Hunter Defence Conference 2025
Australia’s premier regional defence event returns to the Hunter Valley as the nation’s first conference dedicated to the evolving nature of modern conflict.
The 2025 Hunter Defence Conference will bring together over 220 senior leaders from defence, government, industry, and research to examine the future of warfare and Australia’s strategic response.
As the first conference in Australia to meaningfully address the changing nature of warfare, the event will explore how the nation can maintain a decisive capability edge amid rising global instability, rapid technological change, and increasingly unconventional threats, from cyberattacks and grey-zone operations to high-scale, low-cost unmanned assaults.
“Set against a backdrop of integrated, fast-moving, and unconventional conflict, this nationally significant event will explore how Australia can maintain a decisive capability edge through sovereign innovation, bold regional action, and urgent collaboration,” said Tim Owen AM JP (AIRCDRE ret’d), Chair of the Hunter Defence Taskforce.
“This is not a conversation about future threats, they are already here. From cyber to space, autonomous systems to long-range strike, we are entering a new defence paradigm, one that demands immediate and coordinated action across defence, industry, and government.”
With the Hunter home to RAAF Base Williamtown’s F-35A Lightning II fighters, Kongsberg Defence Australia’s missile manufacturing facility, and Lockheed Martin’s AIR6500-1 program, the region is fast becoming a cornerstone of Australia’s national defence posture.
“The Hunter is no longer just a contributor, it is a strategic enabler,” Mr Owen said. “What we’re seeing here is the realisation of a coordinated, long-term effort to secure sovereign defence outcomes, accelerate innovation, and build a defence-ready workforce.”
The conference will examine how Australia is responding to global conflict trends through deeper security partnerships, particularly with the United States under AUKUS, and how these relationships are reshaping trade, policy, and defence capability. The implications for SMEs, from supply chain integration to workforce readiness, will be a central focus.
“Australia’s defence future depends on our ability to integrate emerging technologies with sovereign capability, while building a workforce ready to meet the demands of a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape,” said Owen.
Program highlights
The program will feature perspectives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Capabilities Group, key political figures, and leading defence primes. Key agenda topics include:
- Aus / US defence perspectives, challenges and opportunities with The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon in conversation with former Australian Prime Minister and current US Ambassador The Hon Kevin Rudd AC
- Modern warfare technology trends including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and dual-use technology
- The implications of AUKUS on capability, policy, and workforce
- Prime/SME collaboration across sovereign supply chains
- Regional defence infrastructure and innovation precincts
- The future talent pipeline and workforce transformation
- Scalability and cost-efficiency in defending Australia’s vast coastline and critical infrastructure
- War fighting insights and discussion with Mick Ryan (MGEN Retired) and
- Strategic presentation with Michael Shoebridge and Marcus Hellier from Strategic Analysis Australia.
Returning in 2025 is one of the most popular elements of last year’s program: interactive small-group discussions with senior defence leaders. Delegates will nominate two preferred discussion groups during registration, enabling rare, direct engagement between SMEs and top-level decision-makers.
“For Hunter based small to medium businesses working in the defence industry, this is more than a conference, it’s a chance to connect one-on-one with the people shaping the future of defence procurement, innovation, and capability delivery,” Mr Owen said.
