Join us for the Australian Defence Magazine AUKUS Pillar II Summit, taking place on 18 February 2026 in Canberra, as we delve into the deepening technological collaboration between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
With a primary emphasis on advancing military capabilities through emerging technologies, this conference is where the next generation of defence innovation takes shape.
Dive into high-stakes discussions on the integration of artificial intelligence, hypersonics, cyber warfare, robotics, machine learning, quantum technologies, and more. Discover how the three nations can leverage their combined expertise to push the boundaries of defence technology, from joint development initiatives to integrated supply chains and a unified strategy that maximises the benefits of emerging tech for all partners.
This is your chance to be part of a game-changing dialogue – uniting defence leaders, policymakers, industry, and academia to shape the future of military excellence through the power of innovation.
New for 2026! An Unprecedented Opportunity – All in One Place!
The ADM AUKUS Pillar II Summit will be co-located with the 23nd ADM Congress, the 7th ADM Space Summit and the ADM Defence Financing Summit. This unique convergence of events gives you exclusive access to three powerhouse industry gatherings with just one registration. It’s the ultimate opportunity to engage with key decision-makers, industry experts, and thought leaders across defence, space, and international collaboration.
And that’s not all – we’ve got special rates for SMEs and academia, ensuring everyone can join in on the action. Department of Defence/ADF attend for free – see details below.
Get in early! The first 300 delegates to register will receive a complimentary seat at the ADM Congress Dinner, valued at $350 + GST. Don’t miss out on this exclusive chance to network, dine, and discuss the future of defence and space.
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Welcome Reception Sponsor
Afternoon Tea Sponsor
Gala Dinner Sponsor
Lanyard Sponsor
Lunch Sponsor
Coffee Cart Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
Charity Partner
Speakers
Dr Kate Cameron
Acting First Assistant Secretary – AUKUS Advanced Capabilities, Department of Defence
MAJGEN Hugh Meggitt
Head – ASCA,
Department of Defence
Damian Parmenter CBE
Senior Counselor, Palantir Technologies
Amanda MacKinnell
Head, Industry Capability & Strategy Development, L3Harris
Prof Rob Hunjet
Program Leader – Science Partnerships, Department of Defence
Anamika Mishra
Director – Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space, Austrade
Robert Dane
Chief Executive Officer, Ocius
Stuart Bryden
Head of Future Business, BAE Systems Australia
Michael Irwin
Co-Founder,
Breaker Industries
James Keane
Chief Executive Officer,
Greenroom Robotics
Clair Stark
Associate Director,
Defence Innovation Network
Karen Schilling
Defence & Advanced Technology Industry Advocate,
ACT Government
Chris Mills AM CSC
Director,
UNSW Defence Research Institute
Charles Winsor
Managing Director,
Cognitive Advantage
Jimmy Kiploks
General Manager – DefenceNT,
NT Government
AGENDA | Wednesday 18th February 2026
8:25
Opening Remarks from the Chair
Mel McDowall, Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network (DAIRNet)
8:30
KEYNOTE | Address from Chief of Navy
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN, Chief of Navy
9:00
KEYNOTE | AUKUS: Driving Advances in Defence Capabilities and Industry Growth
- Accelerating the development and deployment of cutting edge technology
- Technology and expertise transfer among AUKUS partners
- Interoperability and joint operation readiness
- Strengthening sovereign manufacturing capability
- Creating opportunities for Australian industry to access global supply chains
Dr Kate Cameron, Acting First Assistant Secretary – AUKUS Advanced Capabilities, Department of Defence
9:30
KEYNOTE | Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator | Innovating for AUKUS Pillar II
- How is ASCA driving rapid capability development and innovation to support AUKUS Pillar II objectives
- Streamlining processes, industry partnerships and technology development
- Current AUKUS relevant and priority projects
MAJGEN Hugh Meggitt, Head – ASCA, Department of Defence
10:00
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE | Challenges and opportunities in technology collaboration and exchange
- Managing and mitigating risks associated with intellectual property sharing
- Cybersecurity obstacles in collaborative and cross border environments
- Streamlining processes for technology sharing
- Utilising innovative technologies to address emerging threats
Damian Parmenter, Senior Counselor, Palantir Technologies
10:30
Morning Tea and Networking Break
11:00
Homegrown autonomy: hear the latest on BAE Systems Australia’s sovereign capability, including an exclusive product update
