Overview

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.

2026 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

Lanyard Sponsor

Supporting Sponsor

Coffee Cart Sponsor

Charity Partner

Speakers


Glen Billington
General Manager Defence, Laing O’Rourke


Dean Deighton
Group Head – Northern Australia, AI Group


Matt Kirk
Director, Worksec

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

Early Bird expires 30 April 2026

  • 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 Early Bird Standard 
Standard Industry Rate $1,495 + GST $1,695 + GST
SME/ Academia/ Govt $1,095 + GST $1,295 + GST
Local SME $695 + GST $895 + GST
BOOK NOW

Meet the Buyer – North Queensland 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

Participating Major Contractors to be announced.

Thursday 4th June
7:30 am to 12:30 pm
Location: The Ville Resort and Casino, Townsville

Registration link >>

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

BOOK NOW

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.

BOOK NOW

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

ADM Townsville Defence Forum Attendee Discounted Rate
10% off our Best Available Rate

The Ville Resort – Casino is pleased to offer a special event rate* for conference attendees.
To secure this rate; please click here

Ardo Hotel is pleased to offer a special event rate* for conference attendees.
To secure this rate; please click here

Sustainability

Our Commitment to Sustainability

In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.

We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.

To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.