The Townsville Defence Forum will be a localised policy-driven forum. The event will focus on fostering relationships between government, PRIMEs & SMEs to deliver Australia’s sovereign capability and act as a driver for the region’s economy. It will assess how best SMEs can enter supply chains, look at current and emerging opportunities for contracting with Defence, and analyse the skilling requirements that will enable the region to thrive as a future Defence Industry hub.
2025 Forum Topics:
- Townsville’s role as Australia’s Army capital
- North Queensland sustainment operations
- Workforce and population dynamics
- Supply chain access for small and medium businesses
- Technology and innovation integration
- Regional economic impact of increased Defence investment
Sponsors
Lunch Sponsor
Morning Tea Sponsor
Coffee Cart Sponsor
Charity Partner
Exhibitors
Speakers
Janelle Poole
Assistant Minister for Defence Industry, Queensland Government
Glen Billington
General Manager Defence, Laing O’Rourke
Professor Mick Reilly OAM
Research Division,
James Cook University
LTCOL Stephen Bates
Chief Aviation Operations – 16th Aviation Brigade
Mark Tierney
A/Deputy Director General, State Development Group, Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
Ross Thompson
Managing Director,
PeopleIN
Buzz Sarlin
President,
AIDN Queensland
Drew Penny
General Manager Customer, Operations and Safety, Port of Townsville
Maree Butler
Director Trades and Transport, TAFE Queensland North Region
Naomi Smith
Director of Sustainment Operations, Boeing Defence Australia
Daniel Hussey
Project Director,
Symal
Matt Richardson
Director of Infrastructure and Operations, Townsville City Council
Claudia Brumme-Smith
CEO,
Townsville Enterprise
Chris McDougall
Director – Regional Development and Investment, Townsville Enterprise
Tim Roney
Vehicle Systems Asia Pacific Support and Services, Rheinmetall Defence Australia
Stuart Blackwell
Director,
QDSA
Dean Deighton
Group Head – Northern Australia,
AI Group
Elsa Antunes
Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering,
James Cook University
Kate Sullivan
Defence Industry Adviser, Office of Defence Industry Support, Department of Defence
Dr Dan Billing
Program Leader Logistics & Health – DSTG, Department of Defence
Stacey Coburn
Executive Director – Corporate Services, TAFE Queensland North Region
COL Michael Kearns
Commander – Combat Training Centre, Australian Army
Prof Ian Atkinson
Director of AI@JCU, James Cook University
AGENDA
Wednesday 20th August
09:25
Welcome from the ADM
Kylie Leonard, Associate Publisher, Australian Defence Magazine
09:30
OPENING | Opening remarks from the Chair
Buzz Sarlin, President, AIDN Queensland
09:35
STATE MINISTERIAL ADDRESS | Queensland’s Vision for Defence Industry Development
- Townsville’s strategic importance and Defence transformation
- State development initiatives supporting defence industry
- Creating opportunities for and supporting Queensland’s defence businesses
- Future vision and opportunities
Janelle Poole, Assistant Minister for Defence Industry, Queensland Government
10:00
KEYNOTE | Helicopter Operations and Sustainment
- Maximising the performance of the current Chinook and Apache fleet
- AI and predictive maintenance
- Opportunities for local to businesses to access supply chains
- Preparing for the delivery of AH-64E Apache helicopters
Naomi Smith, Director of Sustainment Operations, Boeing Defence Australia
LTCOL Stephen Bates, Chief Aviation Operations – 16th Aviation Brigade
10:30
Welcome to Morning Tea
Stuart Blackwell, Director, QDSA
10:35
Morning Tea & Networking Break
11:05
Strengthening North Queensland Defence and Industry through infrastructure investment
- Promoting Nth Qld Defence industry in growth and resilience
- Infrastructure as a means of enhancing Defence training and sustainment
- Enabling Defence capability & operations
Glen Billington, General Manager Defence, Laing O’Rourke
11:30
PANEL | Using increased Defence expenditure as a catalyst for enhanced economic growth
- How is defence driving economic activity and infrastructure growth?
- What are the benefits for local communities?
- How is local business adapting to increased defence opportunities?
