, there is an urgent requirement for defence supply chains to transition from traditional “just-in-time” efficiency models toward a footing of “just-in-case” resilience and warfighting readiness.

Bridging the gap with collaboration

In his article, Paul draws on his extensive military background and his subsequent years as a commercial consultant to argue that the MoD can significantly benefit from the hard-won expertise of the private sector.

He highlights that the commercial world has long been forced to adapt to high-stakes, unpredictable challenges, ranging from global pandemics to sudden market shifts, developing a level of agility that is now essential for military logistics.

Paul identifies three critical areas where closer collaboration can provide a national advantage:

• Operational agility and surge
• Data-driven decision making
• Broadening the supplier base

A cultural shift for future readiness

Beyond process and contracting, Paul emphasises that true transformation requires a deep cultural shift. He argues that both the MoD and industry must move away from overly transactional behaviours. For industry, this means doing what is right for the nation to ensure long-term stability; for the MoD, it involves streamlining bureaucracy and adopting a more entrepreneurial approach to risk and innovation.

As the global strategic climate becomes increasingly uncertain, Paul’s work serves as a vital call to action for a more integrated, resilient, and responsive partnership between the commercial sector and our armed forces.

The RLCi Chair described Paul as a “very worthy winner,” and the full piece will be featured in the RLC Review 2026.

We congratulate Paul on this achievement and his continued commitment to advancing the dialogue on national security and logistics excellence.

At Unipart, we are proud to support the dialogue between industry and defence to ensure our armed forces remain agile, resilient, and ready for an increasingly uncertain global climate.

Read the full article and explore previous editions on the RLC Review website (skip to page 56).