ADM South Australian Defence Summit
1 July 2025
Adelaide Convention Centre, SA
The ADM South Australian Defence Summit returns for its third edition on Tuesday 1st July 2025, bringing together senior leaders from Defence, industry and academia to explore South Australia’s vital role in Defence and national security.
Key themes for 2025 include:
- Naval shipbuilding and South Australia’s contribution to maritime capability
- Supply chains and infrastructure
- Next generation weapons systems and emerging military technologies
- Defence research and development
- Cybersecurity and AI in modern defence operations
- Advanced and additive manufacturing
Welcome Reception
Date/Time: 30 June 2025, 5.30 – 7pm
Venue: Adelaide Convention Centre, Panorama Room Foyer
Your event experience begins with the Welcome Reception. Network, connect, and engage while enjoying refreshments & canapes. This exclusive event is included in your conference ticket.
Welcome Reception Sponsor
Speakers
Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead AO
Director General, Australian Submarine Agency
Major General Hugh Meggitt AM CSC
Head – Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, Department of Defence
Ash Searl
Director Strategic Surveillance, BAE Systems Australia
Alex Walsh
Chief Nuclear & Capability Officer, ASC
Alex Walter
Strategic Campaigns Manager – Marine, Babcock
WGCDR S. Kate Conroy
Responsible AI Lead, Jericho Disruptive Innovation, Royal Australian Air Force
John Fry
Managing Director,
Kongsberg Defence Australia
Prof Robert Hunjet
Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network – Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
LTCOL Jake Penley
Commanding Officer – 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
Dr Mel McDowall
Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network
Professor Colin Hall
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia
Libby Day
Chief Executive Officer, Defence Teaming Centre
Matthew Theoharous
Executive General Manager – Defence and Social Infrastructure, Built Australia
Jeremy Satchell
Head of Industry Capability,
BAE Systems Australia
Prof Belinda Chiera
Deputy Director Industrial AI Research Centre, University of South Australia
Anthony Ward
Chief Growth Officer, Aurizn
Professor Siobhan Banks
Director – Behavior-Brain-Body Research Centre, University of South Australia
Dr Liming Zhu
Research Director, Software and Computational Systems, Data 61, CSIRO
Anthony Weymouth
Head of Technology, Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space, Austrade
Simon Joyce
Assistant Secretary Data Governance and Services, Department of Defence
Tony Kyriacou
Defence Partnerships Director, Flinders University
Estha van der Linden
Head – South Australia,
Ai Group
Graham Priestnall OAM
President, AIDN SA
Dr Sanjay Mazumdar
Executive Director,
Defence Trailblazer
Darian Macey
Founder,
DECnet
Dr Damian Copeland
Article 36 Legal
Matt Opie
Chief Executive, Defence SA
Nick Howie
Director, Centre of Excellence – Establishment, TAFE SA
Oskar Jakubowski
Student,
University of Adelaide
Brad Coulter
Senior Technical Sales Consultant, AML3D
Professor Chris Brebner
Pro-Vice Chancellor – Curriculum Impact, Flinders University
Zygmunt Szpak
Australian Institute for Machine Learning, University of Adelaide
Defence Artificial Intelligence and Industry Symposium 2025
30th June Adelaide Convention Centre, SA
The Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network (DAIRNet) is pleased to host this symposium, as part of the ADM South Australian Defence Summit. This symposium serves as a platform for a meaningful exchange between the Australian Defence and Artificial Intelligence (AI) communities, providing an opportunity to explore both differences and commonalities, while also discussing potential avenues for future collaboration.
As the Defence sector rapidly evolves, the integration of Responsible AI (RAI) presents both exciting opportunities and challenges. While progress is being made, the adoption of RAI across Defence remains inconsistent.
Given the growing significance of RAI, it is more important than ever to deepen our understanding of its implementation and the associated risks. We invite you to join us in this crucial conversation on RAI, as we work towards establishing standardised processes to ensure its use within Defence.
