Australia Convention

Innovating Through Uncertainty

18 - 20 September 2024
QT CanberrA, ACT

SPEAKERS

Our esteemed speakers play a pivotal role in shaping the overall success of the event. The organising committee diligently selects individuals based on their extensive experience, expertise, knowledge, and ability to captivate and inspire the audience.

Our speakers come from diverse backgrounds within the field, offering a rich array of insights. Please see our list of confirmed speakers below, and stay tuned for details on their presentations, which will be made available on the program page once unveiled.

Vice Admiral Tim Barrett (Ret)

CHAIR, AOC CONVENTION 2024

Vice Admiral Tim Barrett retired from the Royal Australian Navy in 2018 after a 42-year career. In his last role, as Chief of Navy and professional head of the Service, he progressed plans to regenerate Navy capability which is manifest in the National Ship Building Plan. He now advises on a broad range of maritime issues to government and industry and sits on a number of related boards.

In uniform he initially trained as a mariner but later specialized in aviation. He sub-specialized in test and evalution, running the Navy’s Flight Trials Unit for a period his appointment as the Operational Test Director for a series of significant naval aviation procurement programs.

Serving at sea and ashore, he gained extensive command experience at all ranks but most notably as the Commander of the Australian Navy Aviation Group, Commander Border Protection Command and Commander of the Australian Fleet. He also has broad experience in staff positions dealing in capability development and personnel management.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and History and a Masters of Defence Studies, both from the University of New South Wales, and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. In early 2017 he published ‘The Navy and the Nation: Australia's Maritime Power in the 21st Century’ in which he outlined the extensive opportunities for Navy and Australia as steps are taken to implement the planned investment in naval capability.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Major General Warren Gould
HEAD CYBER OPERATIONS

Major General Warren Gould, AM is currently Head of Cyber Operations Division (HCO), responsible for all Defence enterprise and deployed cyberspace operations. A career Signals Officer, he has commanded Signals units at Combat Brigade and Division level, including on operations in East Timor, Sumatra, Middle-East and Afghanistan.

Major General Gould is a specialist in capability procurement and management, with experience in land, joint and coalition integration outcomes. He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (Military Division) in 2023 for his exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force's command and control framework.

Rear Admiral David Mann, CSC, RAN
HEAD JOINT CAPABILITIES

Rear Admiral David Mann, CSC, RAN joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1989.

His sea postings have included HMA Ships Geelong, Brisbane, Dubbo and Melbourne under training and Melbourne again as the Fighter Controller. As a Principal Warfare Officer he served in HMAS Darwin (twice), HMAS Adelaide and in Sea Training Group as the Fleet Gunnery Officer.

He has enjoyed Joint postings as the Navy Air Defence Instructor at RAAF Williamtown, in Capability Development Group, as Directing Staff at the Australian Command and Staff College and a short period as the Director of Maritime Operations at Joint Operations Command.

Rear Admiral Mann has completed deployments in support of Operation Warden/Stabilise in East Timor, Operations Slipper, Falconer and Catalyst in the Middle East and border protection Operations Relex and Resolute.

He was the Executive Officer of HMAS Anzac and the Commanding Officer of HMAS Darwin.

His staff positions have included the Director Navy Capability Needs Analysis within Navy Headquarters for which he was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross and on exchange in US Pacific Fleet Command, N5 Policy and Plans Directorate for which he received the United States Legion of Merit. On promotion to Commodore in May 2018 he was appointed as Director General Surface Combatants and Aviation.

Rear Admiral Mann served as Commander of the Surface Force from December 2020 until December 2022. Following promotion to his current rank, he assumed the newly created role of Head Joint Capabilities in January 2023.

Rear Admiral Mann has a Master of Arts in Strategy and Security. He is married to Nicole and they have two young daughters.

Commodore Matthew Doornbos
DIRECTOR GENERAL NAVY INTELLIGENCE & INFORMATION WARFARE

Commodore Doornbos, RAN was born on the Gold Coast and joined the RAN in 1990. He has undertaken several postings at sea, ashore and overseas. The highlights being Command of HMA Ships Geelong, Ballarat, Anzac, Toowoomba and Stuart and overseas exchanges both at sea and ashore with the Royal Canadian Navy.

