DIN Industry Forum: Drones & Counter-Drones - A New Strategic Reality
About
A $20,000 drone can now shut down a $20 billion airport. What are we doing about it?
The character of conflict has changed. Across Ukraine’s front lines and in the congested airspace above the Middle East, small unmanned aerial systems have become decisive instruments of war, disruption, and deterrence. Cheap, disposable, and difficult to attribute, they can overwhelm expensive air defences, strike critical infrastructure, and signal intent — all while preserving plausible deniability.
For Australia’s defence and national security community, this is not a distant challenge. The lessons playing out in real time are directly relevant to the ADF’s force design, to the NSW industrial base, and to the research programs underway in our universities and laboratories.
Join the Defence Innovation Network for a focused Industry Forum bringing together Defence, industry leaders, and researchers to examine what the drone revolution means for global security - and how Australia, our allies, and our local innovation ecosystem can contribute practical solutions. Expert context-setting from those close to the conflicts, a high-quality panel discussion, and lightning-pitch research presentations from NSW universities.
Program
11:00 Arrival & Registration
11:30 Program start
Keynote talk - CAPT Fred C. Smith, US Navy (Ret.), Adjunct Fellow, Macquarie University - The evolution of drone warfare from a naval officer's perspective…revolution or evolution?
Panel discussion- Defence, industry and research perspectives
DIN university / Industry capability pitches
Lunch & networking
Laboratory tours - Simulation Hub and Drone Hub & Flight Arena
15.00 Program ends
Registration details
For Speakers:
Researchers and companies who wish to deliver a pitch on novel capabilities in the areas outlined below are invited to register their interest by 12:00 PM, 1 May 2026.
Please note that speakers are requested to attend the event in person to maximise engagement and networking opportunities.
For Attendees:
If you wish to attend the event, please register your interest by 12:00 PM on 15 May 2026.
Please ensure you provide your full name and professional email when registering, so DIN can verify your affiliation. Further event details will be shared with approved registrants after registration closes.
Conditions of entry
This event is open to academics, Defence, and defence-related industry representatives only. DIN reserves the right to cancel registrations or refuse entry without prior notice.
Panel
CAPT Fred Smith, US Navy (Ret’d)
Fred is a defence and security expert with over 30 years as a U.S. Navy intelligence officer, culminating in the rank of Captain. He has operational experience across the Indo‑Pacific, Middle East, Europe and the Mediterranean, including multiple NATO tours, with a career focus on SIGINT, EW, threat assessment and strategic intelligence in high‑threat environments. Since retiring, he has been based in Sydney and has lectured in Security Studies at Macquarie University, bringing practitioner insight to intelligence, cyber‑EW and national security topics.
AIRCDRE (Ret'd) Terry van Haren, DSM, Vice President Strategy, DroneShield
Terry joined the DroneShield team after 35 years of service in the Royal Australian Air Force as a Commander, fighter pilot, and weapons officer. Terry is a veteran with four operational tours in the Middle East with recognised distinguished service. Terry’s last posting was as the Air and Space Attaché to the US (2018-20), during which time he developed his interests in next generation disruptive commercial air and space technologies. Terry is a future-focused strategic thinker and pragmatic business leader. He believes that cooperation between Government, Defence and commercial industry is the key to national resilience and business success.
Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer and Natural Resources Commissioner
Hugh is a world-leading expert in robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. He is the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, advising government on science, technology and innovation, and previously served as Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Ministry of Defence. His career spans senior leadership roles in government, academia and industry, with major impact across defence, mining, logistics and advanced technology.
University/Industry capability pitches
Prof Richard Han, Macquarie University
A/Prof Arif Khan, Charles Sturt University
RF sensing and signal intelligence for drone detection
Dr Saeed Afshar, Western Sydney University
Future of Neuromorphic Sensing and Intelligence in the Near Future Battle-space
Michael Bauer, RedTail Technology
AI-Enabled Handheld Directed Energy for Defence & Civil Safety
Dr Hazer Inaltekin, Macquarie University
Virtual-GPS for GNSS-Denied Airspace: Beacon-Based Sensing and Control for UAV Navigation
Prof Kurt Langfeld, Western Sydney University
Autonomous Drone Swarm Coordination via Distributed Optimisation and Mission-Level Control
Dr Gaurav Patil, Macquarie University
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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