Drew Penny, General Manager Customer, Operations and Safety, Port of Townsville
Chris McDougall, Director – Regional Development and Investment, Townsville Enterprise
Matt Richardson, Director of Infrastructure and Operations, Townsville City Council
Mark Tierney, A/Deputy Director General, State Development Group, Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
Moderator: Buzz Sarlin, President, AIDN Queensland
12:10
Welcome to Lunch
Daniel Hussey, Project Director, Symal Group
12:15
Lunch
13:15
PANEL | Addressing workforce challenges for North Queensland Defence ecosystem
- Attraction and retention in North Queensland
- Initiatives to grow local talent pipelines
- Workforce support and regional liveability
Stacey Coburn, Executive Director – Corporate Services, TAFE Queensland North Region
Ross Thomspon, Managing Director, PeopleIN
Prof Ian Atkinson, Director of AI@JCU, James Cook Unviersity
Moderator: Buzz Sarlin, President, AIDN Queensland
14:15
Looking to Northern Australia: Industry supporting the ADF and its allies
- Establishing maintenance support throughout regional northern Australia
- Overcoming geographic, logistical and workforce challenges
- How the Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence supports sustainment operations
Tim Roney, Director of Business Development, Vehicle Systems Asia Pacific, Rheinmetall Defence Australia
14:40
PANEL | Advanced Manufacturing in North Queensland
- Assessing existing advanced manufacturing capabilities in the region
- Gaps, opportunities and pathways for growth and expansion
- Defence industry requirements
- Training and education initiatives
Dean Deighton, Group Head – Northern Australia, AI Group
Chris McDougall, Director – Regional Development and Investment, Townsville Enterprise
Elsa Antunes, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, James Cook University
Moderator: Buzz Sarlin, President, AIDN Queensland
15:20
Afternoon Tea & Networking Break
15:50
Supporting Defence Operations Through Logistics and Health Innovation
Dr Dan Billing, Program Leader Logistics & Health – DSTG, Department of Defence
16:15
PANEL | North Queensland innovation: Maximising local contributions to Defence
- Building a connected innovation ecosystem
- Strengthening ties between local SMEs, academic institutions and defence
- Challenges operating in regional Queensland
Professor Mick Reilly, Research Division, James Cook University
Mark Horn, Senior Director – Business Development, Cubic
COL Michael Kearns, Commander – Combat Training Centre, Australian Army
Dr Dan Billing, Program Lead Logistics and Health, Defence Science and Technology Group
Moderator: Stuart Blackwell, Director, QDSA
16:55
The Commander’s view of the next 12 months
COL Michael Kearns, Commander – Combat Training Centre, Australian Army
LTCOL Stephen Bates, Chief Aviation Operations – 16th Aviation Brigade
WGCDR Luke Headley, Commanding Officer 27 Squadron
Moderator: Chris McDougall, Director – Regional Development and Investment, Townsville Enterprise
17:25
Closing Remarks from the Chair and Networking Drinks
Pricing
Department of Defence/ADF attend for free. Please register for ADF/Dept Defence pass by emailing [email protected].
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 Queensland registered organisations employing fewer than 50 people who aren’t part of a larger group/ parent company
| Packages | Standard |
| Standard Industry Rate | $1,595 + GST |
| SME/ Academia/ Govt | $1,195 + GST |
| Local SME | $795 + GST |
Townsville Meet the Buyer | NQ Supply Chain
Meet with North Queensland’s major contractors to promote your capability and learn about opportunities in their supply chains.
This event will be delivered in a ‘speed dating’ format to meet with up to three major contractors of your choice for one-on-one, 10-minute appointments. Use your appointment to:
- promote your existing and growing capability
- clarify procurement processes
- discuss upcoming work opportunities
- provide a copy of your capability statement/quad chart
Defence buyers include: Boeing, Rheinmetall, CPB, Icon, Duratec, Shamrock Civil, and more.
Date: Tuesday 19 August 2025
From: 7am
Location: The Ville Resort and Casino, Townsville
James Cook University Showcase
Tuesday 19th August | 12:30 – 16:30
12:30 | Lunch – Welcome Address – Professor Jenny Seddon, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research, James Cook University
Areas Covered
- Applied Research delivers cutting edge technology and solutions to industry driving optimal performance
- Adapting learning to industry needs, JCU builds workforce capability through credentials and innovative learning platforms
- Pull through Asymmetric Capabilities into Industry
- Engineering
- Human Sciences/Health
- Decision Sciences
- Tropical Resilience – People and Equipment
- 2025 Learning
A free bus will depart from The Ville at 12:15PM for all attendees
Spaces are limited
ReefWorks Showcase at the ADM Forum
Join us at the Townsville Defence Forum for an exclusive showcase at AIMS ReefWorks, highlighting the unique capabilities of the ReefWorks Test Range for emerging marine technology. ReefWorks is part of the North Queensland test & evaluation ecosystem, providing unparalleled tropical marine test and evaluation capabilities for Australia’s uncrewed systems and advanced sensing technology industries.
Highlights Include:
- Live uncrewed systems testing in the payload test tank (National Sea Simulator)
- Uncrewed marine systems technology undergoing test & evaluation on-water and in-air alongside the ReefWorks operations centre.
- Tour of ReefWorks supporting infrastructure and capabilities
Participants must wear enclosed shoes and are encouraged to bring a hat & water bottle.
Date: Thursday 21 August 2025
Time: Meet at the Ville foyer 745am for an 8am departure. Anticipated return time of 1230pm
Point of Contact: Erin Kiernan – [email protected] or Melanie Olsen, Reefworks – [email protected]
Limited tickets: Please register no more than 2 people per organisation.
ConnectMe
ConnectMe • Networking enhanced
All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.
Venue
The Ville Resort-Casino
Sir Leslie Thiess Dr, Townsville QLD 4810
(07) 4722 2333
www.the-ville.com.au
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION RATE
The Ville Resort – Casino is pleased to offer a special event rate* for conference attendees for the nights of the 19-21 August 2025 inclusive.
To secure this rate;
- Enter the special booking link, click here
- Add Code and select Rate Access/Corporate Code
- Enter ADMTDS
- Update Guest & Rooms to search for availability
Ardo Hotel is pleased to offer a special event 20% discount rate* for conference attendees for the nights of the 19-21 August 2025 inclusive.
To secure this rate;
- Enter the special booking link, click here
- This will display the rate and event dates
- Select your required stay dates and click on Apply
* Room availability and rates are subject to availability. Book early to avoid disappointment.