Perth conference highlights defence agenda

The ways that Western Australia and their allies in the Indo-Pacific can progress the defence industry will form the focus of the Western Australian Indo-Pacific Defence Conference, being held on Tuesday 30 October at Crown Towners and is co-hosted by Defence West in partnership with the Perth USAsia Centre.

Feature presentations and panel discussions will consider a range of issues including the emergence of the Indo-Pacific, and the role of small-medium enterprises in Western Australia’s future in the defence industry as well as an update from the Chief of Navy.

More than 35 high quality speakers from around the nation and the globe will present at the event, including the Governor of Western Australia, The Hon Kim Beazley, Federal Minister for Defence,
The Hon Christopher Pyne, and Managing Director of Austal Ships, David Singleton.

Perth USAsia Centre’s CEO Professor Gordon Flake said the conference will examine the broader geo-strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific, and the important role Australia will continue to play in the region through its expertise in defence capability and resources.

“The rise of the Indo-Pacific has major implications for national defence and regional security, and the conference promises to deliver thought-provoking discussion and strategic outcomes for the industry.”

“In addition to exploring the Indo-Pacific, we also see this conference as the opportunity to showcase Western Australia to national and international defence stakeholders, as a major player for the nation and the globe, when it comes to defence capability and resources,” Professor Flake said.

The conference will enhance defence capabilities for industry based around the nation and the globe, through information sharing from high-level speakers, educating and inspiring industry leaders to become world class and globally competitive.

Join Premier Mark McGowan, the Hon Paul Papalia, Vice-Admiral Michael Noonan, Chief of Navy at the Royal Australian Navy, and senior leaders from WA Universities, Telstra, Australian Industry Group, Lurssen, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Hofmann Engineering.

Limited tickets are available for the Western Australian Indo-Pacific Defence Conference 2018 for $200 excluding GST, and can be purchased online at http://perthusasia.edu.au/defence-forum-2018