safeguarding australia summit
The 22nd Annual Security, Defence & Sovereignty Summit
28 - 29 October 2026, Canberra

As power diffuses across regions and major states recalibrate their priorities, middle powers are assuming greater responsibility for shaping regional stability and advancing collective security. We are living through what Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has described as a period of strategic rupture at his Davos speech in January. Assumptions of a stable global order no longer hold. Middle powers must actively shape the conditions for security in a fractured, volatile and increasingly competitive system.

Regional crises are testing deterrence frameworks. Alliance expectations are evolving. Strategic risk is accelerating across multiple theatres. In this more uncertain environment, middle powers like Australia are called upon to strengthen partnerships, safeguard sovereign capability and act with greater coordination, economic strength and strategic clarity.

Middle Powers: Collective Security in a World of Competing Spheres
— Australia’s security, sovereignty and strategic agency

Safeguarding Australia 2026, the 22nd Annual Security, Defence & Sovereignty Summit, co-convened with the Department of Defence Science & Technology Group, the Department of Home Affairs and RMIT’s Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, will explore how Australia can reinforce alliances, align capability with strategy and build national resilience amid shifting alignments and heightened geopolitical tension.

28–29 October, Canberra.
Where Defence, national security leaders, academia and industry shape the strategic settings that will guide Australia’s security and sovereignty.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This summit is designed for:

  • Senior leaders across Defence and National Security agencies

  • Policy-makers shaping alliance, capability and economic security settings

  • Defence industry executives and prime contractors

  • Emerging technology innovators in AI, cyber and space

  • Strategic analysts and regional partners

  • Academic leaders and national security researchers advancing policy, innovation and sovereign capability.

*summit program is under development, for further updates, please subscribe to the mailing list below*

EARLY BIRD RATE — REGISTER NOW
 

Summit Co-Convenors

  • “ Great event, appreciate the organisation, energy and expertise, thank you! ”
    — RAAF, 2025
  • “ Best conference I’ve attended all year, great work. ”
    — Global Shield 2025
  • “ An excellent conference, very worthwhile. Also a great networking opportunity, it was hard to pick the best speakers. ”
    — Department of Defence, 2024
  • “ The conference has arranged for an excellent variety of topics and industry voices, there wasn’t a single presentation I didn’t get something out of!” ”
    — National Security College, ANU, 2024
  • “ A very enjoyable conference. ”
    — AFP, 2023
  • “ An excellent event, a good number of attendees and presenters (neither too many or too few), great venue, excellent presenters. ”
    — DST Group, 2022
  • “ Exploration of solutions (technology, processes etc) were very useful for my purposes, linking business areas of Home Affairs which is where the Tech Surprise Forum was helpful. ”
    — Department of Home Affairs, 2019
  • “ Very interesting and relevant topics. Enjoyed the diverse nature of the attendees and speakers. ”
    — Department of Defence, 2019
  • “ From an information viewpoint, it was extremely interesting. As a manager not involved in the public sector, defence industry or academia, the subjects covered were still vibrant and relevant. Would recommend for our security team. ”
    — Scentre Group, 2018
  • “ A very informative and useful conference. As a Defence employee, I am somewhat isolated from civilian perspectives. The conference provided an excellent opportunity to hear the issues and potential solutions being examined in the civil sector. ”
    — Department of Defence, 2017
  • “ A thoroughly enjoyable conference! ”
    — Crime and Corruption Commission of QLD, 2016

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