ADM South Australian Defence Summit
27-29 August 2024
Adelaide Convention Centre, SA
Speakers
The Hon Stephen Mullighan MP
Treasurer and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, South Australia
Kate van Hilst
First Assistant Director General – SSN Construction, Australian Submarine Agency
Prof Emily Hilder
Head, Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, Department of Defence
Rosanna Domenici
Director, Defence Export Control Reform, Department of Defence
LTCOL Jake Penley
Commanding Officer 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
WGCDR Andrew McCarron
Commanding Officer 462 Squadron, Defence Cyber Warfare, Joint Capabilities Group, Department of Defence
LTCOL Sharon Mascall-Dare OAM PhD
Cognitive and Information Warfare Directorate, Australian Defence Force
MAJ Thomas Fisher
Officer Commanding C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
Steph Lysaght
British Consul General
Rebecca Humble
Chief Strategy Officer,
QinetiQ
Mike Humphreys
Director, Pillar 1 (AUKUS), HII Australia
Mia Romeo
Regional Manager, Department of Commerce, Maryland USA
Andy Semmler
Head of Australian Industrial Capability, ASC
Rachel Botting
Head of People and Culture, ASC
Ben Knabe
Director, Product Support, Training and Maintenance (PST&M) Capability, Boeing
Matthew Theoharous
Executive General Manager,
Lendlease
Dr Sylvie Perreau
Chief Sensors and Effectors Division, DSTG
Dr Susan Cockshell
Group Leader Cognitive and Decision Systems, DSTG
Darren Webb
Group Leader Cyber Autonomy Technologies, Cyber Operations Branch, Information Sciences Division, DSTG
Dr Mel McDowall
Director, Defence Artificial Intelligence Research Network
Dylan Jones
Director, Office for AUKUS,
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Matt Opie
Chief Executive,
Defence SA
Tim Tape
Development Director,
Renewal SA
Callan Markwick
Executive Director, Industry and Workforce Capability, Department of State Development
Dr Robert Hunjet
Associate Professor, Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network, Defence Science and Technology Group
Hélène Lechene
Data Scientist,
Naval Group Pacific
Bryn Jones
Managing Director,
entX
Dr James Palmer
CEO,
Silentium Defence
Prof Emma Thomas
Matthew Flinders Professor of Psychology, Flinders University
Brad West
Associate Professor of Sociology, University of South Australia
Mel Slater
Director Maritime, Defence SA
Sumen Rai
Director, Defence Innovation Partnership
Libby Day
CEO, Defence Teaming Centre
Tim Haden
Director Origination, Australian Business Growth Fund
Kirsten Bernhardt
Investment Manager, South Australia Venture Capital Fund
Dr Jo Zucco
Program Director UNISA STEM, University of South Australia
Prof Colin Hall
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia
Assoc Prof Belinda Chiera
Deputy Director, Industrial AI Research Centre, University of South Australia
Prof Siobhan Banks
Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre, University of South Australia
Distinguished Prof Saeid Nahavandi
Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Defence Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology
Dr Dave Ormrod
Industry Fellow and Associate Professor of Cyber Security at UniSA and the CTO and co-founder of Cygence
Prof Drew Evans
Professorial Lead, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia
Allan Ryan
Executive Director, Hargraves Institute
Dr Damien Spry
Senior Researcher, DSTG
A/Prof Stewart Von Itzstein
Professorial Lead, UNISA STEM, University of South Australia
Dr David Crone
Deputy Leader Cognitive and Information Warfare, DST
Nick Howie
Director of Strategic Industry Partnership (Defence & Space), TAFE SA
Peter Kerr
Defence and National Security Coordinator, SmartSat CRC
Dr Ralph Gailis
Specialist Science Advisor for AI,
DSTG
Graham Priestnall
President,
AIDN South Australia
Shashank Ramakrishna
Director & Co-Founder,
SAHR
Benjamin Harvey
Manager – Industry Programs,
SAHR
Jason Miezo
Defence Sector Lead,
Sitzler
James Ryan
Superintendent Counter Proliferation,
Australian Border Force
Ben Schultz
Head of AI/ML & Head of Enterprise, Aurizn
Travis Shueard
Senior Associate,
Piper Alderman
Darian Macey
Founder,
DECnet
Dr Shelda Sajeev
Program Manager Cyber & AI,
DEWC Services
Senator The Hon David Fawcett
Senator for South Australia
Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Coffee Cart sponsor
Welcome Reception Sponsor
Workshop | Collaborative Leadership for AUKUS Success
Date: 27 August 2024 | Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
In a world that thrives on collaboration, it is crucial to understand the barriers faced by industry, government, and academia in working together effectively. This workshop aims to identify these challenges and provide participants with the tools and strategies to excel in the AUKUS supply chain as trusted partners and valued collaborators.