DAIRNet is an initiative of the Department of Defence and is managed in partnership with the University of South Australia. To learn more, visit www.dairnet.com.au
Program
DAIRNet Defence AI Industry Symposium
8:30 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome
Dr Mel McDowall, Director of DAIRNet
9:15 – 9:50 Keynote address | Theme: Current RAI Landscape
WGCDR S. Kate Conroy, Jericho Disruptive Innovation, Royal Australian Air Force
WGCDR Alec Tattersall, Royal Australian Air Force
Dr Damian Copeland, Article 36 Legal
9:50 – 10:40 Panel discussion | Theme: Standardisation and the Path to RAI
Facilitator: Prof Belinda Chiera, University of South Australia
WGCDR S. Kate Conroy, Jericho Disruptive Innovation, Royal Australian Air Force
WGCDR Alec Tattersall, Royal Australian Air Force
Dr Damian Copeland, Article 36 Legal
Mr Simon Joyce, Department of Defence
Dr Liming Zhu, Data 61, CSIRO
10:40 – 11:00 Morning tea break
11:00 – 12:00 Case study activity
Facilitators: WGCDR S. Kate Conroy, Jericho Disruptive Innovation, Royal Australian Air Force
WGCDR Alec Tattersall, Royal Australian Air Force
Dr Damian Copeland, Article 36 Legal
12:00 – 12:55 Lunch and networking
12:55 – 13:00 Closing remarks
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Welcome Reception Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
Exhibitors
Partners
Charity Partner
CONFERENCE AGENDA 1 JULY 2025
08:00
Registration opens
09:00
Welcome from the ADM
Ewen Levick, Publisher, ADM Group
09:10
Opening remarks from the Chair
Matt Opie, Chief Executive, Defence SA
09:15
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Building Australia’s conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines.
- Challenges and opportunities
- Osborne Submarine Construction Yard
- Skills and Training Academy (Campus and Initiatives)
- Workforce and Industry participation
Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead AO RAN, Director-General, Australian Submarine Agency
09:40
The role of infrastructure to enable national resilience in Defence
- Nuclear subs (SA and WA)
- Nuclear Assurance and Licencing
- Public safety
- Constrained Market – need to think differently
- Supply chain and resource upskilling – springboard to boat build and sustainment
- Leveraging international and AUKUS tripartite.
Glen Billington, General Manager Defence, Laing O’Rourke
10:05
INDUSTRY KEYNOTE | Workforce Development and supply chain uplift to support the submarine program
- Extending current fleet availability and performance
- Strategies to skill, attract and retain a workforce capable of delivering future submarine capability
- Collaborating across industry to deliver undersea warfare capabilities
Alex Walsh, Chief Nuclear & Capability Officer, ASC
10:30
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Accelerating asymmetric capabilities through Innovation
- ASCA’s alignment to Capability Delivery
- ASCA’s priority areas that are key to Defence
- How can South Australian industry can support ASCA’s mission
Major General Hugh Meggitt AM CSC, Head – Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, Department of Defence
10:55
KEYNOTE | How South Australians are delivering world leading Defence technologies to the ADF and our Five Eyes partners
- OTHR recognition as a leading-edge capability globally for national security
- How industry is coming together to deliver a truly sovereign capability in guided missiles technology
- JORN upgrade sets the high watermark for SME participation and innovation.
Ash Searl, Director Strategic Surveillance, BAE Systems Australia
STREAM A: DEFENCE FOUNDATIONS: INFRASTRUCTURE & OPERATIONS
12:00 Welcome back from the Chair
Glen Billington, General Manager Defence, Laing O’Rourke
12.05 PANEL | Strategic importance of South Australia in Defence operations
- Strategic location and ability for rapid force deployment to the Indo-Pacific
- Osborne Shipyard and home to major defence companies
- Key military infrastructure facilities
Jeremy Satchell, Head of Industry Capability, BAE Systems Australia
Alex Walter, Strategic Campaigns Manager – Marine, Babcock
Pat Cashin, Client Director, Laing O’Rourke
Moderator: Darian Macey, Founder, DECnet
12:45 Kongsberg’s Investment and Commitment in ADF Capability
- Delivering critical capability to the ADF, including NSM for Navy.
