This year’s iteration of the Hunter Defence conference will canvas a range of views about contemporary issues facing Australia and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
During the conference, to be held between 21 and 22 August at the Rydges Resort in the Hunter valley, participants will have the opportunity to hear from a range of high-profile guests about AUKUS, investment in Australia’s Defence capability, and a range of other topics.
“The National Defence Strategy was released in April 2024 and it has six immediate priorities, all of which could provide opportunity for Hunter-based primes as well as small to medium enterprises,” explained Hunter Defence Taskforce Chair, Tim Owen.
The strategy emphasises the critical role of collaboration between government, industry, and Defence in addressing Australia’s strategic risks.
Distinguished guests slated to speak include Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns; Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy; former Prime Minister and current Ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd; and former Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon. Across the two-day conference, they will join experts from Defence, academia, think tanks, and industry, fostering a comprehensive dialogue on national security and defence capabilities.
“The Hunter defence industry is highly capable, and the Hunter Defence Conference is the gateway for government, industry and defence forces to come together to help address Australia’s strategic risks,” Owen said.
“This is reiterated in the recently released Defence Industry Development Strategy which recognises the defence industry as a critical partner in providing the deterrence our strategic circumstances demands,” he added.
During day one of the conference, participants will have the opportunity to hear from program officials from across Defence, including the Director General Major Surface Combatants, Commodore Brad Smith, Head of Aerospace Systems, Air Vice Marshal Graham Edwards, and Head of Army Capability Major General Richard Vagg.
Day one will also provide a platform for small and medium enterprises (SME) to engage with large Defence primes, who will be represented at the highest level, including the Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia, Warren McDonald, Managing Director of Boeing Defence Australia, Amy List, and Head of Industrial development at Hanwha Defence Australia, Susanne Multerer.
Following panel discussions, these primes will engage in one-on-one sessions with SMEs, offering valuable networking opportunities and potential collaborations. Day two will include a detailed briefing by Air Vice Marshal Graham Edwards on the budgetary impacts on Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).
Vice President - Programs, Anduril Australia & Asia Pacific, Andrew Glynn, and a representative from the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) will then lead a two-pronged conversation on Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities. The discussion will examine both the AUKUS optimal pathway towards nuclear powered submarines and what Australia is doing now to grow its undersea warfare capabilities through the adoption of uncrewed systems, like Anduril Australia’s Ghost Shark and C2 Robotics Speartooth.
Day two will also feature an SME panel featuring Bridon’s General Manager of Defence, Joe Smith, the managing director of Bale Defence, Link Bale, and the Chief Executive Officer of NuPress, Craig McWilliam who will discuss the challenges and opportunities within the current defence environment.
The conference will culminate in a networking social and gala dinner, featuring a keynote address from the Minister for Defence Industry.