Thank you Maureen. Good morning.
Let me start by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the lands on which we meet, and recognise any other families with connections to the ACT region.
I also extend my respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here with us today and who commit themselves to the vital business of ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Defence.
To our host, Chief Information Officer, Chris Crozier;
Distinguished guests, industry leaders, members of the Australian Defence Force, thank you for the opportunity to speak at the Defence Digital Industry Forum.
I admit to feeling a little daunted following Chris on the stage. Chris brings extraordinary energy and intellect to our organisation – we are so much stronger for having you on the team. I would like to congratulate you and the Defence Digital Group on the launch of the Defence Digital Strategy and Roadmap by the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Matt Keogh, this morning.
It is a significant body of work.
As the new Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force, my mission is clear.
In a strategic landscape that is deteriorating rapidly, we must continue to adapt and innovate; to ready our forces for conflict today; and to make sure we lay the foundations for our sailors, soldiers and aviators to overcome whatever challenges they may face in the future.
Within each of the five warfighting domains, and integrated across them, working alongside science and academia, industry and of course our allies and partners, we must focus on emerging technologies and merging technologies that will keep our Defence capability on the leading edge.
I therefore don’t see this forum today, as a gathering of participants from the defence sector. I see it as a meeting of partners, committed to the security and prosperity of our nation.
Which is to say, our shared objective is clear: It is not simply upgrading equipment or integrating new systems; it is about fundamentally transforming the way we approach defence in the digital age. Our ability to operate effectively within and across all domains-land, sea, air, space, and cyber-depends on our collective ability to innovate, adapt and deliver technological advantage.
The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Defence Strategy provides a blueprint for all of us. Implementing a strategy of denial to deter conflict, through focus and integration.
And it is crystal clear on the importance and the urgency of digitisation and information and communication technology.
The strategy notes that “The Government is undertaking ICT systems reform to urgently deliver timely and effective ICT outcomes to support the ADF.”
And it identifies digitisation as one of the three foundational principles, alongside simplification and workforce optimisation, that are guiding the transformation of the Defence enterprise.
The Defence Digital Strategy and Roadmap charts the path we will take to deliver these outcomes. It is encouraging for me to see the emphasis it places on both warfighting and enterprise reform.
But let me start with warfighting.
The Indo-Pacific region is increasingly shaped by strategic competition – a struggle for pre-eminence between two great powers, the United States and China. This competition is manifest in rapid and opaque military build-up, economic coercion and cyber espionage.
As a middle power, Australia’s interest lie in maintaining strategic equilibrium in our region, one that preserves our way of life. This has narrowed the focus of our Defence planning and preparation.
The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Defence Strategy emphasises the need to integrate across the five operational domains. Integration across domains, and with our allies and partners, depends on interoperable and secure communication networks.
Defence has recently recognised data as a fundamental input to capability. From ISR to logistics, the ability to collect, process and analyse vast amounts of data in real-time is a game-changer. AI and machine learning have the potential to enhance decision-making, optimise resource allocation and predict emerging threats.
Defence must continue to develop and maintain secure, resilient and flexible communication networks that can support our military operations. This includes the integration of new technologies such as 5G, software-defined networking (SDN) and quantum communications.
These networks must be capable of withstanding cyberattack, electronic warfare and other forms of interference, ensuring that Defence can command and control our forces in contested environments.
Technology therefore is a double edged sword in this context. The rapid development of new technologies has the potential to deliver a step-change in Australia’s defence capabilities, but they also present new vulnerabilities.
The digital battlespace has become as critical to our operations as the physical domains. Cyber threats-ranging from espionage and sabotage to full-scale cyber warfare-pose a clear threat to national security. Defence must develop and maintain resilient cyber defences capable of detecting, mitigating and responding to cyberattacks in real-time.
To achieve this, Australia requires a cybersecurity infrastructure that is both robust and flexible. This includes the development of advanced threat detection systems powered by AI and machine learning, capable of identifying and neutralizing threats before they can cause harm. These capabilities must be integrated into broader military operations, allowing for coordinated responses across all domains.
Collaboration with industry is crucial in this area. Technology is developing inside our OODA loop. Industry can offer innovative solutions, rapid development cycles and specialised expertise that are essential to maintaining Australia’s cyber resilience.
Autonomous systems, including un-crewed aerial vehicles, ground vehicles, and maritime platforms, are increasingly integral to modern military operations.
Defence must continue to invest in the development and deployment of autonomous systems across all domains. This includes not only the platforms themselves but also the underlying technologies that enable autonomy, such as AI and sensor fusion. Interoperability between crewed and un-crewed systems is also crucial, to bridge the gap between existing and future force structures.
One of the key challenges in this area is ensuring that autonomous systems can operate effectively in contested and degraded environments, where GPS and communications may be disrupted. Australian industry has that expertise and can deliver the resilient navigation and communication solutions we need to protect autonomous systems.
Of course the integration of AI and autonomy into military operations raises important ethical and practical considerations. Defence and its industry partners must ensure these systems are trustworthy, reliable and secure. This includes developing safeguards against unintended consequences, such as the misidentification of targets or the escalation of conflict due to autonomous decision-making. Transparent guidelines and rigorous testing protocols are essential to building trust in AI-driven systems.
