The Hunter Defence Conference continues to evolve as one of Australia’s most influential gatherings of defence, industry and government leaders.
This year’s theme, Building Your Defence Strategy, reflects where the market is heading. Engagement with Defence is no longer aspirational. It is active, competitive and increasingly sophisticated. Organisations that succeed will be those that understand where they fit, who they need to partner with and how to align their capability to Defence priorities.
The Hunter Defence Conference attracts over 280 delegates and keynote speakers from the defence sector nationally.
It is unique within regional Australia and key to promoting regional defence industry capability – presenting a strong and unified voice that is heard throughout NSW industry, the NSW Government, nationally, and importantly, by Federal Government representatives.
All Defence Services and major Defence Primes will be in attendance, providing current insights into capability priorities, procurement pathways and opportunities for industry to engage.
DATES
LOCATION
430 Wine Country Drive,
Lovedale, NSW 2325
FORMAT
08:00 – 08:45 Exhibition & Registration
08:45 – 16:30 Conference
16:30 – 18:30 Networking Drinks
08:00 – 09:00 Exhibition & Registration
09:00 – 16:00 Conference
18:15 – 19:00 Pre Dinner Drinks Function
19:00 – 22:30 Gala Dinner
The Hunter Defence Conference offers attendees, sponsors and exhibitors access to:
Below is the list of currently confirmed speakers for HDC2026. This list will be updated regularly as new speakers join the program.
Meet the speakers who will be joining #HDC2026 on Day One.
Andrew Bartlett joined Thales in 2025, bringing with him a wealth of experience transforming complex operations across Australia. His career spans senior management roles in Defence Infrastructure Services, Asset Management, Commercial Management, and Airline Engineering and Operations. Andrew is recognised for his strategic leadership and operational expertise.
Before joining Thales, Andrew served as General Manager for Ventia’s Defence Base Services contract, overseeing a diverse portfolio that included strategic asset management, facility management, customer operations, catering, and land and environmental management. During his five-year tenure, he led a major contract transformation programme that significantly enhanced both financial performance and service delivery. Under his leadership, Ventia was awarded SEG Defence Contractor of the Year, and Andrew was named Australian Industry Defence Network Executive of the Year in 2024.
Earlier in his career, Andrew spent more than 24 years in aviation, holding senior leadership positions across multiple operational domains. Notably, he led the Maintenance Operations and Control organisation within Qantas Airlines Engineering, where he was responsible for asset management, technical support, and fleet planning, playing a pivotal role in Qantas’ transformation journey.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Technology Sydney and has completed formal qualifications in Six Sigma Black Belt (General Electric), Strategic Finance (Harvard Business School Australia), and the Company Directors Course (AICD).
Tim Owen AM is a 32-year services veteran and former Deputy Commander of the Australian forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a highly regarded defence industry consultant with significant expertise in the Australian Defence Force contracting process and experience working with defence primes.
Based in Canberra, John commenced the role as Managing Director in 2019 where he has since been responsible for establishing and growing KONGSBERG's Defence activities in Australia.
This has included capabilities including NASAMS Ground Based Air Defence, Protected Mobile Fires Command and Control, Naval Strike Missiles, Joint Strike Missiles, the Global Supply Chain Program, and the establishment of KONGSBERG’s first missile manufacturing and maintenance factory outside of Norway.
Before joining KONGSBERG Australia, John worked in Business Development for Raytheon Australia, Fujitsu Australia and Booz Allen Hamilton. This followed a 13 year career in the Australian Defence Force as an Officer in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery which included stints in Capability Development and Defence Acquisition.
John is a graduate of both the Cranfield University, having attained a Master of Science (Guided Weapon Systems), and the University of New South Wales where he attained a Master of Management Studies (Project Management) and a Bachelor of Science (Honours Class 1). He was also a qualified Missile Weapons Inspector with the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission. John is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Michael Formosa is in charge of international business operations of Renaissance Strategic Advisors, an aerospace, defence and security consultancy specialising in assisting clients address their most complex and critical issues.
With 30 years of experience in international business planning and expansion, Michael’s expertise covers M&A industry due diligence, R&D pipeline prioritisation and development, regulatory risk analysis, and market prioritisation and capture. He has led hundreds of consulting engagements on behalf of government departments and companies throughout the value chain, from component manufacturers to prime contractors. Michael advises clients on internationalisation and multidomestic strategies, industrial collaboration, transfer of technology/local participation, and foreign direct (capital) investment.
