Mr Tom Hamilton Acting Deputy Secretary, Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group, Department of Defence ‘Thank you everyone for having me today, I have a long list of people to acknowledge here. I am going to cut it short in case I miss anyone but I would like to acknowledge Chief of Army, Chief of Air Force, I see here. I’m not sure if Chief of Navy is still here but I should acknowledge him. In particular though, I would like to note all of our international partners who are here today. International …

Mr Michael Shoebridge Director of Defence and Strategy, Australian Strategic Policy Institute ‘Thanks for the opportunity to talk to you this afternoon. I’m Michael Shoebridge, Director of Defence and Strategy at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. ‘What I’m going to cover in 30 minutes is first the idea of the Indo-Pacific, then some key global challenges relevant to the national security communities in each of our regional nations. And lastly I’ll say a little about how these challenges might be …

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanyake, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, USACGSC Commander of the Sri Lanka Army ‘Good afternoon to the distinguished gathering! ‘First and foremost, let me thank the Chief of the Australian Army and the organizing committee of the Chief of Army Land Forces Seminar 2018 for inviting me to deliver the keynote address on ‘The Indo-Pacific: The Region of Global Connection’ in which I distinctly consider this as a privilege bestowed upon me as the first ever Sri Lankan Army Chief to deliver a …

Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO, Chief of Army I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we are meeting this afternoon, the Kaurna people, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present. I acknowledge and welcome: the Minister for Defence, the Honourable Christopher Pyne, the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, the Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Leo Davies, and the Chief of Joint Capabilities, Air Vice-Marshal Warren McDonald, Distinguished Guests, …

Indo-Pacific: The Region of Global Connection Synthesis The first session of the Chief of Army Land Forces Seminar (CALFS) looked to establish an understanding of the complex and volatile operating environment in the Indo-Pacific. The session, and the seminar, was opened by the Chief of Army (Australia) Lieutenant General Rick Burr AO, DSC, MVO. He was followed by the newly appointed Minister for Defence, the Honourable Christopher Pyne, MP. Presenting after the opening remarks were the Commander of the …

The Honourable Christopher Pyne, Member of Parliament,  Minister for Defence ‘Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. ‘To members of the international military leadership who are here today; to the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General Angus Campbell; to current and former members of the Australian Defence Force, particularly the leadership of the Australian Army: the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr; the Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Jake Ellwood; Head Land Capability, Major General …

Colonel James Bryant is the Director of Strategic Initiatives in Defence Force Recruiting. James commanded at platoon and company level in the Royal Australian Regiment in the 1990s, including in Somalia and East Timor, and has since worked in the Official of National Assessments (as it was then called), the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Emergency Management Australia, and AusAID (including service in Afghanistan in a Provincial Reconstruction Team). … James …

Allan Gyngell, AO, FAIIA, is National President of the Australian Institute of International Affairs and an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University. His long career in Australian foreign and national security policy included appointments as Director-General of the Office of National Assessments (ONA), as the inaugural Executive Director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney, and to senior positions in the Prime Minister’s office, the Department of the Prime Minister and …

Dr. You is Professor of International Relations in the Department of Government and Public Administration at the University of Macau. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the Australian National University and a B.A. from Peking University. Previously, he was a Reader in the School of Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales. His research focuses on China’s political and economic reforms, elite politics, military modernisation, and foreign policy. Dr You is the author of three books, including …

Christopher Pyne was sworn in as the Minister for Defence on 28 August 2018. Prior to his appointment, Christopher served as Minister for Defence Industry where he was responsible for delivering the $200 billion worth of investment in Australia’s defence capabilities outlined in the Defence White Paper and having the nation grasp this once in a generation opportunity to maximise job creation, business development, and economic growth. Christopher has been Leader of the House since November 2013 was elected …