Join us in Sydney this August for the Chamber’s Defence Forum, opened by the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry.
As AUKUS moves from strategy to delivery, placing advanced technology, innovation and industrial collaboration at the centre of Australia’s defence future. From artificial intelligence, autonomy and cyber to quantum, undersea systems, advanced manufacturing and research commercialisation, the next phase of capability will depend on deeper cooperation between government, industry, academia and investment.
This Forum will bring together senior leaders to examine what these shifts mean for New South Wales, Australia and the wider UK-Australia partnership. It will provide an open forum for frank discussion, practical insight and cross-sector perspectives on the opportunities now emerging across defence, technology and industry.
See our speakers and programme below, and here.
| Session/Item | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|
| Keynote: The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry; Minister for Pacific Island Affairs | Followed by an In-Conversation with Lieutenant General Sir David Eastman KBE |
Defence and Why NSW Matters
| Andrew Chapman, Director - Aerospace, Business Development & Strategy Manager, BAE Systems Australia Rajat Kulshrestha, CEO and Co-Founder, Space Machines Company Prof Ben Eggleton, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Sydney Dr Cathy Moloney, Principal, Black Thorn Advisory; Nuclear Defence Specialist Moderated by Ticky Fullerton, CEO, Australian British Chamber of Commerce |
| Australia's Approach to Advanced Capability | Keynote David Nockels, First Assistant Secretary Defence Trade, Regulation and Industrial Collaboration, Department of Defence |
NSW as Defence's Advanced Capability Engine
| Mike Kerrigan, Managing Director Asia-Pacific, Cambridge Aerospace Chris Shaw, CEO & Co-Foudner, Advanced Navigation Robert Brezniak, Chief Growth Officer, Ocius Technology Moderated by Corry Neale, CEO, QinetiQ Australia |
Opportunity Knocks for the Future of NSW Defence
| Commander Kathryn Jones, RAN, Commanding Officer, HMAS Watson David Camerlengo, Executive Director - Investment, Industry and IDA, NSW Government Premier’s Department Matthew Theoharous, Executive General Manager, Defence and Social Infrastructure, Built Australia Moderated by Phil Davies, Executive Director, Jacobs |
| In-Conversation | Prof Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer and Natural Resources Commissioner |
Tickets
Individual Ticket
Member: $185
Non Member: $215
Table of 8
Member: $1,200
Non Member: $1,450
The Hon Pat Conroy MP
Minister for Defence Industry; Minister for the Pacific - Parliament of Australia
The Hon Pat Conroy MP
Minister for Defence Industry; Minister for the Pacific
The Hon. Pat Conroy MP is Australia’s longest serving Minister for Defence Industry since the 1950s.
His focus is on delivering the capabilities our Australian Defence Force needs to keep Australians safe.
Since coming into government, Minister Conroy has accelerated capability delivery to meet Australia’s strategic challenges, including a historic increase in Australia’s missile manufacturing capabilities and more than doubling the Navy’s major warship fleet.
Furthermore, he is working to deliver a generational investment in Australia’s industrial base to implement the AUKUS partnership.
With over 100,000 Australians working in the defence industry, a key driver of his work is to build a stronger and more resilient defence industry that secures well-paid, high-skilled jobs – not just for the next few years, but for the next generation.
Minister Conroy grew up on the New South Wales Central Coast, completed an Economics degree with Honours at the University of Sydney, and worked in a range of industrial, policy and political roles prior to his election in 2013 as a Federal Member of Parliament. He was elevated into the Ministry after the 2022 Federal Election and into the Cabinet in 2024. Minister Conroy also serves as the Minister for Pacific Island Affairs.
Bird & Bird
Built Australia
Jacobs Group Australia
