Session 1 - The Indo-Pacific: the region of global connection

Session 1 of the Chief of Army Land Forces Seminar 2018 (CALFS18) entitled ‘The Indo-Pacific: the region of global connection’ was hosted by Lieutenant General Rick Burr (Chief of Army) and included The Hon Christopher Pyne (Minister for Defence), Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanyake (Commander of the Sri Lanka Army), Mr Michael Shoebridge (Director Defence and Strategy, Australian Strategic Policy Institute), and Mr Tom Hamilton (Acting Deputy Secretary, Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group). The Chief of Army introduced the session by emphasising the transformational mindset that is required to become an integrated part, not only of the Joint Force, but of a broader team that includes international partners, industry and academia. Technological innovation, he stated, would draw on our ‘moral foundation’ to apply it lawfully and ethically. The Minister discussed the importance of the Defence Cooperation Program and promoted the role of Defence Industry as a cultivator of partnerships in the region. It is important, he said, to build relationships before a crisis occurs. Gen Senanyake observed that the Indo-Pacific transcended the north-south divide that characterises so much political engagement, and that cooperation was a characteristic of the region demonstrated by the several bilateral and multilateral fora already operating. Mr Shoebridge and Mr Hamilton stressed the importance of a productive US/China relationship.

This session includes the following presenters:

• Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr - The Chief of Army introduced the session by emphasising the transformational mindset that is required to become an integrated part, not only of the Joint Force, but of a broader team that includes international partners, industry and academia. Technological innovation, he stated, would draw on our ‘moral foundation’ to apply it lawfully and ethically.
• Minister for Defence, The Hon Christopher Pyne - The Minister discussed the importance of the Defence Cooperation Program and promoted the role of Defence Industry as a cultivator of partnerships in the region. It is important, he said, to build relationships before a crisis occurs. 
• Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake - Gen Senanyake observed that the Indo-Pacific transcended the north-south divide that characterises so much political engagement, and that cooperation was a characteristic of the region demonstrated by the several bilateral and multilateral fora already operating.
• Director Defence and Strategy, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Mr Michael Shoebridge - Mr Shoebridge and Mr Hamilton stressed the importance of a productive US/China relationship.
• Acting Deputy Secretary, Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group, Mr Tom Hamilton - Mr Shoebridge and Mr Hamilton stressed the importance of a productive US/China relationship.