RPAS in Australian Skies 2026

Conference Themes

• RPAS related policy and regulatory updates from Australian and international government bodies
• UAS Traffic Management (UTM), low level airspace and integrated airspace systems
• Industry challenges and perspectives
• Continuing development of a professional and safe industry
• Emerging technologies and innovative solutions enabling RPAS integration in Australian airspace
• Emerging applications - benefits, viability and social acceptance​
• Case studies of drone use and challenges in emergency services, infrastructure inspection, delivery, mining, science and agriculture
• Advanced Air Mobility
• Drone cyber security threats and management

Event Format

The conference will take place over two days and will be launched with networking drinks on the evening prior to Day one.

Tuesday 10th March - Pre-Event Networking Drinks
Wednesday 11th March - Conference Day 1 / Gala Dinner and Industry Awards 
Thursday 12th March - Conference Day 2 

Dress Attire for Gala Dinner - Semi Formal

Program

Tuesday 10 March

Time	Activity	Location
1700-1900	AAUS Pre-Event Networking Drinks (inclusive for all registered delegates of the conference)	Melbourne Foyer, Hotel Realm

Melbourne Foyer, Hotel Realm

Wednesday 11 March

Conference, National Ballroom, Hotel Realm

Time	Activity / Presentation	Presenter
0830	Registration and Barista Coffee
	Session 1:  Policy and Regulation
0900	Welcome	Andrew Crowe (AAUS President)
0910	Keynote presentation	Greg Cox (Department of Infrastructure)
0920	Keynote Presentation	TBC (Department of Home Affairs)
0930	Keynote presentation	Pip Spence (CASA)
0950	Keynote presentation	Rob Sharp (Airservices Australia)
1010	Q&A Session	Session Speakers
1030	Morning Tea	Melbourne Foyer, Hotel Realm
	Session 2:  Airspace Integration
1100	Session Introduction	Moderator: Rob Weaver (AAUS Board)
1105	Australian Digital Airspace Characterisation: Advancing Air Risk Modelling and Insights for Emerging Aviation	Aaron McFadyen (QUT)
1115	Simplifying AAM by designing it from both ends	Marcus Carr (Metrops)
1125	Learnings from Higher Up: Australia’s Integrated Airspace Journey	James Kaminski (Flight Next)
1135	US Flight Path to BVLOS	Pelwinderpal Singh (OneSky Systems)
1145	Panel Discussion	Session Speakers
1215	Lunch	Melbourne Foyer, Hotel Realm
	Session 3: Significant Activities and Updates
1315	Session Introduction	Moderator: Paul Hardy (AAUS Board)
1320	DASA Update	LTCOL Charles Phillips (DASA)
1335	Lessons from the Docklands swarm display investigation - AO-2023-033	Michael Dawes (ATSB)
1350	FRV BVLOS Trial	Wayne Rigg AFSM (FRV)
1405	“POLAIR – Remote” – policing in a regional community	Superintendent Chris Nicholson (NSW Police Force)
1420	TBC
1435	Afternoon Tea	Melbourne Foyer, Hotel Realm
	Session 4: RPAS Applications
1510	Session Introduction	Moderator: Cameron Devries (AAUS Board)
1515	The future is wild - uncrewed systems and integrated autonomy supporting crocodile management and visitor safety in Kakadu National Park	Renee Bartolo / Coleby Thew (DCCEEW)
1525	Surf Life Saving NSW: Insights into UAV Adoption, Capability Building, and Social Acceptance in Public Safety	Oliver Heys (Surf Life Saving NSW)
1535	Autonomous Pipeline Monitoring: Transforming Compliance and Safety through Scalable and Remote RPAS Operations	Paris Cockinos (Sphere)
1545	Wildu Aero: Hydrogen-Powered Drone Logistics Co-Designed for Remote Healthcare and Community Impact	Anna Klis (ASAC Consultancy)
1555	Panel Discussion	Session Speakers
1625	Conference Close (Day 1)
1830 -    2200	AAUS Gala Dinner and Industry Awards (for all registered delegates of the Gala Dinner)	National Ballroom, Hotel Realm