Through engaging discussions and hands-on activities, you will explore the concept of collaborative leadership and learn how to adapt it to your organisation’s unique needs. With a focus on competing in collaborative supply chains for AUKUS, you will gain insights into fostering better internal, local, and international collaboration.
Allan Ryan, Executive Director of Hargraves Institute, brings his extensive research and experience in making collaboration a competitive advantage for businesses globally. Join Allan and fellow leaders in this unique opportunity to expand your capabilities, gain practical tools, and empower your teams to adopt collaborative practices that drive success.
By attending this workshop you will:
- Identify what collaborative leadership means to your organisation
- Understand how to better compete in collaborative supply chains for AUKUS
- Explore tools for better collaboration internally, locally and internationally
- Takeaway a toolkit to engage your team with collaborative practices
Host: Allan Ryan, Executive Director, Hargraves Institute
Tuesday 27th August | Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 Forum
Defence Export Controls will introduce the key changes that are occurring to Australia’s Defence Export Controls framework resulting from the new Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024.
13:00 Registration
14:00 Welcome and Introduction
Libby Day, CEO, Defence Teaming Centre
14:10 Defence Export Controls
- An overview of Australia’s current Defence export control framework
- Key changes introduced by the DTC Amendment Act (i.e. exemptions, new offences, licence-free environment, record keeping)
- Available support to help you comply with the new legislation.
- Questions and Answers
Rosanna Domenici, Executive Director, Defence Export Controls Reform, Department of Defence
15:00 Networking break
15:30 Introduction to Government Partners
- A view of cross-government roles relating to trade control and security measures
15:40 Australian Border Force
James Ryan, Superintendent Counter Proliferation, Australian Border Force
Gabriella Jeffery, A/Supervisor, Senior Investigator, Counter Proliferation, Australian Border Force
15:55 Foreign Arrangements branch
Barbara Rooks, Assistant Director, Complex Assessments, Foreign Arrangements Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
16:10 Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets
Virginia Konno, Director, Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets, Department of Defence
16:20 Australian Sanctions Office
Claudine Lamond, Director, Sanctions Compliance and Outreach, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
16:30 Q and A Session
Rosanna Domenici, Executive Director, Defence Export Controls Reform, Department of Defence
James Ryan, Superintendent Counter Proliferation, Australian Border Force
Gabriella Jeffery, A/Supervisor, Senior Investigator, Counter Proliferation, Australian Border Force
Barbara Rooks, Assistant Director, Complex Assessments, Foreign Arrangements Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Claudine Lamond, Director, Sanctions Compliance and Outreach, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Virginia Konno, Director, Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets, Department of Defence
17:00 Closing Remarks from the Chair
Libby Day, CEO, Defence Teaming Centre
17:30 Welcome Reception
Sponsored by
Guest speaker:
Steph Lysaght, UK Consul-General, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania
CONFERENCE AGENDA 28th August
07:30
Registration and Morning coffee
08:20
Welcome
Ewen Levick, Publisher, The Australian Defence Magazine
08:25
OPENING | Opening remarks from the Chair
Libby Day, CEO, Defence Teaming Centre
08:30
State Government Address |
The Hon Stephen Mullighan MP, Treasurer and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, South Australia
09:00
How South Australia is best placed to deliver future capability for Australia’s fighting forces.
