Ministry of Defence
The UK Ministry of Defence Data and Digital department commissioned Sane Seven to create an internal exhibition for senior leadership and key stakeholders.
The brief was to create work that could open a serious conversation about women, identity, and institutional change.
Sane Seven developed a dual-portrait approach. Each woman photographed twice: once in uniform, once outside the visual language of the institution. The uniform portrait showed role, rank, and public duty. The second showed the person beyond the role — individual, contemporary, whole.
Placed side by side, the portraits asked the viewer to hold both truths at once.
The structure was deliberate. Research consistently shows that employees who can bring their whole self to work demonstrate higher job satisfaction, stronger organisational commitment, and lower turnover. The inverse is equally documented: suppressing identity to conform to institutional norms increases stress and reduces performance. The dual portrait made that argument visible.
The series included General Dame Sharon Nesmith, the first female Vice Chief of the Defence Staff; Colonel Lucy Giles, the first female commandant at Sandhurst; and women at the start of their careers. Same exhibition. Equal weight.
The exhibition was shown at a senior internal event attended by generals, directors, and decision-makers.
“Inspirational – not just inside defence, but on a much wider scale.”
– Charlie Forte, Chief Information Officer
“Reaches people in a way they don’t expect to be reached. The work transcends what is normally done.”
— Caroline Bellamy, Director
“Admirable incredible powerful woman. You also show the vulnerability and the joy and the love in that same person. That’s remarkable.”
— Edwina Dunn, Guest