Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference returns to WA

Western Australia will take centre stage at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference (IODSC) next year.

Defence Industry Minister, Paul Papalia said the event’s ‘Where AUKUS meets the Quad‘ theme recognises Western Australia as being positioned at the intersection of two significant global defence and security conversations.

“Next year’s IODSC is set to be one of the biggest, with a major focus on what WA can offer in defence and security,” said Mr Papalia.

“The partnership between the WA Government and AMDA Foundation will provide great benefits to the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference.

“WA’s role in the nation’s defence and security space has grown significantly following the AUKUS announcement, the release of the Federal Government’s Defence Strategic Review and the maturing conversations of the Quad.”

He said the conference will be a timely reminder of WA’s key role in the AUKUS strategy, while the Quad refers to Australia’s partnership with India, Japan and the United States – a diplomatic network committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. 

Event discussions are set to focus on the importance of regional cooperation, a strong domestic defence industry and the strategic importance of WA in the Indian Ocean region.

The line-up of speakers is set to include:

• Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of Navy
• Vice Admiral Johnathon Mead, Director General of the Australian Submarine Agency
• Vice-Admiral Sir Nick Hine KCB, Babcock’s Managing Director – AUKUS & International and former UK Royal Navy
• Mr Eric Chewning, HII Group’s Executive Vice President, Strategy & Development; and
• Dr Lynn Kuok, Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies

To deliver the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference, the State is partnering with the AMDA Foundation, which has experience hosting the largest defence and defence industry events across the country, including Land Forces, Indo Pacific and the Avalon Airshow.

The WA Government has also teamed up with Perth USAsia to entice additional prestigious speakers to the event.

Next year’s conference will be the second time the event has been held. In 2022, IODSC saw over 600 attendees with many government, academic and defence industry representatives travelling from interstate and overseas.

IODSC 24 will run from 24-26 July at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For more information and to register interest in attending, head to https://iodsc.com.au/.