Stream A: Delivering Defence Capability

11:30 The role of The SA Office for AUKUS

• Supporting South Australia’s Defence sector
• Establishing a single point of contact for Commonwealth agencies
• Enhancing access to AUKUS supply chains

Dylan Jones, Director, Office for AUKUS, Department of Premier and Cabinet

11:50 Streamlining and accelerating access into AUKUS Supply chains

• Improving processes to facilitate integration into AUKUS supply chains
• Collaboration between AUKUS partners to optimise supply chain efficiency
• Utilising technology and innovation

Kate van Hilst, First Assistant Director General – SSN Construction, Australian Submarine Agency

12:10 Understanding the impact of the ITAR and Export Controls reforms

12:30 Panel: Accessing AUKUS supply chains.

• Assessing the opportunities AUKUS presents for South Australia’s defence industry
• Key challenges in accessing AUKUS supply chains
• Understanding the impact of the ITAR and Export Controls reforms

Mel Slater, Director Maritime, Defence SA
Mike Humphreys, Director Pillar 1 (AUKUS), HII Australia
Dr James Palmer, CEO, Silentium Defence

13:00 Lunch

14:00 The challenges and opportunities of implementing AUKUS Pillar 2

• The role of Joint Capabilities Group with space and cyber
• Test and Evaluation of systems in a joint integrated force
• South Australia Electronic Warfare capabilities
• Requirements for supporting Battlespace Awareness
• The opportunities within changes to Army force posture

Senior Representative, Defence SA

14:20 Considerations for Defence AI

• Embracing AI’s potential to deter, shape, and change the character of warfare
• Unique challenges for AI when applied to the Defence context
• Developing more resilient AI capabilities
• AI as an enabler for autonomy

Dr Robert Hunjet, Associate Professor, Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network, DSTG

14:40 Panel: Developing South Australia’s Defence Infrastructure

• Key challenges in successfully delivering Defence infrastructure.
• Exploring opportunities to enhance delivery and improve outcomes.
• Do we have the people and the talent to deliver multiple complex projects on-time and on-budget?
• Innovative contracting for infrastructure projects

Matthew Theoharous, Executive General Manager, Lendlease

15:10 Afternoon tea

15:40 The SA Defence Industry Workforce Action Plan

• Taking a coordinated approach to support defence industry workforce requirements
• What’s underway to address immediate challenges
• Importance of integrated initiatives on a learner journey from primary school to mid-career transitions
• Recognising supporting measures that address constraints and opportunities relevant to the defence industry

Callan Markwick, Executive Director, Industry and Workforce Capability, Department for Industry, Innovation and Science, South Australia

16:00 Case study: Recruiting for the upgrade of the P-8A Poseideon

• Finding the right people with the right skills
• Creating upskilling and pathway opportunities
• Addressing workforce diversity challenges

Ben Knabe, Director Product Support, Training and Maintenance (PST&M) capability, Boeing

16:20 Panel: Can South Australia develop the skills required to deliver future capability?

• Developing a coordinated approach to address skills requirements
• What skills are industry most in need of now? What about in 10 years’ time?
• How effective are current program such as
  • South Australia’s Career Education and Pathways Program
• South Australia’s Flexible Industry Program for secondary schools
• Women in STEM cadetships
• Advanced Apprenticeships Program
• TAFE SA’s training for naval shipbuilding and sustainment projects
• Industry partnering with universities and TAFE
• Will Fee-Free TAFE help increase demand for skills of need?
• Clearing pathways into Defence and Defence industry
• Challenges to increasing diversity in Defence workforces
• Skilled migration amidst a cost of living crisis

Nick Howie, Director of Strategic Industry Partnership (Defence & Space), TAFE SA
Rachel Botting, Head of People and Culture, ASC
Deborah Devis, Research Associate, Education Futures, University of South Australia
Libby Day, CEO, Defence Teaming Centre

16:50 Networking drinks

Stream B: Defence Research and Innovation

11:30 Case study: Delivering and integrating emerging technologies for frontline troops

LTCOL Jake Penley, Commanding Officer, 1^st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army

11:40 Case study: High Frequency Radar Technology

• Developing world-leading capability in HF systems and Over The Horizon Radar (OTHR)
• A new era of collaboration with industry
• Improving aircraft detention sensitivity

Dr Sylvie Perreau, Chief Sensors and Effectors Division, Defence Science and Technology Group

12:10 Investing in innovation

Sumen Rai, Director, Defence Innovation Partnership

12:30 Panel: Financing Defence innovation

• Assessing the scope and potential of private finance in Australia’s Defence capability
• What the investment community is seeking from Defence innovators
• What could Governments be doing to further attract private investment and superfunds into Defence assets and companies
• Understanding and assessing risks in Defence contracting coupled with ESG concerns
• Defence as an Asset class

Mark Stevens, Managing Partner, Periscope Partners
Tim Haden, Director of Origination,  Australian Business Growth Fund
Kirsten Bernhardt, Investment Manager, South Australia Venture Capital Fund

13:00 Lunch

14:00 Case study: Working with ILaunch Trailblazer to commercialise two disruptive space energy technologies

• Developing a Radioisotope Heater Unit to provide thermal management for multiple lunar night survival
• Commercialising long-term power sources to spacecraft where solar energy cannot be relied upon
• How the partnership between entX and ILaunch works.

Bryn Jones, Managing Director, ent X

14:20 Case study: Delivering manufacturing data intelligence

14:40 Advancing Australia’s Information Warfare capability: The Power of Culture

• Misinformation and disinformation as a global security risk
• The role of social influence in grey zone conflict
• Information campaign lessons from the Ukraine conflict
• Emerging technologies and the future of Information Warfare

Assoc Prof Brad West, University of South Australia
Dr Damien Spry, Senior Researcher, DSTG
Prof Emma Thomas, Matthew Flanders Professor, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
LTCOL Sharon Mascall-Dare OAM PhD, Cognitive and Information Warfare Directorate, Australian Defence Force

15:10 Afternoon tea

15:40 Case study: Additive Manufacturing for AUKUS

16:00 The role of robotics and autonomous systems can play in defence innovation

Distinguished Prof Saeid Nahavandi, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Defence Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology

16:20 Panel: Advancements in the deployment of AI in Defence Capability

Dr Mel McDowall, Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network
Dr Robert Hunjet, Associate Professor, Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network, Defence Science and Technology Group

 16:50 Networking drinks