Session 2.8b: Product Brief - Operationalising AI for the Ready Force: A Sovereign AI Systems Integrator Approach to Decision Advantage
Tracks
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| Wednesday, November 19, 2025 |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Bradman Theatre |
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Sponsored by
Details
1. Strategic Imperative:
In an era of strategic uncertainty where the "rules-based order is gone," the ADF faces an urgent imperative to field a ready, effective force capable of "fighting tonight."
AI, as mandated by NDS/DSR/DDS, offers the immediate promise of enhanced operational effectiveness, greater agility, and the potential to deliver a decisive decision advantage for credible deterrence by denial.
2. The Challenge: Navigating AI Complexity & Risk
Integrating these AI capabilities—whether embedded in existing systems or deployed as new solutions—introduces substantial challenges around governance, security, compliance, and validation.
Without systematically addressing these complexities, Defence risks fragmented implementations, compromised decision advantage, and a failure to rapidly translate AI potential into tangible enhancements.
3. The Solution: Leveraging a Sovereign AI Systems Integrator (SASI) Approach to Accelerate Capability
A practical, SI-enabled methodology focused on client advocacy.
Key methodological components include: Defining mission-critical needs; Navigating the complex AI landscape to identify best-fit architecture and components; Rigorously Prototyping & Validating against operational and compliance criteria, ensuring AI is fit-for-purpose, secure, robustly integrated (enterprise to tactical edge), and delivers rapidly deployable decision advantage; Managing Transition from prototype to resilient operational capability.
4. The SASI Advantage: De-risking AI Adoption
Referencing advancements by key allies (UK/US) in accelerated operational planning and unified network operations.
A SASI helps Defence confidently operationalise AI by: De-risking adoption; Ensuring solutions align with frameworks (e.g., Defence AI T&E Framework); Providing secure integration and validation for production use.
This approach delivers robust, secure, compliant, and effective outcomes, bolstering the "fight tonight" capability.
Speaker
Mr Sean Gurney
Solutions Architect
Data#3
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Biography
Sean Gurney is a Solutions Architect at Data#3, known for driving innovation and delivering successful outcomes within complex Australian Defence environments. He specialises in bridging strategic Defence needs with cutting-edge technologies, particularly AI-enabled systems, to solve critical operational challenges.
Sean's expertise encompasses capability development, project management, and systems engineering. Notably, he led proof-of-concept and prototyping work for an AI-enabled capability that secured millions in funding and achieved buy-in from 3-Star ADF Generals, culminating in AUKUS prototypes of international military interest.
He has also developed project execution strategies for billion-dollar Defence projects and is an advocate for AI-enabled wargaming capabilities as a key component to achieving decision superiority.
Formerly a Communications and Information Systems Controller in the RAAF, Sean now leverages this deep operational understanding at Data#3. He specialises in architecting secure, compliant (ISM, ITAR, Defence AI T&E Framework), and effective AI-enabled solutions, helping to position Data#3 as a leading Sovereign AI Systems Integrator. Sean is committed to helping Defence operationalise AI-enabled enterprise and warfighter systems that are in alignment with the priorities of the DSR, NDS and Defence Digital Strategy.