- Building on the advantages of our world-class research, innovative delivery, and highly skilled workforce
- Addressing the key challenges for future growth in South Australia’s Defence sector
- Easing the path for SA contractors to access global supply chains
Matt Opie, Chief Executive, Defence SA
09:20
International Address: Accessing US Supply Chains
- Implications of the South Australia and Maryland AUKUS pact
- A collaborated approach to developing the skilled defence workforce
- Connecting South Australian companies with US organisations with shared areas of expertise
- Developing common research projects
Mia Romeo, Regional Manager, Department of Commerce, Maryland USA
09:40
Keynote Address: Transforming the way breakthrough military solutions are delivered
- Addressing the concept of minimum viable capability
- Embracing risk while articulating the problem but not the solution
- Pulling asymmetrical innovations into capabilities
- Implementing new approaches for agile contracting and procurement
Prof Emily Hilder, Head, Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator
10:10
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
10:40
Building Australia’s future defence industry through strategic vision, collaboration, and innovation
- How a new risk-based approach to procurement decision-making may impact defence industry.
- Can we get the right people with the right skill sets to deliver future capability?
- Sustainability issues: Effectively greening future capability
- Working effectively with SMEs to enhance South Australia’s enviable reputation for innovation.
Rebecca Humble, Chief Strategy Officer, QinetiQ
11:00
Morning tea
Stream A: Delivering Defence Capability
Chair: Libby Day, CEO, Defence Teaming Centre
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
12:00 Understanding the impact of the ITAR and Export Controls reforms
- Why so many export controls reforms?
- What are the key changes in this environment?
- How can your organisation ensure compliance?
- How can your organisation get ahead?
Shashank Ramakrishna, Director & Co-Founder, SAHR
Benjamin Harvey, Manager – Industry Programs, SAHR
12:20 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
Mike Humphreys, Director Pillar 1 (AUKUS), HII Australia
Dr James Palmer, CEO, Silentium Defence
Graham Priestnall, President, AIDN South Australia
Andy Semmler, Head of Australian Industry Capability, ASC
Moderated by Mel Slater, Director Maritime, Defence SA
13:00 Networking and Lunch break
14:00 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
14:20 Case Study: Technology adoption pathways: a key enabler to capability delivery
- Purpose-built collaboration models with a strong focus on the industrialisation and scalability of Australian research
- Accelerating the development of strategically important, platform-independent technologies
- Focusing on significant challenges around manufacturability, sustainment and capability assurance
- Contributing to sovereign manufacturing outcomes, and security of supply
Dr Mark Hodge, Chief Executive Officer, DMTC
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
Tim Tape, Development Director, Renewal SA
Jason Miezo, Defence Sector Lead, Sitzler
Moderated by Darian Macey, Founder, DECnet
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 of State Development
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
Libby Day, CEO, Defence Teaming Centre
A/Prof Stewart Von Itzstein, Professorial Lead, UNISA STEM, University of South Australia
Moderated by Dr Jo Zucco, Program Director UNISA STEM, University of South Australia
17:00 Networking drinks
Stream B: Defence Research and Innovation
Chair: Assoc Prof Belinda Chiera, Deputy Director, Industrial AI Research Centre, University of South Australia
11:40 Case study: Delivering and integrating emerging technologies for frontline troops
- The role of 1st Armoured Regiment, and how it fits within the new Army Accelerated Capability Pipeline (AACP)
- The Regiment’s priorities heading to Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025
- Lessons we have learnt so far, January 2024 to now
LTCOL Jake Penley, Commanding Officer, 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
MAJ Thomas Fisher, Officer Commanding C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, Australian Army
12:00 Investing in innovation
- The role of innovation intermediaries like the Defence Innovation Partnership
- South Australia’s R&D strengths
