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
Dr Robert Hunjet
Associate Professor, Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network, Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
Alex Walsh
Chief Nuclear & Capability Officer, ASC
Matt Opie
Chief Executive, Defence SA
Dr Mel McDowall
Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network
Libby Day
Chief Executive Officer, Defence Teaming Centre
LTCOL Jake Penley
Commanding Officer – 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
Graham Priestnall OAM
President, AIDN SA
Sumen Rai
Director, Defence Innovation Partnership
Matthew Theoharous
Executive General Manager – Defence and Social Infrastructure, Built Australia
Dr Sanjay Mazumdar
Executive Director,
Defence Trailblazer
Estha van der Linden
Head – South Australia,
Ai Group
Prof Belinda Chiera
Deputy Director Industrial AI Research Centre, University of South Australia
WGCDR S. Kate Conroy
Responsible AI Lead, Jericho Disruptive Innovation, Royal Australian Air Force
Dr Liming Zhu
Research Director, Software and Computational Systems, Data 61, CSIRO
Professor Siobhan Banks
Director – Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre, University of South Australia
Professor Colin Hall
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia
Anthony Weymouth
Head of Technology, Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space, Austrade
Jeremy Satchell
Head of Industry Capability,
BAE Systems Australia
John Fry
Managing Director,
Kongsberg Defence Australia
Darian Macey
Founder,
DECnet
Angela Wiggins
Chief People Officer, BAE Systems Australia
Anthony Ward
Chief Growth Officer, Aurizn
Tony Kyriacou
Defence Partnerships Director, Flinders University
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
9:00am – 1:00pm, Monday, 30th June 2025
8:30 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome
9:15 – 9:45 Keynote address
Theme: “Current RAI Landscape”
9:45– 10:30 Panel discussion
Theme: “Standardisation and the Path to RAI”
10:30 – 10:50 Morning tea break
10:50 – 12:10 Case study activity
12:10 – 12:55 Networking
12:55 – 13:00 Closing remarks
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Welcome Reception Sponsor
Exhibitors
Partners
Charity Partner
CONFERENCE AGENDA 1 JULY 2025
09:15
Welcome from the ADM
09:20
Opening remarks from the Chair
09:30
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
09:50
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 Capability and Nuclear Officer, ASC
10:10
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Partnering for success in South Australia
- South Australian Industry and Academia partnerships
- Financial support from the Emerging and Disruptive Technologies Program
- How can South Australian industry support Defence’s goals?
10:30
KEYNOTE | Shipbuilding, missile development and HFS manufacturing
- Hunter Class Frigate Program
- Continuous naval shipbuilding capability
- Workforce challenges
- Technology and innovation in shipbuilding
Angela Wiggins, Chief People Officer, BAE Systems Australia
10:50
Morning Tea & Networking Break
STREAM A: DEFENCE FOUNDATIONS: INFRASTRUCTURE & OPERATIONS
11:30 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
12:10 Defence investment and construction projects in South Australia
- Major Defence infrastructure projects in SA
- Modernisation and upgrades of facilities
- Collaboration between Federal & State Governments and PRIMEs
Senior Representative, Laing O’Rourke
12:35 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, DefenceSA
13:00 Networking and Lunch break
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
Moderator: Darian Macey, Founder, DECnet
14:40 Kongsberg’s Investment and Commitment in ADF Capability
John Fry, Managing Director, Kongsberg
15:00 Ensuring continual operational readiness
- The role of the 1st Armoured Regiment
- South Australia’s strategic importance to Army readiness
- The importance of Cultana Training Area
- The impact of Army restructuring and Acceleration Capability Development
LTCOL Jake Penley, Commanding Officer – 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
15:20 Afternoon Tea & Networking Break
15:50 Key Operational Challenges for Defence Establishments in South Australia
- Geographic and environmental considerations
- Workforce and population hurdles
- Supply chain and logistics requirements
16:10 PANEL | Future infrastructure requirements to ensure South Australia and South Australian industry can support the delivery of ADF capability
- Investment and construction requirements
- Skills and population demand
- Ensuring a sufficient defence industrial base
16:50 Closing Remarks from the Chair
17:00 End of Conference and Networking Drinks
STREAM B: FUTURE CAPABILITY AND NEXT GENERATION SYSTEMS
11:30 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
Anthony Ward, Chief Growth Officer, Aurizn
12.10 Advancing Defence innovation and capability
- Transforming ADF capability to ensure an agile and modern-day fighting force
- Strengthening collaboration between defence, industry and academia alongside international allies
12:35 Assessing ADF Capability requirements into the future
- Identifying future capability gaps
- Predicting future threats and changes in warfare
- Investing in next-generation technologies
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
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?
Senior Representative, AML3D
15:00 Engaging with local SMEs to bolster capacity
- Factory of the Future Manufacturing Growth Accelerator
- How have SMEs contributed to improved capacity?
- Increasing SA’s manufacturing productivity
Libby Day, Chief Executive Officer, DTC
15:20 Afternoon Tea & Networking Break
15:50 Implementing South Australia’s Advanced Manufacturing Action Plan
- Unlocking the potential of advanced manufacturing
- Driving economic growth and supporting SMEs
- Maximising opportunities within Defence
16:10 PANEL | Accelerating Defence innovation through SMEs and Start ups
- Improving funding and support
- Streamlining pathways to accessing defence supply chains
- Strengthening collaboration between SMEs and Primes
Estha van der Linden, Head – South Australia, Ai Group
Graham Priestnall OAM, President, AIDN SA
16:50 Closing Remarks from the Chair
17:00 End of Conference and Networking Drinks
STREAM C – DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
11:30 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
12.10 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
12:35 Developing Defence Research Centres
- Outcomes of the Defence IS&T Strategy
- Growing collaboration and coordination
- ADSUN as a mechanism for enabling partnerships
Dr Robert Hunjet, Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network – Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
14:00 PANEL | Bringing Innovation to Defence in South Australia
Sumen Rai, Director – Defence Innovation Partnership Team, DefenceSA
14:40 The role of space R&D in supporting Defence
- Developing advanced satellite technologies
- Improving communications and interoperability platforms
- Developments in geo situational awareness
15:00 Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre
Professor Siobhan Banks, Director – Behavior-Brain-Body Research Centre, UniSA
15:20 Afternoon Tea & Networking Break
15:30 Defence Trailblazer – lessons learnt from a large-scale university-industry collaboration focussed on Defence priorities
Dr Sanjay Mazumdar, Executive Director, Defence Trailblazer
16:10 PANEL | Ethical Considerations in Defence Research
- Implications of developing AI, Robotics and autonomous systems
- Legal and regulatory considerations
- Dual use technologies
- Managing risks and responsibilities
16:50 Closing Remarks from the Chair
17:00 End of Conference and Networking Drinks
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
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To access the best available rate, book here.
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