This keynote explores the strategic imperatives shaping connected capability today, drawing lessons from Ukraine and other global theatres, while examining how to bridge the gap between innovation and operational simplicity across defence, civil, and infrastructure domains. Key Takeaways: The Ukraine conflict has redefined expectations for speed, adaptability, and resilience in connected systems. Innovation must be translated into usable, scalable solutions that work in real-world operational contexts. Civil-military convergence is accelerating; shared infrastructure, data, and spectrum demand shared strategies.