In addition to speaking regularly at various industry fora, Michael has served as an expert witness in US federal court; provided testimony to the UK House of Commons Defence Select Committee on industrial policy; to the Defence Sub Committee and House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on foreign ownership in the supply chain, contributed to the Dunne Review on UK prosperity, and comments on defence and security issues for media outlets.
Before joining Renaissance, Michael was director of Jane's Strategic Advisory Services in London and was responsible for business relationships throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia/ Pacific. For Jane’s, Michael managed bespoke market forecasting, price modelling, competitive, and commercial due diligence projects. He delivered strategic recommendations to senior- and board-level executives across a range of international aerospace and defence firms.
Michael has an MSc in international affairs with a concentration in social and economic development from the New School for Social Research in New York.
Mick spent over 35 years in the Australian Army. He served in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as on the U.S. joint staff in Washington DC. He is a keen author on the interface of strategy, innovation, advanced technologies, and people, and has published hundreds of articles, and several books including War Transformed (2022), White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan (2023) and The War for Ukraine: Strategy and Adaptation Under Fire (2024).
Mick is a strategic adviser to several US, UK and Australian defence-related companies, is the inaugural Senior Fellow for Military Studies at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, and an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC.
Katherine is an experienced Strategy and Communications leader with a demonstrated history of working in the media industry with a Defence focus. She is skilled in Crisis Communications, Event Management, Media Relations, Journalism, Social Media and Corporate Communications.
Kath is a a strong media and communication professional with a Masters in Strategy and Policy from UNSW @ ADFA, completion of the Defence Industry Study Course (DISC) and an ongoing interest in the Defence community.
Michael is founder and director of Strategic Analysis Australia. From 2018 until September 2022, he was the Director of the Defence, Strategy and National Security Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in Canberra.
Before the think tank world, Michael was a deputy in two Australian intelligence agencies – the Australian Signals Directorate and the Defence Intelligence Organisation.
He has worked in two Australian Federal Government ministers’ offices. As the First Assistant Secretary for Strategic Policy in Defence, he led the team that wrote Australia’s 2013 Defence White Paper and also administered defence exports policy and legislation.
In his first Senior Executive Service role he led the tender evaluation, selection and contract negotiations for the Australian Navy’s Armidale Class Patrol Boats. His last role in the Defence organisation was as the head of the Contestability Division that provides objective analysis of the overall $270 billion investment program.
Michael was Australia’s senior defence policy official in the Australian Embassy in Washington from February 2005 to June 2007. He was seconded to the UK Ministry of Defence in 1999-2000.
He has also served in the Senior Executive Service in both Australia’s Finance Department and the Prime Minister’s Department, where he was head of the Defence, Intelligence and Research Division.
Michael is married to Margaret and they have three children.
Andrew began his career in the Royal Australian Air Force as a technician on aircraft avionics and test equipment. He subsequently undertook and completed a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Queensland University of Technology and commenced work as an engineer with Boeing Australia on the F-111 Avionics Update Program.
Andrew then joined BAE Systems and was seconded to the United Kingdom to work as part of the design team for the Australian Hawk Lead-In-Fighter aircraft. Upon his return to Australia, Andrew took on various engineering roles, culminating in his appointment as the Engineering Manager for the Hawk Lead-In-Fighter.
After being awarded BAE Systems’ Australia Engineer of the Year in 2009 and the Manager of the BAE Systems Engineering Team of the Year in 2010, Andrew was appointed as Head of Aerospace Engineering for BAE Systems Australia. In August 2017 he was appointed as F-35 Campaign Manager and he took over as Director to Aerospace for BAE Systems at the beginning of 2019, a role he still holds today.
The Aerospace line of business Andrew leads provides broad reaching sustainment, manufacturing and training activities focussed on optimised availability, capability and innovative aviation training and solutions. It currently supports the F-35 for the RAAF and the Asia-Pacific, the Hawk Lead-In-Fighter for the RAAF and Aviation Technical Training for the ADF, from four major Australian locations.
Air Commodore Vince Chong is an aerospace engineer whose career has been marked by numerous leadership roles spanning maintenance, engineering, integration, software, information communications technology, capability development, product sustainment, and project management.
