Session 1.7f: Mini Product Briefs - Various
Tracks
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| Tuesday, November 18, 2025 |
| 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Swan Room |
Details
Establishing a Unified AI Operating Layer in a Multi-Cloud World
2.30pm - 2.45pm
As government agencies accelerate AI adoption, many face a growing challenge: fragmented AI pilots, overlapping tools and platforms, and inconsistent governance spread across multi-cloud environments. Defence, like many enterprises, is exploring the transformative potential of RPA AI, Agentic AI, and Generative AI. However, scaling these capabilities securely, responsibly, and sustainably across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and on-premise ecosystems demands a unified approach.
This session will explore the critical need for a Unified AI Operating Layer - a strategic and architectural framework that enables an enterprise to govern, orchestrate, and scale AI across multiple environments while remaining aligned with policy, security, and public trust.
Attendees will gain insight into:
• The practical risks of siloed AI (e.g. duplication, compliance exposure, cost blowouts).
• A hybrid model that balances centralised governance with federated execution.
• How to treat embedded vendor AI as part of the AI estate and not an afterthought.
• Mapping AI use cases to business processes, owners, and execution environments.
Drawing on DXC Technology’s leadership in public sector AI, the session will outline a phased approach and roadmap for embedding Responsible AI. Quantified benefits, including significant reductions in duplicated AI spend and faster pilot turnaround, demonstrate the tangible impact of this approach.
This presentation offers a clear, vendor-agnostic strategy to unify AI investments and drive decision advantage with real-world examples, practical frameworks, and policy alignment at its core.
Codan DTC Sentry Mesh 6161: Evolving Tactical MANET Radio for Sovereign and Modular Communications 2:50pm – 3.05pm Codan DTC’s Sentry Mesh 6161 continues its evolution as a compact, high-performance tactical MANET radio designed for dismounted, vehicular, and unmanned system integration. Following successful deployments in the L band, the newly released S band variant has been delivered to support the DEF129 program and sovereign UAV integration alongside other ADF industry partners. This enhancement provides greater spectrum agility, extended range, and improved spectrum deconfliction in complex RF environments. To enhance mission flexibility, Codan DTC has introduced a clip-on power module compatible with MBITR-style batteries, enabling seamless integration with existing soldier systems. To further enhance capabilities, Sentry Mesh 6161 supports multi-waveform operation, incorporating the TrellisWare TSM waveform alongside the Codan DTC proprietary MeshUltra solution. This multi-waveform functionality ensures assured networking, improved interoperability with allied forces, and redundancy in denied or degraded environments. The upcoming MILCIS presentation will highlight Sentry Mesh 6161’s architecture, deployment scenarios, and its key role in delivering sovereign, modular communications across the integrated force.
Starboard Defence: Sovereign AI for Air-Gapped ISR and Coalition Decision Superiority 3.10pm - 3.25pm Dr Christopher Laing, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Starboard Maritime Intelligence, will present Starboard Defence—a sovereign, warfighting application engineered for maritime and multi-domain operations. Starboard Defence provides maritime data fusion and behavioural analytics to deliver persistent maritime domain awareness. The platform integrates with air-gapped C2 and C4ISR environments, supporting the Australian Defence Force’s requirements for rapid asset tasking, maritime tracking, and secure coalition interoperability. Dr Laing will demonstrate how Starboard Defence applies AI/ML analytics to accelerate detection, targeting, and decision-making, even in contested or disconnected conditions. This session will explore how Starboard adapts to joint and multi-domain missions, empowers commanders with real-time, actionable intelligence, and future-proofs the ADF and allies with scalable, sovereign analytics—strengthening the maritime edge and delivering enduring operational advantage.