You are all essential to this endeavour. To strengthening and modernising the warfighting capability of the Australian Defence Force.
However, we won’t have an ADF that is fully fit to fight and win in the digital age if we don’t build a Defence enterprise that exploits the full capacities of digitisation.
Digitisation allows for the automation of routine tasks, reducing manual labour, minimising errors, and speeding up processes. This leads to cost savings and improved productivity.
Processes can be redesigned to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce redundancies and improve overall efficiency. We have commenced this transformation in Defence with the rollout of the Enterprise Resource Planning software applications.
We are adopting this technology and using it to drive business reform. The impact on our enterprise performance will be substantial.
With digitisation, enterprises can leverage big data analytics to make informed decisions. Real-time data collection and analysis can help in identifying trends, forecasting demand and optimising resources.
In our near future, AI will play a critical role in optimising logistics, from supply chain management to battlefield resupply, ensuring that Defence can sustain operations in challenging environments.
Digital tools and platforms support agile methodologies, leading to faster innovation cycles. Accelerating the pace of innovation by enabling rapid prototyping, testing and deployment of new capabilities.
The adoption of cloud technologies provides scalable infrastructure that supports innovation. It will allow Defence to experiment with new technologies without significant upfront investment.
We are already seeing cloud technologies being prioritised. The Australian Government will invest over $2 billion over the next decade to bolster Australia’s cyber capabilities, announcing in July a strategic partnership between ASD and Amazon Web Services to deliver a Top Secret Cloud for the Australian Government.
Digitisation can also enhance employee engagement by providing tools that streamline work, reduce administrative burdens and foster a more collaborative and innovative work environment.
We’ve got great people. They are passionate and committed to our mission. But we can do more to take advantage of their skills, to reduce friction as they carry out their tasks.
I am pleased to see an emphasis on workforce in the Defence Digital Strategy and Roadmap. As we strive to overcome workforce challenges in Defence, we recognise the growing need for digitally literate professionals.
Cyber workforce development is a critical component of Australia’s defence strategy. We need a highly skilled workforce capable of defending against cyber threats, operating advanced digital systems and leveraging new technologies to enhance military capabilities. This requires not only technical expertise but also a deep understanding of the strategic and operational context in which these capabilities are employed.
Industry can once again play a key role in cyber workforce development, by partnering with educational institutions to provide training and certification programs for cyber professionals. Additionally, industry can offer internships, apprenticeships and other hands-on learning opportunities that give students and early-career professionals the experience they need to succeed in the field.
Equally important, is to recognise that digitisation requires a shift in organisational culture towards a digital mindset. One that embraces change, fosters innovation and encourages a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
If you’re engaged in enterprise digitisation, then this is what you’re helping us to do.
Leaders play a critical role in driving digitisation, ensuring that the organisation is aligned with the digital transformation strategy and that employees are supported throughout the transition.
I want to be clear about this: Chris as CIO is essential to driving digitisation across Defence. But responsibility lies with all leaders in Defence at all levels, including me.
We are backing Chris, and we are working with him to deliver these reforms at pace.
And we know we must work closely with you. The pace of technological change, the complexity of modern threats and the need for rapid adaptation all necessitate a much stronger partnership between defence and the digital sector.
I acknowledge our traditional defence procurement process are cumbersome, impeding our ability to keep pace with the rapid advancements in technology. We recognise the need to adopt more agile procurement processes that allow for faster development and deployment of new capabilities.
Defence has already improved our contracting and project approval processes. We continue to refine the One Defence Capability System to ensure Defence capability decisions optimise capability outcomes and make best use of available resources.
These measures will support our implementation of the Defence Industry Development Strategy, which recognises the importance of a sovereign defence industrial base and outlines how we will work with Industry to achieve the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Defence Strategy and deliver the Integrated Investment Program.
It outlines Defence’s effort to become a better customer, how we are responding to our innovation challenges and how we are integrating with Australia’s broader innovation ecosystem.
It prioritises partnerships with best-in-class sovereign capabilities, to make Australia stronger and more self-reliant.
Our sovereign defence industrial base is essential for developing and maintaining Defence’s supply chain resilience. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, Defence must ensure that our supply chains are secure and can withstand disruption. Industry partners can help by providing robust supply chain management solutions, as well as by working with Defence to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
It has become somewhat cliché, but no less true to say, the challenges facing Australia’s Defence Force are significant, but so are the opportunities. By fostering a strong partnership between Defence and the digital industry, we can ensure that Australia is not only prepared to meet current threats but is also positioned to lead in the face of future challenges.
Defence must continue to evolve, leveraging the latest technologies and innovations to enhance our capabilities. This requires a collaborative approach, where Defence and industry work together to develop and deploy the systems and solutions needed to defend our nation.
Digitisation is not just about implementing new technologies; it’s about fundamentally reshaping how our enterprise operates. By leveraging the power of digital technologies, Defence can achieve greater efficiency, enhance employee experience, drive innovation and strengthen the readiness and resilience of our warfighting capabilities.
We have the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program – and now we have the Defence Digital Strategy and Roadmap – it is our task now to implement them.
I am confident of our success and I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.
Thank you
