The 2024

Conference Agenda - Full Day Session

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2024 hunter defence conference agenda

The program for the 2024 Hunter Defence Conference is outlined below.  Speakers and topics are subject to change. 

wednesday 21 august

EXAMPLE DAY’S THEME: DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW AND AUKUS - Strategy and Capabilities
EMCEE:
Speaker First Name and Last Name

Session

Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Evening
Full Day
Day One

09:25

Newcastle Airport – Astra Aerolab: Defence, Aerospace and Innovation Precinct

  • Dr Peter Cock
Chief Executive Officer
Newcastle Airport and Astra Aerolab
Day One

08:50

Welcome to Country

  • Brad Twynham
Author, Speaker, Business Strategist
Day One

15:00

BREAK: Afternoon Tea

  • Networking Time
Day One

12:45

BREAK: Lunch and Exhibition

  • Networking Time
Sponsored by Boeing Australia
Day One

09:40

AUKUS Update

  • A perspective from the USA
Interview between The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon (Former Minister for Defence) and H.E. The Hon. Kevin Rudd (Australia's Ambassador to the United States). Mr Rudd will be appearing virtually.
Day One

09:00

Emcee Overview of the Conference

  • Kate Banville
Emcee, Facilitator and Internationally Published Journalist
Day One

08:45

Conference Welcome and Emcee Introduction

  • Tim Owen
Chair ‑ Hunter Defence Task Force
Hunter Defence
Day One

08:00

Registrations Open and Visit Exhibition

  • Networking Time
Day One

15:30

Interactive Small Group Discussions

  • 2 x 30 Minute Small Group Discussions
Choose and connect with two expert speakers from the day
Participating Speakers: The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon (former Minister for Defence); Michael Shoebridge (Defence Strategist and Sector Expert); Nelson Bates (Joint Capabilities); CDRE Brad Smith (Navy Capability Development); AVM Graham Edwards (Air Force Capability Development and CASG rep); BRIG Colin Bassett (Army Capability); Andrew Chapman (BAE Systems Australia: Director Aerospace); Amy List (Boeing Defence Australia: Managing Director); Mr. Warren McDonald (Lockheed Martin Australia: Chief Executive); Paul Hales (Raytheon Australia: General Manager Space & Mission Systems); John Fry (Kongsberg Defence Australia: Managing Director)
Day One

11:30

ADF Capability Roundtable and Q&A

  • Moderated by Tim Owen
Assistant Secretary – Joint Information Capabilities Mr Nelson Bates; Director General Major Surface Ships CDRE Brad Smith; Head of Aerospace Systems AVM Graham Edwards; Director General Platforms – Army Brigadier Colin Bassett

wednesday 22 august

EXAMPLE DAY’S THEME: DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW AND AUKUS - Strategy and Capabilities
EMCEE:
Speaker First Name and Last Name

Session

Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Evening
Full Day
Day Two

09:00

Welcome and Day Two Overview

  • Kate Banville
Emcee, Facilitator and Internationally published journalist.
Day Two

19:00

Gala Dinner

  • The Hon Pat Conroy MP
Minister for Defence Industry, Australian Government
Sponsored by Lockheed Martin; Emceed by Kate Banville
Day Two

11:00

BREAK: Morning tea and exhibition

  • Networking Time
Sponsored by Kongsberg Australia
Day Two

08:00

Registrations Open and Visit Exhibition

  • Networking Time
Day Two

12:30

BREAK: Lunch and Exhibition

  • Networking Time
Sponsored by CMI Safe Company
Day Two

15:30

Conference Wrap Up

  • Tim Owen
Chair ‑ Hunter Defence Task Force
Hunter Defence
Day Two

14:40

SME Industry Panel

  • Moderated by Bret Barton
Bale Defence Link Bale (Managing Director); Birdon Joe Smith (GM Defence); NuPress Craig McWilliam (Chief Executive)
Day Two

13:30

AI and Related Trends Impacting Us All

  • Prof. Hussein Abbass
Founding Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence (IEEE-TAI), an IEEE Computational Intelligence Distinguished Lecturer (2022-2024), and Full Professor at UNSW Canberra
Day Two

12:20

Workforce Skills Future Survey Update

  • Tim Owen
Chair ‑ Hunter Defence Task Force
Hunter Defence
Day Two

11:30

Funding Options for Your Growing Defence Business – Panel Discussion

  • Moderated by Allan Aaron
Dan Bennett, Co Founder Salus Ventures; Daniel Gronowski, Adviser, Industry Growth Program; Paul Cragg, Executive Manager Hunter & Central Coast, Commonwealth Bank Australia

Secure your place

$1290

Non-Member

Button

$1190

Member

Button

Inclusions

  • Access to the complete conference event for the two days
  • Conference packages include morning tea, lunch, the Wednesday evening cocktail event and the Thursday evening Gala Dinner. All other catering is at the delegate’s own expense
  • Conference packages exclude accommodation
  • Conference packages exclude costs for the Golf Day
    Conference tickets are non-refundable but delegates are transferable
  • A ‘member’ is any organisation that is a Hunter Defence Key Stakeholder: RDA Hunter, HunterNet, Business Hunter, Australian Industry Group, Australian Industry Defence Network, Industry Capability Network NSW, Hunter Defence Support Network, University of Newcastle, TAFE NSW, Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, and the NSW Government

tickets on sale - monday may 24

sponsorship and 
exhibition opportunities

There are a range of sponsorship and exhibition opportunities available for the 2024 conference. Simply download the prospectus for full details or contact Merran Wiggins via

merranw@travelmanagers.com.au
or 0414 599 636 to discuss your requirements.

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thanks to Our hdc 2023 sponsors

Newcastle Office Interiors logo with no background
CMI Safe Company logo with no background
Built Australia all white logo with no background
nal logo lockup 2 (white)
astra aerolab white
nsw government white
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Varley white logo with no background
Boeing white logo with no background
lockheed martin

Funding Partners

nsw government white
hunternet logo
astra aerolab white
nswbc logo
uon logo official white 01
lockheed martin

the hunter region.

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Hunter Defence acknowledges that it operates on the grounds of the traditional country of the Awabakal, Darkinyung, Geawegal, Wonnarua, and Worimi peoples.
We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing relationship with the land, and that they are the proud survivors of more than two hundred years of dispossession. 


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