This year, the stakes are higher and the numbers are bigger. Together with our experts we are deep-diving into the 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) and the Integrated Investment Program (IIP).
With a staggering $425 billion committed, the Government is doubling down on the foundations of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review and 2024 National Defence Strategy to ensure the ADF is not just "keeping up" but staying ahead in a global landscape that looks increasingly fractured and contested.
Why you need a seat at the table:
Australia’s defence industry is not just a support act; it is the backbone of our national resilience. If you want to know how your business fits into the most transformational period in our military history, you need to be in the room.
Australia's latest Federal Budget arrives at a time of deep geopolitical uncertainty. Strategic competition is intensifying, regional security dynamics are evolving, and global conflict is reshaping how nations think about resilience, capability, and cooperation.
This session brings together leading experts in geopolitics, international relations, and global resilience to unpack what the Budget signals for Australia's defence posture, and how it aligns with a rapidly changing global outlook.
A key focus will be Australia's relationship with China, set against the broader backdrop of strategic competition, economic interdependence, and regional security tensions.
As global flashpoints from Indo-Pacific dynamics to the escalating 2026 Iran conflict continue to evolve, Australia faces increasingly complex policy and investment choices. The conflict has already disrupted global energy markets and trade flows, highlighting how regional instability can rapidly translate into global economic and security consequences.
The discussion will explore how defence spending, industrial policy, and international partnerships are being shaped by these pressures, and what it means for government, industry, and research stakeholders navigating this environment.