He is a Surface Warfare Officer and an Information Warfare Officer. Commodore Doornbos has attained a Bachelor of Science - Information Systems (UNSW-ADFA), a Master of Business Administration (UNE), a Master of Maritime Logistics Management (UTAS) and a Master of International Relations (Deakin). He is a graduate of the Australian Defence Strategic Studies Course and the Higher Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom.

In December 2020, he was promoted to Commodore and assumed the Director General Navy Information Warfare January 2021 and is currently the Director General Navy Intelligence and Information Warfare.

He is married and has three boys. Commodore Doornbos is currently the President of the ADF Ice Hockey Association

Air Commodore Adrian Maso
COMMANDER AIR WARFARE CENTRE

‘Mace’ joined RAAF through the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1992 and after the completion of pilots’ course in 1997 he spent most of his flying career on F/A-18 Hornets. He also completed tours as a Qualified Flying Instructor on the F/A-18, Hawk-127 and PC-9.

His Commands include the Air Warfare Centre from Jan 23; Australian Heron Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle operations from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan (2013); and No.2 Operational Conversion Unit with the responsibility of training Australia’s F/A-18A fighter pilots and conducting the biennial Fighter Combat Instructors Course (2014-16). He finished this tour with 2OCU being awarded the 2016 Gloucester Cup, as Air Force’s most Proficient Flying Squadron for that year.

He is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College and holds a Master of Business and Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Physics. He has extensive time in Canberra air capability development and policy areas, finishing in the role of Director General Air Combat Capability, as the Sponsor for Australia’s Air Combat, Air Electronic Warfare, Maritime Patrol, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Programs. Most recently, he was fortunate to have two years posted to the Australian High Commission in London as the Air Force Adviser.

In the 2022 Australia Day Honours list, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to air capability development.

He is married to Kylie and they have three children. He likes running and cycling, and wishes he had more time to surf, snow ski and watch football.

Michael Shoebridge
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS AUSTRALIA

Michael is 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.

INVITED SPEAKERS

Paul Adams (remote)
SPECTRUM CONSULTANT, NATO COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION AGENCY

Paul Adams is a Defence Spectrum Management expert with over twenty years of experience in the defence industry. He has worked as a Spectrum Manager at the UK Ministry of Defence and the Head of Spectrum Policy where he was responsible for reforming defence spectrum management and leading on international policy with NATO, the 5eyes (FVEY) and other (European / CEPT) international organisations.

More recently, Paul has worked as a spectrum consultant advising MOD on spectrum release and sharing initiatives and delivered technical studies on a range of spectrum related topics such as dynamic spectrum sharing (management), future spectrum planning, emerging technology, innovation, coexistence and interference studies.

Paul is currently working with the NATO Communications and Information Agency on a range of spectrum related projects, including Real-time Electromagnetic Battle Management, Dynamic Spectrum Sharing, Improving NATO Spectrum Management tools and provision of analysis to support spectrum policy. Paul is a Chartered Engineer and lives (based) in the UK.

Anthony Allen
DIRECTOR, ELYSIUM EPL

Anthony is a director of Elysium EPL and has more than 25 years’ experience in complex program management, research and analytics, intelligence, cyber and information operations planning along with systems and governance design for Defence, government and private sector.

This has involved a mix of strategic planning and advice to senior government officials across Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) along with field experience gained during numerous deployments in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific focused on intelligence analysis and planning, information operations and non-kinetic effects.

Anthony’s extensive research and development in the theory and practical application of information warfare capabilities and design has led him to working directly on a number of government initiatives designed to boost information warfare capabilities and increase decision superiority in a complex and contested environment. He has also spoken at a number of conferences in Australia and overseas on this important topic and is particularly interested in best practice approaches to sophisticated statecraft.

