• ADM Congress

    This major Defence/Industry Conference has evolved into a pivotal event in the Defence calendar, attracting over 500 delegates each year.

    21 February 2024
    Hyatt Hotel, Canberra

    INTERESTED IN ATTENDING

ADF & Department of Defence – Register for Free!

Overview

Attracting more than 500 senior-level attendees and including addresses from Government, Defence leadership, prime contractors and SMEs. ADM Congress, now in its 21st year, is the pivotal event in the defence calendar focussing on capability, acquisition and sustainment.

2024’s iteration will assess the ADF’s future capability requirements, major acquisition projects, regional geo-politics and national security issues. Alongside, solidifying supply chains, developing and sustaining a highly skilled workforce and developing an internationally competitive sovereign Defence industry.

Policy dialogue, high level debate, and extensive media coverage will once again ensure an unmissable event.

The ADM congress provides valuable insights into the direction Defence is steering. It also brings together industry partners in a forum to hear what is working well and what can be incorporated into our current roles to better serve Defence.

The line up of speakers was second to none! The professional learning, particularly post DSR, was invaluable.

Sponsors

Gold & Coffee Cart Sponsor

Welcome Reception Sponsor

Lanyard Sponsor

Exhibitors

Partners

Charity Partner

Thought Leadership Partner

2024 Speakers


The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP
Assistant Minister for Defence


Air Marshal Leon Phillips OAM
Chief Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance, Department of Defence


MAJGEN Wade Stothart
Head Military Personnel – Defence People Group, Department of Defence


Prof Emily Hilder
Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), Department of Defence


Air Marshal (Ret’d) Warren McDonald AO, CSC
Chief Executive,
Lockheed Martin Australia


David Nockels
FAS – Industry Policy Division,
Department of Defence


Anthony Weymouth
Head of Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space, AUSTRADE


Stephen Moore
FAS AUKUS Advanced Capabilities, Department of Defence


Laurence McHauser
Partner – London, McKinsey & Co


Dr Gareth Parker
Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO


Mel McDowall
Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network (DAIRNet)


Andrew Dudgeon
Partner, McKinsey & Co


Muhammad Usman
Team Leader – Quantum Systems, CSIRO’s Data61


Geoff Camp
Executive Director – Defence, JLL Australia


Bec Shrimpton
Director Defence, Strategy & National Security, ASPI


Jennifer Parker
Expert associate National Security College ANU and adjunct fellow at UNSW


William Infante
Innovation Lead – Digital Technologies, Navantia Australia


Jeremy Satchell
Head of Industry Capability,
BAE Systems Australia


Air Vice Marshal (Ret’d) Steven “Zed” Roberton
DSC, AM, ECEC Senior Advisor, Canberra, McKinsey & Co


Dr Malcolm Davis
Senior Analyst, ASPI


AVM (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO
Chair, Institute for Integrated Economic Research – Australia


Kate Louis
Executive Director,
AI Group


Stuart Althaus
CEO,
Infogate Advisory


Jake Kearsley
Managing Director,
Para Bellum Solutions

Charity Dinner

Location: National Museum of Australia, Canberra
21 February 6:30pm
Dress Code: Business Attire

Experience an unforgettable evening at the Australian Defence Magazine Charity Dinner, amid the distinguished setting of the National Museum of Australia. This event offers more than just a night of networking; it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause.

Fireside Chat with Rodney Cottam

7.40pm | 21 February 2024

Rodney Cottam served more than 4 years in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army. In 2004 whilst still serving, a motor vehicle accident left him with a long-term condition that permanently paralysed his left arm. In the blink of an eye, he went from being an elite soldier, to completely losing all movement and feeling in his left arm.

He subsequently made a crucial decision: to accept what had happened, move on and continue to live his best life. He has since immersed himself in raising awareness & funds to support veteran and family sporting initiatives through Invictus Australia which has involved taking on a series of daunting running challenges that epitomise the Invictus spirit.

2024 AGENDA

WELCOME RECEPTION | Tuesday 20th February 2024

The Australian Defence Magazine will be hosting welcome drinks for all delegates attending ADM Congress 2024.

18:00 – 19:30

Lavender Courtyard, Hyatt Hotel Canberra

Wednesday 21st February 2024

8:50

 Welcome to Country

8:55

Welcome from ADM

Ewen Levick, Publisher, ADM

9:00

Introduction from the chair

Air Vice Marshal (Ret’d) Steven “Zed” Roberton, DSC, AM, ECEC Senior Advisor, Canberra, McKinsey & Co

9:05

MINISTERIAL VIDEO WELCOME ADDRESS |

The Hon Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry

9:10

MINISTERIAL ADDRESS | Australia’s Strategic Defence Imperatives

The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Defence

9:30

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Innovations in Australian Defence: Next generation weapons & guided ordnance

  • Guided weapons and precision targeting
  • Identifying challenges and opportunities
  • Collaboration between industry, academia and defence

AIRMSHL Leon Phillips OAM, Chief Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance, Department of Defence

10:00

INDUSTRY KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Enhancing Australia’s national security: Defence industry’s role, collaboration and future innovation

