The 3rd Annual Western Australia Defence Summit will take place at the Pan Pacific Perth on 22 August 2025. This will be a high-level policy-driven summit, focusing on creating strategic sovereign maritime capability in the West, upgrading and maintaining Defence estate and infrastructure, as well as fostering a strengthened local Defence industry.
Click here to be kept in the loop with developments.
A special Defence and SME discounted rate is available to attend – see below for details.
Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Welcome Reception Sponsor
Exhibitors
Partners
Charity Partner
Speakers
The Hon Matt Keogh MP
Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
The Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA
Minister for Defence Industry,
WA Government
Linda Dawson
Head of the Office of Defence Industries, WA Government
Paddy Gregg
Chief Executive Officer,
Austal
Stephen Land
Chief Investment Officer, The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)
Dr Troy Lee Brown
Research Fellow, University of Western Australia Defence & Science Institute
Dr Sam Jackson
Associate Director – Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
Peta Arbuckle
Executive Director, Defence West
Prof Robert Hunjet
Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network – Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
Shashank Ramakrishna
Director,
SAHR
Fred Bkamdin
President,
AIDN WA
Andrew Widdis
Executive Director – Defence, South Metropolitan TAFE
RADM Michael Houghton
Head Patrol Boats and Specialist Ships – Naval Shipbuilding & Sustainment Group (NSSG), Department of Defence
Helen Loundes
Assistant Secretary – Henderson Consolidation – Naval Shipbuilding & Sustainment Group (NSSG), Department of Defence
Kareena Waters
Founder & CEO,
Onecard Group
Gary Hale
Director, the National Resilience and Security Program Office, Curtin University
WA Defence Summit Welcome Reception
21 August 2025 – 6pm
Pan Pacific Perth
Your event experience begins with the ADM WA Defence Summit Welcome Reception. Network, connect, and engage while enjoying refreshments, as you hear from a distinguished guest speaker (to be announced).
This exclusive event is included in your conference ticket.
Sponsored by
AGENDA
8:50
Opening remarks from the Chair
9:00
MINISTERIAL ADDRESS |
The Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Defence Industry – WA Government
9:20
FEDERAL MINISTERIAL ADDRESS | Building Western Australia’s Defence Future
- Investing in defence personnel capability in Western Australia
- Integration of veterans into the defence industry workforce
- Strengthening the defence industry ecosystem
The Hon Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
9:40
KEYNOTE | Securing the Indo-Pacific: Western Australia’s role in national defence
- Strategic importance of Western Australia across all domains
- Regional deterrence and partnerships with allies
- Infrastructure and sustainment priorities
- Population and workforce challenges
10:10
INDUSTRY KEYNOTE |Developing sovereign shipbuilding and sustainment
- Sovereign capability and shipbuilding in Western Australia
- Sustainment, maintenance and lifecycle support
- Innovation and technological advancement
- Opportunities for WA industry to access Austal’s growing pipeline
- Workforce and skills development
Paddy Gregg, Chief Executive Officer, Austal
10:30
Western Australia, an Emerging Global Hub for Disruptive Innovation
Gary Hale, Director, the National Resilience and Security Program Office, Curtin University
10:50
Morning Tea & Networking Break
11:45
KEYNOTE | Western Australia’s Defence Industry Strategy
- Overview of the WA Defence and Defence Industry Strategy 2025
- Priorities for WA’s Defence sector
- How is WA positioning itself within the wider Australian defence ecosystem
Linda Dawson, Head of the Office of Defence Industries, WA Government
12:10
Funding WA’s Defence Industry: NAIF’s Role in Building Northern Australia’s Defence Capability
- How NAIF’s $1.8 billion commitment to Western Australia is supporting defence infrastructure
- Practical examples of defence-related projects benefiting from NAIF financing
- Navigating the NAIF application process for WA defence industry businesses
- Combining NAIF funding with other government support mechanisms for maximum impact
- Future opportunities: How NAIF can support the growth of WA’s strategic defence industries
Stephen Land, Chief Investment Officer, Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility
12:35
Lunch
13:35
Digital workforce compliance: Friend of foe for ISO accreditation
- Common pitfalls of digital transformation in workforce compliance
- Why record structure and naming conventions matter
- How poor systems can lead to failed audits
- What auditors actually want to see
- Choosing tools that grow with your business
Kareena Waters, Founder & CEO, Onecard Group
14:00
PANEL | Opportunities for SMEs to access WA Defence pipelines and global supply chains
- Understanding defence’s priorities – how can SMEs better position themselves to access work?
- What are primes looking for from local industry?
- How can SME’s access international programs?
Phil Spedding, Western Australia Defence Advocate
14:35
KEYNOTE | Defence Innovation, Science and Technology – Solving the Hard Problems
Professor Robert Hunjet, Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network – Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
15:00
PANEL | Advancing Defence Innovation in Western Australia
- Forging strategic partnerships between WA’s defence industry and academia
- Innovating in Uncertain Times – Defence challenges and bridging innovation gaps in a shifting geopolitical landscape
- Environmental and geographical challenges
- How can local defence ecosystems support innovation?
- Emerging and next generation technologies
- Workforce and skilling challenges
Scott Ellson, Director of Business Development, L3Harris
Dr Troy Lee Brown, Research Fellow, University of Western Australia Defence & Science Institute
Professor Robert Hunjet, Program Leader – Australian Defence Science and Universities Network – Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
Moderator: Dr Sam Jackson, Associate Director – Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence
15:35
Afternoon Tea & Networking Break
16:00
Navigating Export Controls Reform: Implications for Western Australia’s Defence
- What are the key changes?
- Understanding and complying with export controls
- Specific impacts on Western Australian industries
Shashank Ramakrishna, Director, SAHR
16:25
PANEL | Building and sustaining a Defence workforce
- What are the skills required by Defence and industry in WA?
- Upskilling and reskilling
- Collaboration with universities, TAFE and training providers
- Implications of AUKUS on WA’s talent pool
Andrew Widdis, Executive Director – Defence, South Metropolitan TAFE
17:00
Closing Remarks from the Chair
17:05
End of Conference and Closing Remarks
Pricing
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 WA registered organisations employing fewer than 50 people who aren’t part of a larger group/ parent company
ADF & Department of Defence – Free
Please register for ADF/Dept Defence pass by emailing [email protected]
| Packages | Standard |
| Standard Industry Rate | $1,595 + GST |
| SME/ Academia/ Govt | $1,195 + GST |
| Local SME | $795 + GST |
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.
Event Code of Conduct
We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.
Venue
Pan Pacific Perth
207 Adelaide Terrace,
Perth WA 6000
(08) 9224 7777
Book accommodation with HotelMaps
To access the best available rate, book here.