- Contribution to the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise and support for long-term sovereign capability development.
- Partnerships with Australian industry, including South Australian SMEs to build a resilient national defence ecosystem
John Fry, Managing Director, Kongsberg
STREAM B: FUTURE CAPABILITY AND NEXT GENERATION SYSTEMS
12:00 Welcome back from the Chair
Anthony Ward, Chief Growth Officer, Aurizn
12.05 PANEL | Next Generations Weapon Systems & the Future of Defence Innovation in Australia
- Key focus areas in emerging technology
- Autonomous and AI enabled systems
- Directed energy & electromagnetic weapons
- Developing hypersonic capability
Mike Turton, Aurizn
Lee Goddard, Company Director, Australian Missile Corporation
LTCOL Jake Penley, Commanding Officer – 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
WO1 Chris Sharp, Regimental Sergeant Major – 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
Moderator: Anthony Ward, Chief Growth Officer, Aurizn
12:45 Additive Manufacturing CRC – developing the AM supply chain for Defence
- Role of AM in the Australian manufacturing ecosystem
- Role of AM in the defence supply chain
- Role of the AMCRC
Professor Colin Hall, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia
STREAM C – DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
12:00 Welcome back from the Chair
Sumen Rai, Director, Defence Innovation Partnership
12.05 PANEL | How will AUKUS shape Australia’s Defence R&D landscape?
- Collaboration with international partners
- Budgeting and investment into AUKUS priorities
- How will AUKUS driven R&D enhance Australian military capability
Dr Mel McDowall, Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network
Tony Kyriacou, Defence Partnerships Director, Flinders University
Prof Al Jawhari, Co-Founder, Stärke Advanced Manufacturing Group
Moderator: Greg Peters, Principal Product Engineer – Technology and Innovation Group, Laing O’Rourke
12:45 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology – Solving the Hard Problems
- Outcomes of the Defence IS&T Strategy
- Growing collaboration and coordination
- ADSUN as a mechanism for enabling partnerships
Prof Robert Hunjet, Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network – Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
STREAM A: DEFENCE FOUNDATIONS: INFRASTRUCTURE & OPERATIONS
14:00 PANEL | Supporting Defence Capability: Infrastructure Delivery in South Australia
- Unique challenges operating in the South
- Skilling and workforce obstacles
- Innovation and technology integration
- Upcoming defence projects and strategic priorities
Matthew Theoharous, Executive General Manager, Defence and Social Infrastructure, Built
Danielle Whiting, Project Manager – SA, Laing O’Rourke
Moderator: David Bishop, Partner, Newton Consulting
14:40 Supporting the growth of South Australia’s sovereign defence base
- Expanding defence industrial capability
- Investment in defence infrastructure
- Increasing opportunities for SMEs
Matt Opie, Chief Executive, Defence SA
STREAM B: FUTURE CAPABILITY AND NEXT GENERATION SYSTEMS
14:00 PANEL | Preparing for evolving workforce demands
- Critical skills required for future defence capability
- Developing closer collaboration
- Government initiatives to support the Defence workforce
Nick Howie – Director, Centre of Excellence – Establishment, TAFE SA
Oskar Jakubowski, Student, University of Adelaide
Professor Chris Brebner, Pro-Vice Chancellor – Curriculum Impact, Flinders University
Moderator: Cassie Manser Managing Director and Principal Business Partner, People and Risk
14:40 CASE STUDY | Developing and Deploying Additive Manufacturing
- Comparisons to traditional manufacturing methods
- Benefits of on demand production and reducing reliance on supply chains
- What is the future of 3D printing and next-generation application?