  • The current state of the Australian defence industry and it’s role bolstering national security
  • Exploring how Australia’s defence industry collaborates across sectors and with international partners
  • Risks and opportunities arising from growth and development
  • Embracing emerging technologies and manufacturing techniques

Air Marshal (Ret’d) Warren McDonald AO, CSC, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia

10:30

Defence readiness and leadership empowerment in today’s Defence force

Laurence McHauser, Partner – London, McKinsey & Co

10:55

Welcome to Morning Tea

Geoff Camp, Executive Director – Defence, JLL Australia

11:00

Networking & Refreshments Break

11:30

PANEL | Military Innovation and Research: Shaping the Future of Defence with Advanced Technologies

  • Exploring the Impact of AI, autonomous systems and space capabilities on modern Defence strategies
  • Assessing the investment and collaboration between Defence, academia and industry
  • How innovation in military technology can improve resource utilisation and readiness
  • Global partnerships in research and innovation

Muhammad Usman, Team Leader – Quantum Systems, CSIRO’s Data61
Mel McDowall, Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network (DAIRNet)
William Infante, Innovation Lead – Digital Technologies, Navantia Australia
Moderator: Jake Kearsley, Managing Director, Para Bellum Solutions

12:05

Australia’s Defence Budget Dilemma

  • Implications of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR)
  • How are Defence budget constraints hindering strategic preparedness?
  • Challenges of overprogramming in the acquisition budget
  • Should there be an increase in the 2% of GDP allocation to Defence?

Bec Shrimpton, Director Defence Strategy and National Security, ASPI

12:30

PANEL | AUKUS Pillar 2: Jointly Developing Advanced Capabilities

  • Developing next generation weapons technology
  • Integrating AI into space capability
  • Collaboration between the three AUKUS partners

Steve Moore, FAS AUKUS Advanced Capabilities, Department of Defence
Prof Emily Hilder, Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), Department of Defence
David Nockels, FAS – Industry Policy Division, Department of Defence

Moderator: Kate Louis, Executive Director, AI Group

13:05

Networking & Lunch Break

14:00

PANEL | Global Security Challenges and Australia’s Position in the World

  • Indo-Pacific dynamic, geopolitical tensions and alliances
  • Emerging threats, instability, and environmental security
  • Strategic interests, soft power, and diplomacy

Jennifer Parker, Expert associate National Security College ANU and adjunct fellow at UNSW
Dr Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst, ASPI
AVM (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO, Chair, Institute for Integrated Economic Research – Australia

Moderator: Justin Burke, Senior Policy Advisor – National Security College, ANU

14:35

Leveraging Science for Defence Advancement

  • CSIRO’s research focus areas and their relevance to Defence
  • Successful collaboration and projects within the Defence sector
  • Emerging technologies and trends

Dr Gareth Parker, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO

15:00

PANEL | Expanding Australia’s Defence Export and Investment Landscape

  • Highlighting the key role Defence exports and investment play in the Australia’s economy and national security
  • Government and industry driven initiatives
  • Key markets and partnerships
  • Regulatory challenges

Anthony Weymouth, Head of Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space, AUSTRADE
Andrew Dudgeon, Partner, McKinsey & Co

Kendell Kuczma, Director Business Development, Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems Australia & New Zealand
Moderator: Kate Louis, Executive Director, AI Group

15:35

Networking & Refreshments Break

16:00

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Achieving a more integrated ADF
  • Improving efficiency and cohesiveness
  • Focussing on the wellbeing of Defence personnel
  • Ensuring the best talent is retained

MAJGEN Wade Stothart, Head Military Personnel – Defence People Group, Department of Defence

16:25

PANEL | Empowering Growth: Strategies for Effective SME Engagement in Defence Industry

  • How can SMEs contribute to technological innovation and adaptation
  • How is current policy and initiatives supporting SMEs
  • Ensuring accessibility for SMEs

Jeremy Satchell, Head of Industry Capability, BAE Systems Australia
Brent Clark, Chief Executive Officer, AIDN
Greg Barsby, CEO, Penten
Moderator: Stuart Althaus, CEO, Infogate Advisory

17:00

Closing Remark from the Chair

17:10

End of Conference

18:15

Buses depart the Hyatt for Charity Dinner

Pricing

*SME is defined as organisation with fewer than 200 employees worldwide, including parent company, regardless of structure.
*Micro SME is defined as organisation with fewer than 50 employees worldwide, including parent company, regardless of structure.

  • Standard rate until 26 January 2024
  • Full rate from 27 January 2024

All Conference passes include access to the Welcome Reception, Post Confernce Networking Drinks and the Charity Dinner

ADF & Department of Defence – Free
Please register for ADF/Dept Defence pass by emailing info@informa.com.au
* This does not include the Charity Dinner

Packages Full Rate
Conference pass – Standard Industry Rate $2,795 + GST
Conference pass – SME Rate $1,795 + GST
Conference pass – Micro SME Rate $1,395 + GST
Charity Dinner $350 + GST

ConnectMe

ConnectMe • Networking enhanced

All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.

Venue

Hyatt Hotel, Canberra
120 Commonwealth Ave
Canberra ACT 2600
(02) 6270 1234


Sustainability

Our Commitment to Sustainability

In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.

We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.

To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.