Craig Benson
DIRECTOR AND CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER, SKYKRAFT

Dr Craig Benson is co-founder, Director and Chief Innovation Officer at Skykraft. He began practicing and teaching Electronic Warfare in 1997 at EW Squadron while a RAAF Engineering Officer after completing a Master of Science at Shrivenham in the UK. He also has a BE (Elec), MSc and PhD from UNSW Canberra. While not working he enjoys participating in and coaching running and ironman triathlon.

Katherine Daniell
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF CYBERNETICS, ANU SCHOOL OF CYBERNETICS

Katherine is the Interim Director of the School of Cybernetics.

Trained in engineering, arts and public policy, her work focusses on collaborative and inclusive approaches to policy, action and education for sustainable development. Katherine delights in the clash and novel synthesis of disciplinary cultures and uses cybernetics to convene challenging and productive conversations.

As a transdisciplinary academic, she has worked in Australia and globally on areas including international science and technology cooperation, water governance, risk, leadership, AI systems, politics and cultures of innovation, and climate change adaptation.

She has produced over 100 academic publications including 4 books and a diverse range of book chapters, papers, reports, and edited collections, and has graduated over a dozen PhD students. Katherine was the Inaugural Convenor of the Master of Applied Cybernetics program from 2019-22.

Katherine is also currently a John Monash Scholar, Director of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust, Member of the Independent Hydroclimate Expert Science Panel for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Member of the National Committee on Water Engineering, Editor of the Australasian Journal of Water Resources, member of the Rivers Committee of the Initiatives of the Future of Great Rivers, President of the French-Australian Association for Research and Innovation (AFRAN) Inc., and a Chevalier (Knight) in the French Ordre National du Mérite.

She holds several affiliations with other parts of the university in true bridge-building style, including as a member of the leadership team of the Institute for Water Futures and as a Professor in the Fenner School of Environment and Society.

One does not simply do all of the above without engaging in the dark art of warping time (it’s the only logical explanation…).

Mark Elsegood
PRINCIPAL SPECTRUM ENGINEER, DEFENCE SPECTRUM OFFICE, JOINT CAPABILITY GROUP, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

Mark Elsegood has over twenty years of experience in spectrum management in domestic and international settings. He leads a team of engineers within J6 Operations Support, Joint Capability Group to deliver spectrum and RF expertise to the Australian Department of Defence and holds a B.Eng in Electronic Communications, and UNSW Masters in Systems Engineering.

Kendy Hau
DIRECTOR CUSTOMER SUCCESS SERVICES, ORACLE

Kendy Hau joined Oracle in November 2021. She leads the Service Delivery Practice for the ACT and Business Development for the NATSEC and Defence portfolio for ANZ.

Prior to joining Oracle, Kendy served as the a/Assistant Secretary Concepts and Strategy, Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO), Senior Departmental Liaison Officer to the Minister for Defence, and was the Director Joint Influence Activities (JIA), Information Warfare Division from March 2018 to May 2021.

In her role as Director JIA Kendy had the responsibility for the development of concepts and strategies that articulated how the ADF characterises and prepares to effectively contest in the Information Environment (IE). She led the work on Information Warfare (IW) operating concepts, policy, experimentation, emerging and persuasive technology, and the capability management of Information Operations.

Prior to these leadership positions, Kendy was a Defence Scientist with over 10 years of operational experience. Kendy led the Human & Cultural Analysis Team (HCAT) at the Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG) where she was part of the Support to Operations High Readiness Fly Away Team.

Kendy has authored over 30 scientific publications and book chapters during her time at DSTG. In 2013, she was awarded a Gold Commendation by Chief Joint Operations Command for her work on the Cultural Compatibility Studies (CCS), and in 2014 was recognised for her contribution to the body of work on Insider Threats and Attacks.

Anthony Hayter
SENIOR DIRECTOR, STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT, PACIFIC DEFENCE

Anthony Hayter is the Senior Director of Strategy and Development at Pacific Defense, a company dedicated to supporting the Department of Defense’s (DoD) transition to Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) solutions development, with particular focus on CMOSS/SOSA technical standards. Pacific Defense adopts an innovative, commercial-minded approach to developing advanced military solutions, delivering Electronic Warfare (EW), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Communications (Comms), and Command and Control (C2) capabilities to both U.S. and international customers.