- Product update
- BAE Systems Australia’s pedigree in autonomy
- Sovereign capability, technology transfer and future opportunities within AUKUS Pillar II
- A look to the future battlefield
Stuart Bryden, Head of Future Business, BAE Systems Australia
11:25
MINISTERIAL ADDRESS |
The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry
11:35
FIRESIDE CHAT |
The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry
Ewen Levick, Publisher, Australian Defence Magazine
12:00
PANEL | Transformative Possibilities for AUKUS Pillar II: Advancing Defence Capabilities
- Development and integration of autonomous systems
- Real-time battlefield decision making tools
- AI powered intelligence analysis and threat assessments
- Ethical considerations and responsibilities
- Collaborative innovation in quantum technologies
Amanda MacKinnell, Head, Industry Capability & Strategy Development, L3Harris
Anamika Mishra, Senior Global Engagement Manager, Austrade
Michael Irwin, Co-Founder, Breaker Industries
12:45
Lunch
13:45
PANEL | Autonomous Horizons: The Future of Unmanned Systems
- Technological advancements and AI driven autonomy
- Integrating unmanned systems into defence strategies
- Ensuring interoperability amongst AUKUS partners
- Accelerating R&D and innovation through AUKUS
Robert Dane, Chief Executive Officer, Ocius
14:25
KEYNOTE | Defence Innovation Science and Technology – Solving the Hard Problems Together
- Research excellence in AUKUS priorities areas
- Talent development and workforce challenges
- International collaboration
Prof Rob Hunjet, Program Leader – Science Partnerships, Department of Defence
14:50
PANEL | Coordinating a nationwide approach to AUKUS Research and Development
- Developing regional and state-based innovation hubs
- Increasing cooperation and collaboration between universities, defence and industry
- International collaboration and knowledge sharing
15:35
Afternoon Tea & Networking Break
16:00
Turning Autonomy into Trusted Operational Capability
- From AUKUS Pillar II to the waterfront: How Greenroom is translating Pillar II objectives into deployable maritime autonomy across surface and subsea domains
- A first-principles view of autonomy: why physics, engineering discipline, and systems thinking matter
- Operationalising autonomy at scale: Why buying technology isn’t capability, and the critical role of test, evaluation, integration, and crewed operations
James Keane, Chief Executive Officer, Greenroom Robotics
16:25
PANEL | Unlocking Regional and Remote Australia’s Potential
- Opportunities for regional and remote Australia under AUKUS Pillar II
- Developing advanced manufacturing hbus
- Infrastructure investment and economic diversification
- Skilled workforce challenges
17:05
Closing remarks from the Chair
17:10
Networking Drinks
Charity Dinner
18 February 2026 – 6:30pm
Wrap up the day’s exciting discussions in style at the ADM Congress Charity Dinner. This evening offers the perfect opportunity to continue networking with fellow Congress attendees while supporting a great cause. Join key industry leaders, defence experts, and policymakers for an unforgettable night of conversation and charity.
Special Offer – First 300 conference delegates get a FREE seat at the dinner.
Welcome Reception
17 February 2026 – 6pm
Your event experience begins with the ADM Congress Welcome Reception. Network, connect, and engage while enjoying refreshments, as you hear from a distinguished guest speaker (to be announced).
This exclusive event is included in your conference ticket.
Pricing
Conference registration include includes access to:
- All four co-located conferences
- ADM Congress
- ADM Space Summit
- ADM Pillar II Conference
- ADM Defence Financing Summit
- Welcome Reception
- Post Conference Networking Drinks
- ADM Congress Charity Dinner *
*First 300 delegates get a FREE seat at the ADM Congress Dinner
Special rates:
- SME is defined as fewer than 200 global employees
- Micro SME is defined as fewer than 50 global employees
- Department of Defence / ADF attend the conference free. Please note this does not include a seat at the Charity Dinner. Simply register for the ADF/Dept Defence pass by emailing [email protected] and ensure you use your business email address.
| Packages | Full Rate |
| Conference pass – Standard Industry Rate | $3,095 + GST |
| Conference pass – SME, Govt & Academia Rate | $2,095 + GST |
| Conference pass – Micro SME Rate | $1,695 + GST |
| Additional Charity Dinner | $350 + GST |
| Charity Dinner – Table of 10 | $3,300 + GST |
| Charity Dinner – ADF & Dept Defence ONLY | $200 + GST |
Venue
Hyatt Hotel, Canberra
120 Commonwealth Ave
Canberra ACT 2600
(02) 6270 1234
Book accommodation with HotelMaps
To access the best available rate, book here.
Event Code Of Conduct
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