Brad Coulter, Senior Technical Sales Consultant, AML3D
STREAM C – DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
14:00 PANEL | Bringing Innovation to Defence in South Australia
WGCDR Paul Hay, Deputy Director Jericho Disruptive Innovation, Royal Australian Air Force
Professor Anna Ma-Wyatt, Director of Astronaut-Autonomy teaming, Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources
Steven Benn, Managing Director & CEO, Priori Analytica
Paul Daly, Entrepreneurship Program Manager, Defence Trailblazer
Moderator: Phil Temby, Associate Director, Defence Innovation Partnership
14:40 Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre
Professor Siobhan Banks, Director – Behavior-Brain-Body Research Centre, University of South Australia
Zygmunt Szpak, Australian Institute for Machine Learning, University of Adelaide
STREAM A: DEFENCE FOUNDATIONS: INFRASTRUCTURE & OPERATIONS
15:30 PANEL | Accelerating Manufacturing and Defence Innovation through SME Engagement
- Factory of the Future Manufacturing Growth Accelerator
- Streamlining pathways to accessing defence supply chains
- How have SMEs contributed to improved capacity?
- Streamlining pathways to accessing defence supply chains
Estha van der Linden, Head – South Australia, Ai Group
Kerryn Smith, General Manager Capability Development, DTC
Professor Claire Lenehan, Director – Flinders Factory of the Future, Flinders University
Moderator: Jarrod Sultana, Senior Project Leader, Laing O’Rourke
16:30 Closing from Stream Chair
Glen Billington, General Manager Defence, Laing O’Rourke
STREAM B: FUTURE CAPABILITY AND NEXT GENERATION SYSTEMS
15:30 Combat Experimentation in the Australian Army
LTCOL Jake Penley, Commanding Officer – 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
15:50 PANEL | Workforce resilience in Defence industry
- How can prime contractors work together to maintain specialised talent when projects are cancelled, downsized or completed?
- Developing mechanisms for workforce sharing
- Balancing cooperation and competition
- What can SMEs offer and how can they access prime contractors talent?
Dr Michael Edwards, Chief Technology Officer, Raytheon
Graham Priestnall OAM, President, AIDN SA
Amanda MacKinnell, Head, Industry Capability & Strategy Development, L3Harris Technologies
Moderator: Cassie Manser Managing Director and Principal Business Partner, People and Risk
16:30 Closing from Stream Chair
Anthony Ward, Chief Growth Officer, Aurizn
STREAM C – DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
15:30 Defence Trailblazer – lessons learnt from a large-scale university-industry collaboration focussed on Defence priorities
Dr Sanjay Mazumdar, Executive Director, Defence Trailblazer
15:50 PANEL | Unlocking AUKUS opportunities for Australian businesses
- Promoting Australia’s defence innovation strengths
- Opportunities for Australian businesses in US and UK markets
- Regulatory and compliance barriers
Dylan Jones, Director, Office for AUKUS, Department of the Premier and Cabinet SA
Kym Welsby, Strategy Consultant, SAHR
Libby Day, Chief Executive Officer, DTC
Moderator: Sumen Rai, Director, Defence Innovation Partnership
16:30 Closing from Stream Chair
Sumen Rai, Director, Defence Innovation Partnership
Pricing
- *Department of Defence/ADF attend for free. Please register for the ADF/Dept Defence pass by emailing [email protected] and ensure you use your business email address.
- The SME rate applies to companies with fewer than 200 employees and are not part of a larger group/ parent company
- Local SME rate applies to South Australian registered organisations employing fewer than 50 people who aren’t part of a larger group/ parent company
| Packages | Full Rate |
| Industry | |
| SA Defence Summit | $1,595 + GST |
| Dairnet AI Symposium | $695 + GST |
| SME/ Academia/ Govt | |
| SA Defence Summit | $1,195 + GST |
| Dairnet AI Symposium | $495 + GST |
| Local SME | |
| SA Defence Summit | $795 + GST |
| Dairnet AI Symposium | $395 + GST |
Venue
Adelaide Convention Centre
North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
Book accommodation with HotelMaps
To access the best available rate, book here.
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