- Case studies of funded projects
- Future engagement and funding opportunities
Sumen Rai, Director, Defence Innovation Partnership
12:20 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
Tim Haden, Director of Origination, Australian Business Growth Fund
Kirsten Bernhardt, Investment Manager, South Australia Venture Capital Fund
Moderated by Sumen Rai, Director, Defence Innovation Partnership
Senator The Hon David Fawcett, Senator for South Australia
13:00 Networking and Lunch break
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
Prof Drew Evans, Professorial Lead, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia
14:20 The Silent Saboteur: The Impact of Fatigue on Team Performance
- Evaluating the effect of fatigue on team cohesion, performance and communication
- Impact of fatigue on distributed and disaggregated teams
- Innovative and enhanced ways of quantifying operator and team fatigue
- Implications that fatigue has for 24/7 teaming with autonomous systems and AI
Prof Siobhan Banks, Director, Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre, University of South Australia
Hélène Lechene, Data Scientist, Naval Group Pacific
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
Dr Damien Spry, Senior Researcher, DSTG
Prof Emma Thomas, Matthew Flinders Professor of Psychology, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
LTCOL Sharon Mascall-Dare OAM PhD, Cognitive and Information Warfare Directorate, Australian Defence Force
Moderated by Assoc Prof Brad West, University of South Australia
15:10 Networking and Afternoon tea break
15:40 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
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
Ben Schultz, Head of AI/ML & Head of Enterprise, Aurizn
Dr Shelda Sajeev, Program Manager Cyber & AI, DEWC Services
Moderated by Travis Shueard, Senior Associate, Piper Alderman
17:00 Networking drinks
Defence Artificial Intelligence and Industry Symposium
Thursday, 29th August 2024
InterContinental Adelaide
North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Enhancing AI capabilities is crucial for the Defence sector. Achieving decision superiority, making decisions fasters and with higher degrees of accuracy, will increasingly benefit from advancements in sovereign AI capabilities. These advancements will enable Defence to manage extensive quantities of data in complex operational environments, offering significant data-driven performance advantages to the Australian Defence Force.
DAIRNet is pleased to be hosting the Defence AI and Industry Symposium, as part of the ADM South Australian Defence Summit. The Symposium is a forum for the exchange between the Australian Defence and AI communities. Join us to explore the impacts of AI on cyber security, cognitive and decision systems, information warfare, space, and technology. Following a keynote and panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with experts through the analysis of case studies in interactive small working groups.
The Defence AI and Industry Symposium is an exciting opportunity for Defence, industry and researchers to come together and explore priorities, opportunities, and commonalities.
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
PARTNERS
Symposium Program
8:30 – 9:00 Registration opens
9:00 – 9:45 Welcome and introduction
Dr Mel McDowall, Director of DAIRNet
Dr Ralph Gailis, Specialist Science Advisor, Artificial Intelligence, DSTG
Keynote
Mr Darren Webb, Group Leader Cyber Autonomy Technologies, Cyber Operations Branch, Information Sciences Division, DSTG
“AI and Cyber Security Advances in South Australia”
9:45 – 11:00 Panel session
Facilitator: Associate Professor Belinda Chiera, Deputy Director Industrial AI Research Centre, UniSA
Dr Susan Cockshell, Group Leader Cognitive and Decision Systems, DSTG
Dr David Crone, Deputy Leader Cognitive and Information Warfare, DSTG
Mr Peter Kerr, Defence and National Security Coordinator, SmartSat CRC
Wing Commander Andrew McCarron, Commanding Officer 462 Squadron, Joint Capabilities Group, Department of Defence
Dr Dave Ormrod, Industry Fellow and Associate Professor of Cyber Security at UniSA and the CTO and co-founder of Cygence
11:00 – 11:30 Morning tea break
11:30 – 12:55 Speed networking
Case studies in working groups
12:55 – 13:00 Closing remarks
Venue
Adelaide Convention Centre
North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
Stay at the InterContinental Adelaide at a reduced rate by booking your room here.