Global connection in action: Sharing evidence, insights and learning from the 2026 CIMVHR Forum and IUSAFS Biennial Conference
October marked a busy month for the Centre for Evidence for the Armed Forces Community, funded by FiMT, with members of the team contributing to several international Armed Forces community events. Centre staff travelled to the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) Forum 2025 in Ottawa, Canada,[1] and the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society (IUSAFS) Biennial Conference 2025 in Virginia, USA,[2] to share and hear up-to-date research evidence, connect with colleagues across the sector discussing the links between research and action, and receive prestigious awards. This reflects the Centre’s growing engagement and impact with global research communities, third sector organisations, practitioners, and policy makers across the Armed Forces community.
Highlighting the importance of evidence in supporting the Armed Forces community:
The CIMVHR forum is an international annual conference for colleagues across various sectors to exchange insights, collaborate, and showcase advancements in research and ideas for the benefit of military personnel, ex-Service personnel, and their families. Forum 2025 opened with an informative plenary session moderated by the Centre’s Co-Director Professor Nicola T. Fear, where more than eight-hundred delegates gathered to hear perspectives about the role of collaborative research in shaping the future for the military, ex-Service personnel, public safety, and family health. Panel discussants from Veterans’ Affairs Canada, Public Safety Canada, the Department of National Defence, Canada, and the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs highlighted the critical role of research evidence in improving outcomes for Serving and ex-Serving personnel, public safety personnel, and families. Discussions focused on the importance of collaboration and partnerships to implement research in policy and practice, as well as the need to bridge the gap between the government, practice, and research through the way that evidence is shared and communicated. The take-away message of panel discussants was clear: collaborative, high-quality research conducted between organisations across the sector is essential for shaping effective policy and practice.
Sharing UK research on an international stage:
In a panel about Veterans’ Identity and Social Support, Dr Mary Keeling (Deputy Director) discussed the Centre’s first primary research project: the UK-based OUTCOMES study.[3] Dr Keeling shared the study’s emerging evidence on how self-determination and identity processes influence the way that UK ex-Service personnel draw on the benefits of military Service after leaving the Armed Forces. While it is understood that leaving Service involves a shift in identity,[4] these novel findings suggest that ex-Service personnel's connections to their military identity can potentially facilitate or hinder their transition to post-Service life along with their ability to utilise the benefits of Service. Sharing these insights about the important role of individual factors such as self-determination and identity in transition with an international audience of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers extends the reach of the Centre’s work. More broadly, it emphasises the relevance of disseminating UK research and recommendations globally to foster networks with peers across the sector, facilitating opportunities for collaborative evidence generation and meaningful change to the benefit of the Armed Forces community.
At the Forum’s scientific showcase, Dr Karishma Jivraj (Postdoctoral Researcher) presented a poster summarising a narrative literature review conducted by the Centre, synthesising international research on the benefits of military Service.[3] While the review highlighted a lack of representative evidence in this area, it nevertheless demonstrated how ex-Service personnel draw on the various benefits of their Service early-, in- and post-military. Discussions with colleagues across the sector during the showcase emphasised the need to recognise varied Service experiences and contributions, aligning with core themes in the recently published UK Veterans Strategy to celebrate, recognise the contributions of, and support ex-Service personnel.[5] Conversations validated the novelty of the findings and clear gaps in evidence, reinforcing the need for further research to explore the benefits of Service for underrepresented groups in the Armed Forces community.
Celebrating research leadership and recognition:
A memorable moment for the Centre at CIMVHR Forum 2025 was the celebration of our Co-Director, Professor Nicola T. Fear, as she received the prestigious CIMVHR Fellow 2025 award. This honour recognises sustained and influential contributions to high-quality research supporting the Armed Forces community. Professor Fear was invited by organisers of Forum 2025 to join the CIMVHR community of Fellows - a group committed to advancing evidence-informed practice across the international Armed Forces sector - demonstrating her wide reach and impact, alongside the valuable contributions of her expertise to the growing work of the Centre.
Strengthening global connections at the IUSAFS Biennial Conference:
Following the CIMVHR Forum, team members attended the IUSAFS Biennial Conference in Virginia, USA. The IUSAFS is a forum for interchange and assessment of research and scholarship, dealing with the military establishment and civil-military relations globally. It was a special time for Inter-University Seminar, celebrating its 65th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of its journal, Armed Forces and Society (AFS), which produces articles that align closely with the Centre’s nine themes of interest and are hosted on our online repository.[6]
At IUSAFS, Dr Karishma Jivraj presented findings from the OUTCOMES study,[3] communicating the need for further research about the benefits of Service and sharing evidence that could apply cross-culturally to wider Armed Forces contexts. The presentation prompted meaningful exchanges with international researchers, Serving and ex-Serving personnel, practitioners, and policy makers, several of whom highlighted the potential value of understanding the benefits in their own national contexts. These conversations demonstrated the growing global interest in research that captures the full spectrum of military Service and the Centre’s timely role in contributing to more balanced evidence that moves away from a deficit focus.
Recognising international dissemination, collaboration, and future impact:
The CIMVHR Forum and the IUSAFS Biennial Conference 2025 provided valuable opportunities for the Centre to share emerging UK-based research, contribute to ongoing international conversations about the need for balanced evidence reflective of the Armed Forces population, and build potential collaborations with researchers, Serving and ex-Serving personnel, practitioners, and policy makers. The Centre’s activity on international stages reflects its commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to trusted, high-quality evidence to support decision-making, collaborations, and improved outcomes for the Armed Forces community.
References:
[1] Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research Forum 2025. [Internet]. Link
[2] Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society Biennial Conference 2025. [Internet]. Link
[3] Centre for Evidence for the Armed Forces Community Report: OUTCOMES study, benefits of military Service. [Internet]. Link
[4] Centre for Evidence for the Armed Forces Community News Feature: Evidence points to the important role of identity during transition. [Internet]. Link
[5] GOV.UK (2025) Veterans Strategy. [Internet]. Link
[6] Centre for Evidence for the Armed Forces Community Online Repository. [Internet]. Link
