9:00

WELCOME TO COUNTRY

9:05

ADM OPENING

Kylie Leonard, Associate Publisher, Australian Defence Magazine Group

9:10

OPENING | Opening remarks from the Chair

Rodney Brown, Principal Consultant, ALARP Solutions

DEVELOPING WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE INDUSTRY

9:15

Federal Government Address| The importance of a vibrant, agile, and innovative defence industry to support Australia’s sovereign capability

The Hon Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry (via video link)

9:20

Keynote address: Sustainment as key enabling capability

Enhancing navy’s agile approach and agility

• Horizon 3 – approaching sustainment as a whole-of-life concept
• How the Regional Maintenance Centre West will capture and analyse performance and identify efficiencies and opportunities for improvement
• Pipeline and opportunities for Defence industry to collaborate on the RMCs

CDRE Ivan Ingham, Royal Australian Navy

9:50

The Strategic Importance of WA to the work of the Australian Defence Force

• Current operational challenges facing the ADF in Western Australia
• The role, scope, and challenges of 13 Brigade
• Engagement with industry. What are we looking for, and how can you best partner with us?

BRIG Brett Chaloner, Commander, 13 Brigade, Australian Defence Force

10:20

Panel discussion: Challenges in delivering major projects

• Addressing skills and workforce challenges
• Scarcity of materials
• The impact inflation will have on delivering major projects

Andrew Benn, Director Defence Major Projects, WSP
Gerry Matera, Founder, Indigenous Defence Services
Matthew Theoharous, Executive General Manager, Lendlease

10:50

Morning Tea

11:20

Analysis: How will the AUKUS alliance impact Australia’s relationship in South East Asia and China and what implications will this have for the local Defence industry?

• Where we are at with the AUKUS Alliance
• Response to reaction from China and South East Asia
• Likely implications of AUKUS for WA and how the local industry can best contribute to Defence capability

Dr Kate O’Shaughnessy, Research Director, Perth USAsia Centre

11:50

Case Study: Regional Force Surveillance Group in Western Australia: The Role of the Pilbara Regiment

• The geographical significance of Western and North Western Australia
• Engagement with local communities
• Recruitment of personnel throughout the region
• Challenges operating in remote areas

LTCOL Adam Bryden, Commanding Officer, Pilbara Regiment

12:10

Case study: 24-hour day to day operation and management of the Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility

• A fresh approach to growing commercial opportunities
• Working with Development WA on the State’s vision for a stronger tomorrow
• Redefining service excellence to support local businesses
• A collaborative approach, efficiency through innovations and value for money service

Warren Farrow, General Manager Critical Infrastructure, Ventia

12:30

Government address: Building a strong and sustainable defence industry workforce in WA

• How the WA Defence Industry Workforce Office helps developing workforce for the WA defence industry
• WA joint force approach – WA Defence Industry Workforce Development Plan 2022-2027 – creating a pipeline of skilled workforce across five defence capability domains
• New skilling and workforce development initiatives underway in 2023

Hiromi Fujisaki, Program Director, WA Defence Workforce Strategy, WA Defence Industry Workforce Office

12:50

Lunch

SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES

13:50

Enhancing access to global markets:

• How Austrade is extending the reach for Australia’s Defence industry
• A guide to the Export Strategy Framework
• International Engagement & Export Support

Adam Sandilands, Senior Advisor, Defence & Space, AUSTRADE

14:10

CSIRO Address| Assisting SMEs to drive innovation in the Defence Sector – CSIRO SME Connect

• Facilitating R&D partnerships
• Training for SMEs – Innovate to Grow
• Success stories

Dr George Feast, Deputy Director, SME Connect, CSIRO Services

14:30

Case study: How the Factory of the Future project is enabling SMEs to be part of the Hunter Frigate program

• Innovation. Industry 4.0 and the Factory of the Future
• Opportunities for SMEs to access the Hunter Frigate program and other supply chains

Sharon Wilson, Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Director, BAE Systems

14:50

Case study: Coordinating the delivery of maintenance for Navy Vessels in Western Australia

• Providing the link between Defence and industry to boost local sustainment capability
• Ensuring resilient supply chains for future projects
• How NSM’s supplier continuous improvement program can be a win-win-win for Defence, Prime and SME contractors and the local economy

Sarah Tartakowski, Strategic Supply Chain Manager, Babcock Australia and New Zealand

15:10

Refreshment and networking break

15:30

Panel discussion: Defence research and innovation

• Successfully collaborating with TEAM WA to strengthen Australia’s sovereignty
• Challenges in researching in the Defence space
• Current projects that will enhance Australia’s Defence capability

Prof Gia Parish, Director, UWA Defence & Security Institute
Anthony Marceddo, Director Defence Research & Engagement, Edith Cowan University
Michele Clement, Director, Defence Science Centre, Defence West
Gary Hale, Director Defence & Space, Curtin University

16:00

Closing remarks from the Chair

16:10

Networking Drinks

17:10

Event Concludes