The Defence Industry Minister and other policymakers will unpack the intricacies of the strategy and its implications for defence businesses.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy will lead a keynote session at the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS) Summit 2024.
Defence Connect is pleased to launch the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS) Summit 2024, with support from principal partner Investment NSW.
The summit will be held on Tuesday, 6 August 2024 at The Fullerton Hotel, Sydney. Click here to buy tickets.
The Albanese government released the landmark DIDS in February (building on the 2023 Defence Strategic Review) in which it committed to increased funding and established pathways for bolstering support for Australia’s defence industry.
The strategy details the actions the government will take to grow the defence industrial base in Australia (which employs more than 100,000 Australians) in the face of changing strategic circumstances.
It also outlines how it will deliver a greater partnership between defence and industry, including critical defence procurement reforms, and increased funding for defence industry grants programs.
At the DIDS Summit, Conroy will present a keynote session about the key features of the strategy, including critical procurement reforms within defence, and increased funding for defence industry grants programs (which takes the total investment to $183.8 million, in alignment with DIDS), and the seven Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIP).
At the end of his address, members of the defence industry will have the opportunity to have their questions answered by Conroy in a ministerial Q&A session about how DIDS could impact their businesses.
Conroy will be joined by a range of other policymakers, thought leaders, and industry insiders, including NIOA Australia and New Zealand CEO Ben James, and SAAB Australia managing director Andy Keough.
The speakers will respond to the government’s plans for the nation’s defence industry, while offering their analyses of DIDS and addressing key issues in a series of targeted sessions.
A second keynote address will explore the future of defence acquisition, and includes another interactive Q&A session.
The SDIP will be in sharp focus throughout the summit, which has been divided into two SDIP streams. Attendees will gain deep insights into the government’s seven priorities through a number of expert briefings and industry panel sessions.
In the first stream, speakers will expand on the expansion opportunities via the maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade of Australian Defence Force aircraft, followed by the development and integration of autonomous systems, and the domestic manufacture of guided weapons, explosive ordnance and munitions.
The second stream will focus on the building of domestic and export opportunities through the sustainment and enhancement of the combined-arms land system, and the integration and enhancement of battlespace awareness and management systems.
This stream will conclude with briefing and panel sessions on the final SDIP of test and evaluation, certification, and system assurance.
Following this, there will be an expert briefing and industry panel on AUKUS, the future Surface Fleet, and continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment.
Steve Kuper, government affairs manager for Momentum Markets said, “The government’s investment in the Defence Industry Development Strategy provides certainty and a clear road map for industry.
“The DIDS Summit provides industry with an important opportunity to engage with the policy and decision makers to better chart their strategy forward.”
The summit will be emceed by Sky News journalist and presenter Peter Stefanovic.
Throughout the day, attendees can network with leaders in the defence industry and engage directly with influential policymakers who will shape the defence industry business environment for decades to come.
Numbers for the summit will be limited and a waitlist will be created on a first-come, first-served basis.
More speakers will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The Defence Industry Development Strategy Summit will be held on Tuesday, 6 August 2024 at Shangri-La, Sydney. Click here to buy tickets.
For more information, including agenda and speakers, click here.
This summit is produced by Captivate Events. If you need help planning your next event, email director Jim Hall at