In his role, Anthony spearheads strategy and business development for Pacific Defense’s Electronic Warfare, SIGINT, and Autonomy (EWSA) product line, bringing specialized expertise in land and airborne systems across all military services and intelligence community engagements. Additionally, he serves as the company’s International Lead, fostering collaboration with Five Eyes partners, NATO allies, and other U.S. allied forces.

Before joining Pacific Defense, Anthony was a key figure at Digital Receiver Technology (DRT), where he led the U.S. Army account, culminating in the TLS BCT Phase 1 Award. He also directed international activities and managed all high-altitude pursuits. With over 25 years of experience, his career spans Fortune 500 companies and various start-ups in both the military and commercial high-tech sectors.

Anthony holds a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Kuba Kabacinski
CEO, CONSUNET

Mr Kuba Kabacinski has nearly 25 years of defence industry experience in technology innovation, capability delivery and corporate leadership as the Chief Executive Officer of Consunet Pty Ltd. Consunet is a medium-sized Australian Defence focused enterprise with over 130 staff and intent to be an Australian Defence prime capable of global relevance.

Kuba has grown Consunet from a boutique consultancy to a rapidly growing technology company with the vision to ‘Build the Australian cyber and spectrum security future’. Kuba is also the chairman of RFTEQ Pty Ltd, an Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) focused electronic engineering company developing next-generation, wideband, RFSOC enabled sensor and effector systems.

Kuba is driven by the desire to help safeguard Australia’s future peace and prosperity and believes that this can be achieved by creating world-leading technology in Australia.

J.P. Kim
AOC REGION II DIRECTOR

Jang Pyo Kim retired from the ROKAF (Republic of Korea Air Force) as a Major after more than 22 years of service and has over 33 years of EW experience. He has been a board member of AOC ROK Roost chapter since 2014 and has organized several international EW conferences.

He is currently an AOC International Region II Director. He received a bachelor’s degree in foreign language from Air Force Academy and was commissioned in the ROKAF in 1987. He also received a master’s degree in Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT) in 1998, and a doctoral degree in Electro-Optics from the University of Dayton (UD) in 2006. He served as a RF-4C Weapon System Officer (WSO), Instructor, Evaluator, Test Pilot at 19th and 20th fighter wings.

During his service he received a diploma of honours in EW program for fighters at 29th Air Group EW school. Since 2009, he has worked as a Chief Principal Researcher at Agency for Defence Development (ADD) working numerous EW programs including Tac-ELINT, 701 and DIRCM (Directional InfraRed Counter Measures). He is currently a program manager for Laser Weapon project overseeing a team of over 10 engineers.

Simon Ng
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, TASDCRC

Simon is Chief Technology Officer at TAS. Graduating from Monash University with a PhD in 1998, he completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at CSIRO before joining DSTG, where he developed techniques for military operations experimentation, and applied systems methods to surveillance and response, space operations and autonomous aerial systems.

He was previously DSTG Group Leader for the Joint Systems Analysis and Aerial Autonomous Systems Groups, and Associate Director of the Defence Science Institute. He is Australia’s National Lead on The Technical Cooperation Program Technical Panel “UAS Integration into the Battlespace”, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Lucy Post
SOCIAL SCIENTIST - INFLUENCE CONCEPTS & CAPABILITIES, DSTG

Lucy Post is an Information Warfare Specialist in the Social, Behavioural and Strategic Influence Team at Defence Science and Technology Group. Her research focuses on concepts of informational power and the integration of military information activities with national strategy. She has been longlisted for the 2024 Women in Defence Awards for her research into Australian Defence Force information warfare.

Lucy completed her tertiary studies at the University of Canberra and holds a Bachelor of Politics and International Relations, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Philosophy (Hon). She is currently completing a PhD with the University of New South Wales (Canberra) on an AUKUS interactional model of the information environment.