After joining the Air Force in 1997, Air Commodore Chong established himself as an engineer by undertaking maintenance, acquisition, and sustainment roles for the C-130J Hercules aircraft. He led acquisition software and safety certification efforts for the Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet from Canberra and Patuxent River, USA.
His staff roles include serving as Aide-de-Camp to Air Commander Australia and Principal Staff Officer to the Head of Aerospace Systems Division. In capability roles, he was the Aerospace Development Branch Program Officer in Capability Development Group and as Staff Officer to the Head of Air Force Capability, where he assisted growth of the new capability division within Air Force Headquarters.
His first command was as Commanding Officer of Surveillance and Response Systems Program Office, where he led sustainment delivery and efforts to sell the AP-3C Orion at the end of its service life.
Air Commodore Chong's commitment to diversity and inclusion has earned him commendations, as has his work in enhancing information management and decision support tools that underpin Defence’s capability life cycle. He was also recognised for his leadership in delivering military communication services supporting an air detachment on operations in the Middle East.
A graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College (Joint) and the Australian Defence Force Academy, Air Commodore Chong holds a Masters of Military and Defence Studies from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from the University of New South Wales.
In 2020, he was promoted to Group Captain and took on the role of Officer Commanding Surveillance and Control Systems Program Office, where he led the acquisition and sustainment of Defence’s Air Traffic and Air Defence capabilities. He also served as the Business Lead for Enterprise Asset Management in the Defence Enterprise Resource Planning Project.
Today, Air Commodore Chong serves as the Director-General of Integrated Air and Missile Defence. He strives to advance aerospace engineering, complex integration, cyberworthiness, and program management of Defence capabilities.
Brigadier Colin Bassett has undertaken a number of command, staff and capability development appointments throughout his career. Brigadier Bassett is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) where he was selected and subsequently completed the CGSC Joint Warfare Program and was ultimately awarded a Master’s Degree in Military Arts and Science.
Brigadier Basset’s command appointments have included Army’s air dispatch capability, 176 Air Dispatch Squadron and the 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion as part of Army’s 3rd Combat Brigade. His operational experience includes deployments to East Timor (Operation Tanager) and numerous deployments across the broader Middle East Region (Operations Slipper, Catalyst, Okra and Highroad).
Brigadier Bassett has served in a number of key staff appointments including Army’s 3rd Combat Brigade, Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Joint Logistics Command and Army Headquarters.
Brigadier Bassett’s current appointment is Director General Platforms – Army, within Army Headquarters. This role has him leading a number of Army’s complex and diverse Capability Modernisation efforts, responsible for multiple, multi-billion dollar and multi-decade programs.
Platforms Branch includes the Land Combat Vehicle Program (LCVP), Land Mobility and Support Program (LM&SP), Dismounted Combat Program (DCP), Complex Technology Ranges (CTR) and the Land Training Capability (DLTC). Collectively these programs will deliver many of the core components of Army’s Combined Arms Fighting System as well as the next generation of supporting health, logistics, littoral manoeuvre and training capabilities for Army as part of the Integrated Force.
Brigadier Bassett is married to Dearne and together they have three children, Tim, Caitlin and Sarah. Dearne is an Assistant Principal at a large Canberra Catholic Secondary School and together they enjoy family holidays that has travel and the outdoors, as central themes in their leisurely pursuits.
Murray Brabrook was appointed as the Director of Operations (interim) for Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) on 1 July 2026. In this role, Brabrook provides strategic advice to the BDA executive team and manages day-to-day operations and administration across the BDA business.
Before assuming this role, Brabrook served as the Executive Director of Fixed Wing (interim) for Boeing Defence United Kingdom responsible for the support of RAF C-17, E-7 and P-8A platforms.
Prior to this, Brabrook was appointed as Director of Joint Systems for BDA in October 2018. In this role, he was responsible for managing delivery of BDA’s communications, network and tactical data link programs to meet the ADF’s communications needs across maritime, land, sea, space and cyber domains. This included the Currawong Battlespace Communications System, AIR6500 (under the Battlespace Communications System Enterprise) upgrade and sustainment of defence systems including Wakulda Air Battlespace Management system; and proprietary programs.
For the previous decade, Brabrook led Integrated Services & Support, where he oversaw the company’s through-life sustainment support solutions for military platforms, supply chain management services, land systems support, specialist technical services, and complex network systems. This included responsibility for delivering Super Hornet and Growler sustainment; C-17 support and maintenance; E-7A Wedgetail deeper maintenance; Army Aviation Training and Training Support; P-8A Poseidon support; F/A-18 A/B Classic Hornet support; CH-47F support; and the Helicopter Aircrew Training System.