Codan DTC Sentry Mesh 6161: Evolving Tactical MANET Radio for Sovereign and Modular Communications 2:50pm – 3.05pm Codan DTC’s Sentry Mesh 6161 continues its evolution as a compact, high-performance tactical MANET radio designed for dismounted, vehicular, and unmanned system integration. Following successful deployments in the L band, the newly released S band variant has been delivered to support the DEF129 program and sovereign UAV integration alongside other ADF industry partners. This enhancement provides greater spectrum agility, extended range, and improved spectrum deconfliction in complex RF environments. To enhance mission flexibility, Codan DTC has introduced a clip-on power module compatible with MBITR-style batteries, enabling seamless integration with existing soldier systems. To further enhance capabilities, Sentry Mesh 6161 supports multi-waveform operation, incorporating the TrellisWare TSM waveform alongside the Codan DTC proprietary MeshUltra solution. This multi-waveform functionality ensures assured networking, improved interoperability with allied forces, and redundancy in denied or degraded environments. The upcoming MILCIS presentation will highlight Sentry Mesh 6161’s architecture, deployment scenarios, and its key role in delivering sovereign, modular communications across the integrated force.
Starboard Defence: Sovereign AI for Air-Gapped ISR and Coalition Decision Superiority 3.10pm - 3.25pm Dr Christopher Laing, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Starboard Maritime Intelligence, will present Starboard Defence—a sovereign, warfighting application engineered for maritime and multi-domain operations. Starboard Defence provides maritime data fusion and behavioural analytics to deliver persistent maritime domain awareness. The platform integrates with air-gapped C2 and C4ISR environments, supporting the Australian Defence Force’s requirements for rapid asset tasking, maritime tracking, and secure coalition interoperability. Dr Laing will demonstrate how Starboard Defence applies AI/ML analytics to accelerate detection, targeting, and decision-making, even in contested or disconnected conditions. This session will explore how Starboard adapts to joint and multi-domain missions, empowers commanders with real-time, actionable intelligence, and future-proofs the ADF and allies with scalable, sovereign analytics—strengthening the maritime edge and delivering enduring operational advantage.
Speaker
Dr Paul Hyland
Partner, Data & AI
DXC Technology
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2:30 PM - 2:45 PMBiography
Paul Hyland is a Partner with DXC Technology’s Data & AI Practice, based in Canberra. With two decades of government experience, Paul has guided analytics, AI and technology modernisation initiatives for Australian federal government enterprises. He delivers transformative solutions that integrate machine learning, automation, generative AI, and content intelligence.
His current focus includes strategic advisory and deployment of agentic AI systems that can streamline citizen services, enhance governance, and optimise enterprise operations.He advises clients on responsible AI governance frameworks and helps public agencies harness data-driven insights for improved decision-making and outcomes.
Before joining DXC, Paul has held senior roles in multiple consultancy groups and in federal government leading analytics, enterprise transformation, and digital strategy functions.
Mr Paul Hirschausen
Hardware Manager
Codan DTC
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2:50 PM - 3:05 PMBiography
Paul Hirschausen has built a career defined by technical leadership and innovation in radio frequency systems since joining Codan in 2008 as a Design Engineer. He currently leads the Hardware Department, overseeing the development of advanced communication hardware for both commercial and military applications. His expertise spans HF, VHF, and UHF frequency ranges, with ongoing work extending into GHz-range MANET waveforms. Paul was a key architect behind many of Codan’s high-performance HF radio systems, contributing to the company's reputation for reliable and sophisticated communications technology.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Electronic Engineering and a postgraduate Master’s by research, where he focused on waveform modelling. He is currently pursuing a PhD with a research focus on network congestion modelling. Paul's academic work complements his industry experience, enabling a deep understanding of both theoretical and applied aspects of modern communication systems. With more than 20 years of experience, he brings a strong foundation in RF design, systems integration, and technical leadership to every project.
Dr Christopher Laing
Chief Technology And Innovation Officer
Starboard Maritime Intelligence
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3:10 PM - 3:25 PMBiography
Dr Christopher Laing is Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Starboard Maritime Intelligence. From its Wellington headquarters, Starboard delivers advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and data-fusion capabilities to the New Zealand Government and its defence partners worldwide.
Christopher has extensive experience leading technology, data, and AI teams at major New Zealand technology companies, including serving as Chief Product and Technology Officer at Qrious and Head of Xero AI. He has also contributed to industry governance as a board member of NZTech and an executive council member of the AI Forum NZ.
He is passionate about strengthening Aotearoa New Zealand’s defence technology sector and is proud to be part of the next wave of innovation supporting our national defence and intelligence communities. He holds a degree in law and a PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Otago, and lives in Wellington with his wife, two daughters, and retriever cross.