Sarah Sharp
PRINCIPAL EMS ENGINEER, NOVA SYSTEMS

Sarah Sharp has over 25 years’ experience translating R&D for new disruptive technologies for the development and integration of sensors and effectors, Having delivered a variety of asymmetric capabilities for defence customers working with companies like Thales Australia, Advanced Navigation and Safran Electronics and Defense Australasia (SEDA).

This has been achieved by accurately aligning technology and product development programs with user needs and excellence in Technical and Engineering delivery. Sarah also has a PhD in solid state physics from University of London, UK and several years of experience in semiconductor and nanotechnology solutions. Having worked with a number of global-leading research institutions and start-ups on R&D for quantum and other sensing solutions.

Glenn Odlum
PRINCIPAL EMS ENGINEER, NOVA SYSTEMS

Glenn has more than 27 years' experience in the radiofrequency engineering design and spectrum management industry with experience in microwave and cellular design, spectrum management and regulatory engineering.

Glenn has represented Australia in the International Telecommunications Union and the Asia Pacific Telecommunity as Head of Delegation and a Delegate over an 18-year period both while employed with the national regulator (ACMA) and the Department of Defence. Glenn is the current Australian Radio Study Group 5 chair for Terrestrial services and chairs items at the Asia Pacific Telecommunity Preparity Group during the World Radio Conference study cycle.

In Glenn's previous role Glenn has led a team of radiocommunication engineers managing the use of Electromagnetic Spectrum for all of Defence, from procurement support to research and development through to domestic operational support.

Glenn is currently working as a Principal EMS Engineer developing the Electromagnetic Spectrum Engineering Services (EMSES) capability within Nova Systems.

WOMEN IN ELECTRONIC WARFARE NETWORKING BREAKFAST SPEAKERS

Captain Kate Pisani
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Kate joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1998, graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in 2000. She completed training as a Maritime Warfare Officer, which included sea service in HMA Ships Success, Tobruk, Launceston, Dubbo and Warramunga, and operational service in the Middle East and on border protection operations. Following specialisation as an Information Warfare Officer, she undertook further sea service as the Signal Communications Officer in HMAS Stuart. Subsequent shore postings in the Information Warfare domain have included roles in capability development and workforce career management. In 2015, CAPT Pisani assumed the role of Officer in Charge of the Defence Communications Station Canberra, which included the management of major upgrade projects to Defence High Frequency and communications systems. On completion, she proceeded to the United States Naval Postgraduate School to study a Master of Science in Information Strategy and Political Warfare, where she was awarded International Student of the year, and published her thesis “Open Sesame – Identifying China’s Cyberspace Vulnerabilities”. In 2020, CAPT Pisani assumed the role of lead Staff Officer at Joint Influence Activities where she gained a Silver Commendation for her work on Potentium. More recently, Kate has completed postings as the Director of Navy Cyber and Space, Career Management, and is currently the Executive Director Navy Intelligence and Information Warfare. Kate is married to Antony and together they have two gorgeous teenage daughters Anna and Meg.

Kylah Limmer

Amanda Selway
GENERAL MANAGER - JOINT BATTLESPACE SYSTEMS, RAYTHEON AUSTRALIA

Amanda Selway has more than 15 years’ experience working in the defence sector, and is currently General Manager – Joint Battlespace Systems at Raytheon Australia.

In her role, Amanda leads more than 300 employees and is responsible for the execution and expansion of a portfolio that covers Electronic Warfare, Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Threat Training Systems, Range Testing, and Tactical Data Networks.

Amanda is passionate about collaboration and bringing people and ideas together to deliver innovative solutions for end users. She actively encourages female participation in the workforce and supports development of up-and-coming leaders through active mentoring.

Other roles Amanda has had at Raytheon Australia include leading the delivery of the Woomera Test Range Upgrade program and supporting US defence program delivery while based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to joining Raytheon Australia, Amanda worked at BAE Systems Australia, where she led advanced manufacturing programs for components of the Joint Strike Fighter, and guided missile manufacture.