Brabrook was previously the F-111 program director with responsibility for leading program execution including the fuel tank refurbishment program, the minor upgrade program and all software upgrades, as well as engineering, maintenance and lifecycle customer support activities.
He joined BDA in August 2001 as a software manager for the F-111 program and held various positions of increasing responsibility until March 2005 when he was appointed senior manager of Air Mobility Programs.
Previous to this, Brabrook worked for BAE Systems as a project manager on the Eurofighter program.
He holds a Bachelors degree in Engineering (Aerospace Avionics) from the Queensland University of Technology and is a certified Master Project Director. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Project Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is part of the Australian Industry Group national executive.
Kieran Sarri is the National Head of Defence at Built. He leads Built’s national Defence Business Unit and is responsible for the strategy, pursuit, and delivery execution of all projects for Defence and Government. Kieran is a highly experienced Defence sector leader with over 20 years in the construction industry, including 20 years delivering complex projects directly for the Department of Defence. He provides strategic leadership across a national portfolio of high-value Defence projects - working with Government, Prime Contractors, and Industry to deliver efficient solutions to meet Australia's Defence infrastructure needs.
Meet the leaders who will be joining #HDC2026 on Day Two.
Dr Mel McDowall is the Director of the Defence AI Research Network (DAIRNet), an initiative of the Australian Department of Defence and hosted by Adelaide University.
Mel brings a uniquely diverse background spanning clinical, agricultural, and Defence sectors, with expertise across the full technology readiness lifecycle—from “bench to bedside,” “bench to farm-gate,” and “concept to capability.” Her career has encompassed foundational and applied research, operational governance, business improvement, contract management, clinical support, and stakeholder engagement.
At DAIRNet, Mel leads a national effort to connect researchers, industry, and Defence through a collaborative co-design and co-creation model. Under her leadership, the network acts as a national concierge and facilitator, accelerating the development and adoption of AI solutions that meet Defence’s evolving needs.
Mel is a strong advocate for contemporary, strategic models of research leadership, blending academic knowledge with innovation, business acumen, and purposeful collaboration. Guided by the principle “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” she is passionate about enabling diverse, multi-disciplinary teams and building ecosystems that deliver real-world impact. She is also involved in mentoring emerging scientific leaders through the IMNIS program and a strong advocate for women in STEM.
She holds a PhD (Medicine) and a MBA from the University of Adelaide.
When not building networks or shaping strategy, Mel is the concierge of the McDowall household, including two towering teenage sons and a diva Golden Retriever named Alfie. She is also an aspiring powerlifter and starts most days lifting heavy things.
Michael is founder and director of Strategic Analysis Australia. From 2018 until September 2022, he was the Director of the Defence, Strategy and National Security Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in Canberra.
Before the think tank world, Michael was a deputy in two Australian intelligence agencies – the Australian Signals Directorate and the Defence Intelligence Organisation.
He has worked in two Australian Federal Government ministers’ offices. As the First Assistant Secretary for Strategic Policy in Defence, he led the team that wrote Australia’s 2013 Defence White Paper and also administered defence exports policy and legislation.
In his first Senior Executive Service role he led the tender evaluation, selection and contract negotiations for the Australian Navy’s Armidale Class Patrol Boats. His last role in the Defence organisation was as the head of the Contestability Division that provides objective analysis of the overall $270 billion investment program.
Michael was Australia’s senior defence policy official in the Australian Embassy in Washington from February 2005 to June 2007. He was seconded to the UK Ministry of Defence in 1999-2000.
He has also served in the Senior Executive Service in both Australia’s Finance Department and the Prime Minister’s Department, where he was head of the Defence, Intelligence and Research Division.
Michael is married to Margaret and they have three children.
Bret is the Deputy Chair, Hunter Defence Task Force and HunterNet Co-operative Senior Industry Advisor. Bret is a Defence veteran and has worked with the Canadian, US and Australian services. He has spent 20 years contributing to the Australian Defence sector as a chief executive, director and management consultant.
Bret is active in Engineers Australia and has continued to support HunterNet and Hunter Defence since 2005. Bret has supported over 200 SME companies developing their Defence capabilities.
