Tuesday 10th December 2024

9:00

Welcome

The Australian Defence Magazine

9:05

Opening Remarks from the Chair

9:10

KEYNOTE | Overview of Defence Assets and Sustainment Projects and Requirements

• An inventory of the ADF’s platforms and systems across land, sea, air and cyber
• Operational status of major assets
• Insight into ongoing sustainment projects and maintaining operational readiness
• Future sustainment requirements and challenges

9:40

INDUSTRY KEYNOTE | Optimising Lifecycle and Long-Term Capability of Navy Assets

• Developing lifecycle plans early in the acquisition process
• Considering the financial benefits and impact of early investment in asset sustainment
• How can the integration of technology ensure long-term performance
• Strengthening Australia’s sovereign naval capability

Jamie Gibbs, Chief Operations & Engineering Officer, Navantia Australia

10:10

CASE STUDY | Poseidon P-8A Upgrade

• Extending the aircrafts operation capability
• Improving anti-submarine warfare capabilities
• Integrating emerging technologies

Naomi Smith, Director of Sustainment Operations, Boeing Defence Australia

10:40

Morning Tea & Networking Break

11:10

Benefits realised by the RAN Fleet in Data Analytics for Sustainment’

• Short history of the SMART Project
• Sustainment BI Visualisations within SMART Analytics
• Benefits realised:
  • Cost savings
  • Work force savings
  • Achievement of Rizzo Review recommendations
  • Improvements in overall Capability and Preparedness
  • Future anticipated benefits (for SMART and other new Data Analytics tools in Fleet)
• How we became so successful
• Key takeaways for future Defence Analytics (ERP, 1DD)

Ben Bird, Director – Analytical Services, Brownstone

11:40

Sustainment of the UK Nuclear Submarine Fleet – Strategies and Challenges

• Life-cycle management of nuclear submarines
• Safety and regulatory compliances
• Workforce development
• Technological upgrades and modernisation

Chris Saint, Senior Engineering Manager, Babcock

12:10

PANEL | Fostering collaboration for sustainment success

• Current initiatives aimed at forging closer ties amongst industry
• Driving innovation and improving operational outcomes
• Industry’s role in supporting ADF readiness

Brent Clark, Chief Executive Officer, AIDN
Ash Shadbolt, Technical Director, Shadbolt Group

12:50

Lunch

13:50

Additive Manufacturing: Revolutionising Defence Sustainment

• Reducing supply chain and logistical burdens through on-demand production of spare parts
• Enabling rapid responses to continually changing environments and challenges
• Future advancements in 3D printing

Byron Kennedy, CEO & Co-Founder, SPEE3D

14:20

Air Power Sustainment: Innovation, Challenges and Collaboration

• Integrating emerging technologies into sustainment programs
• Collaboration with industry and academia
• Challenges in modern Air Force Sustainment
• Opportunities provided by AUKUS Pillar II

Air Vice-Marshal Benjamin Sleeman, Head Air Force Capability, Royal Australian Air Force

14:50

PANEL | Incorporating Emerging Technologies into Sustainment Operations

• The role of AI, Machine Learning and Robotics in modern defence sustainment
• Shifting from reactive to proactive maintenance through predictive analytics
• Future potential of autonomous and unmanned systems to conduct repairs in remote and challenging environments

15:30

Afternoon Tea & Networking Break

16:00

Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Sustainment

• Identifying critical skills requirements for current and future sustainment programs
• Creating multidisciplinary teams that understand both technical and digital operations and asset lifecycle management
• Upskilling and reskilling the current workforce
• Developing strategies for attracting and retaining talent

Dr Matt McCormack, Acting Head of School SBUS & Senior Lecturer for Asset Management, Sustaining Capability and Humanitarian Logistics, UNSW Canberra

16:30

Naval sustainment in Far North Queensland

• Ongoing programs and support of Navy in the Pacific
• Opportunities arising from the expansion of Cairns Marine Precinct
• Infrastructure upgrades and technological innovation

Andrew Wagner, Business Development Manager, Tropical Reef Shipyard

17:00

Closing Remarks from the Chair

17:10

End of Conference