Dr Oleksandra Molloy – Ukrainian/Australian – is an internationally renowned expert in uncrewed and autonomous systems in modern conflicts, and specifically their role in the war in Ukraine. Dr Molloy has been named the ‘Academic of the Year’ by the Australian Defence Industry Awards, and a winner of the Science & Technology Achievements Award from the AOC ANZ (Electronic Warfare). Dr Molloy is a Senior Lecturer in Human Factors and Aviation Safety, and the Lead of the Human Factors Research Lab in the School of Science of the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy (Canberra, Australia). Oleksandra educates future defence professionals in aviation, army and navy services as well as senior Defence leaders, and serves as a defence strategic advisor to an Australian company.
Dr Molloy is a research trailblazer and award-winning leader who conducts multi-disciplinary research in the areas of uncrewed and autonomous systems, human factors, transport safety, education and training. In the area of uncrewed systems, Dr Molloy has led the first evidence-based research between Ukraine and Australia “Drones in Modern Warfare: Lessons Learnt from the War in Ukraine” (supported by the Australian Army Research Centre, Department of Defence). Oleksandra is also leading the Defence Trailblazer projects together with industry on developing AI-assisted approach to assess cognitive load for Mission Aircrew/UAS operators, development of an autonomous C-UAS system, and support research on AI on the Battlefield: Examining Ethical Decision Making in a Military AI Vision System.
Dr Molloy’s work has informed defence organisations, governments, and industry stakeholders across Australia, Europe, North America, and Ukraine. Dr Molloy is a regularly invited speaker at the international defence forums and initiatives, NATO bodies and International Defence institutions — including NATO's Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC), NATO Science & Technology workshops in Europe, the Drone Capability Coalition Summit, Australia-New Zealand-Ukraine Cooperation Forum, US Department of War Command, Australian Parliament, and other engagements with defence organisations and government agencies across allied nations.
Mike Newman is presently Executive Chairman and Group CEO of Ginga Vale Investments Pty. Ltd. Prior to this role he served as NSW’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for North Asia (Japan and Korea), based in Tokyo, between 2021 and 2024. With more than 25 years living and working in Japan, he brings deep expertise in Australia–Japan economic relations, investment facilitation, and strategic supply-chain partnerships.
His career spans senior roles in investment banking across Tokyo and London, including Division Director and Country Head of Macquarie Capital Securities Japan, Head of Institutional Equity Sales at HSBC Securities Japan, and earlier positions at ABN AMRO where he covered the Aerospace and Defence sectors. He was involved in landmark transactions including the listing of Airbus (EADS N.V.), the Nissan-Renault merger and Macquarie’s investment in Haneda Airport.
In Aerospace & Defence, Mike was part of the ABN-AMRO team that was the chief advisory investment bank to BAE Systems, Smiths Group, GKN, Rolls-Royce, Vosper-Thornycroft, Alvis Systems and Meggitt.
As Trade Commissioner, Mike played a central role in attracting major Japanese and Korean investment energy infrastructure in the Hunter region. These initiatives directly support energy security, critical minerals supply chains, and industrial capability — all foundational to Australia’s defence posture and Indo-Pacific strategic resilience.
A fluent Japanese speaker with extensive networks across Japanese government, business, and finance, Mike also serves as Managing Director – Japan & Korea for Barker Henley Global, advising on cross-border trade, investment, and government engagement between Australia and North Asia. He is a regular commentator on the evolving economic-security nexus in the region.
Linc Horton is an experienced aviation and property executive with a strong track record leading major commercial and infrastructure projects across the airport and logistics sectors.
With executive experience across Australia and the United Kingdom, he has successfully led large-scale commercial, property and capital development projects delivering strong commercial, shareholder and community outcomes.
As Newcastle Airport's Chief Executive Officer, he is guiding the organisation through a critical phase of growth, including the launch of the new international terminal and the development of the Astra Aerolab precinct.
Linc is passionate about ensuring regional airports have a strong voice in national aviation policy and is committed to strengthening Newcastle Airport as a platform for regional opportunity, growing connectivity and supporting tourism, trade, defence, advanced manufacturing and long-term economic growth.
Under Linc's leadership, Newcastle Airport has delivered one of the most significant periods of growth in its history. FY25 exceeded expectations, with more than 1.2 million passengers, $46.4 million in revenue and a Group profit of $2.6 million, while the final quarter of 2025 became the busiest in the Airport's history with 340,778 passengers. The Airport is now forecasting a record 1.334 million passengers in FY26.
During this period, Linc has overseen the successful completion of the new international terminal, introduction of new international and domestic services including Bali, Singapore, Perth and Hobart, expansion of the Airport's commercial portfolio and advancement of nationally significant defence and advanced manufacturing opportunities through projects with Kongsberg Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia within the Astra Aerolab precinct. He has also championed a Hunter Region International Air Freight Precinct and initiatives that strengthen sovereign capability, regional connectivity and economic growth.
Tony Landers is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SiNAB Pty Ltd, an Australian defence technology company specialising in advanced airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), tactical communications, and mission systems integration. With extensive experience in the development, certification and commercialisation of complex defence capabilities, Tony has led the delivery of innovative solutions that support military training, operational effectiveness and platform integration across international markets.
Under his leadership, SiNAB has developed the Phoenix Pod, an advanced EO/IR and communications system that has progressed from experimental flight testing to military airworthiness approval, demonstrating the company's commitment to engineering excellence and mission assurance.
Tony is passionate about bridging the gap between emerging technology and operational capability, working closely with defence organisations, industry partners and end users to deliver practical, deployable solutions. He is a strong advocate for Australian sovereign defence capability, innovation and international collaboration.
The Hon. Pat Conroy MP is the Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for International Development and the Pacific and the Federal Member for Shortland.
Pat was elected to the House of Representatives as the Member for Charlton, New South Wales in 2013 and, following an electoral redistribution, as the Member for Shortland, New South Wales in 2016 and again in 2019 and 2022.
From 2016 to 2019, Pat was Shadow Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure. In 2019, he was appointed Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Shadow Minister Assisting for Defence and Shadow Minister Assisting for Climate Change and Energy.
From 2008 to 2013, he was Principal Policy Adviser and then Deputy Chief of Staff to the Hon. Greg Combet, AM, MP, who served as a Minister in the Rudd and Gillard Labor Governments. In these roles, Pat worked in developing significant policies in areas including Defence Materiel, Defence Science and Industry and Innovation.
Nicholas Stevens is Manager of Pre-Startup Programs at the University of Newcastle's Integrated Innovation Network (I2N), where he helps founders and businesses turn ideas into value. Over the past three years he has taught generative AI workshops to more than 1,000 live attendees across 20-plus events spanning Sydney, Hong Kong, Melbourne, the Hunter and Central West startup ecosystems.
With a background in accounting and international innovation, including time working in Israel and alongside Sydney startups, Nick blends persuasive communication with meticulous strategic thinking. He is drawn to cleantech, university education and the practical question of how generative AI can create real value for businesses.
Creative by nature, Nick has a knack for bringing the right people together for initiatives that drive social impact. He enjoys sharing the stories behind these projects with younger professionals to build their confidence and self-efficacy.
Former Lieutenant Colonel Josh Wineera is a New Zealand defence industry strategist and Head of Global Partnerships & Strategic Relations for the Taranaki Alliance (New Zealand). He leads engagement between government, defence and industry to strengthen advanced manufacturing, defence capability and international partnerships.
Josh is also Director of Latent, a New Zealand national security consultancy, and Kōtui Dynamics, a company specialising in human-autonomous systems.
With 40 years of service spanning the military, academia and the defence commercial sector, Josh has served as a New Zealand Army officer, defence attaché, university academic and strategist. He advises government and industry on capability development, industrial strategy, emerging technologies and international collaboration. He led the development of Massey University New Zealand's Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) professional programme.
His work focuses on strengthening national capability by connecting industry and international partnerships.
Conference packages do not include accommodation. To access the conference accommodation rate, please click “I have a code” and enter the following under Block Code: 2608HUNDEF. Click here to reserve your accommodation.
Ticket terms
Conference tickets are non-refundable, however delegate substitutions are permitted.
Member registration eligibility
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
HDC2026 places a strong emphasis on meaningful
interaction, with curated networking sessions, small group engagements and increased opportunities for direct conversation. This ensures sponsors and exhibitors are not only seen, but are positioned to build relationships that lead to tangible outcomes.
If your organisation is looking to strengthen its presence, build strategic partnerships and play a role in Australia’s evolving defence capability, the Hunter Defence Conference is a platform designed to support that ambition.
Please download the prospectus or Please contact Merran Wiggins, merran@hunternet.com.au | 0414 599 636.
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