Thursday 12 March

Conference, National Ballroom, Hotel Realm

Time	Activity / Presentation	Presenter
0830	Registration and Barista Coffee
	Session 5:  Training
0900	Welcome	Moderator: Aaron McKay (AAUS Board)
0905	Industry Perspectives on Future Training Requirements	Wayne Condon (Toll)
0915	From Remote Pilot Licensing to Bachelor of Aviation Management: The Five-Year Journey of SuasRov and Swinburne University Toward Australia’s First UAS-Focused Degree	Joe McMahon (SuasRov)
0925	RPAS Training - The foundation of our industry needs better outcomes, more Inclusion	John Fleming (FPV Australia)
0935	Racing towards Australia's RPAS Future - The convergence of Dronesport and Industry	William McCann (Aust. FPV Drone Racing Ass.)
0945	AI-assisted Cognitive Load for Mission Aircrew	Dr Oleksandra Molloy (UNSW / ADFA)
0955	Panel Discussion	Session Speakers
1025	Morning Tea	Melbourne Foyer, Hotel Realm
	Session 6: Developing Australian Capability
1055	Session Introduction	Moderator: Sarah Carroll (AAUS Board)
1100	The journey from Defence innovation programs to delivering capability into service	Ross Osborne (SYPAQ Systems)
1115	Defence UAS Program Delivery Models – Industry feedback	Andrew McKinnon (Dept. of Defence)
1130	Bridging the Valley of Death: An Integrated Accelerator-Alliance Framework for Developing Australia's Mid-Tier Uncrewed Systems Industrial Base at Scale	Peter La Franchi (TBH Pty.Ltd.)
1145	Australian-Made at Scale: Tackling the Challenges of Sovereign Drone Manufacturing	Ross McKinnon (Grabba Technologies)
1200	Structural Optimization & Lightweight Design	Simon Bartlett (Evok3D)
1215	Lunch	Melbourne Foyer, Hotel Realm
	Session 7: Building a Safer Drone Industry
1315	Session Introduction	Moderator: Warren Ludwig (AAUS Board)
1320	Building a Safer Drone Ecosystem: BVLOS Operations, Airspace Protection, and Geo-Awareness	Adam Welsh - (DJI)
1335	An Evaluation of Counter-UAV Technologies for Mitigating Threats from Small Drones in the Context of Civil Airport Operations	Dr Man Liang (Dr Annie's Group)
1350	SpraySafe Accreditation for Drones	Matthew Harper (AAAA)
1405	AAUS Drone Industry Accreditation - Strengthening Safety, Standards and Trust	Greg Tyrrell (AAUS)
1415	TBC	TBC
1425	Afternoon Tea	Melbourne Foyer, Hotel Realm
	Session 8:  Test Ranges and Sandboxes
1450	Session Introduction	Moderator: Andrew Crowe (AAUS President)
1455	From Red Tape to Runways: Lessons from Australia’s Civil UAS Test Ranges	Michael Roberts (Nova Systems)
1505	ReefWorks Aerial Technology Test Range - The case for an RPAS Technology Sandbox	Emily Sehu (AIMS)
1515	Simplified SORA; Making Risk Assessment a Routine Part of Drone Operations	Ravi Murty (Yarra Drones)
1525	Drones, Boats and Subs: Complementary Multimodal Autonomous Systems for Environmental Monitoring in Marine Science	Shaun Barlow (AIMS)
1535	Panel Discussion	Session Speakers
1600	Closing Remarks
1610	End of Conference

Registration

Delegate Type	Price
AAUS Member	$850
Non-member	$975
Government	$850
Student**	$585
Gala Dinner	$220

• All pricing exclusive of GST
• ** please email events@aaus.org.au for registration access code
• All delegates must agree to AAUS Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct
• Registrations close 28th February 2026

Register Now

Gala Dinner

The Gala Dinner featuring the AAUS Industry Awards will be celebrated on the evening of day one, Wednesday 11th March. Please note tickets for the Gala dinner are in addition to the RPAS registration price.

Sponsorship and Exhibition

AAUS has a number of sponsorship and exhibition packages available for the RPAS in Australian Skies conference and Gala Dinner, including the opportunity to exhibit at the conference.

Sponsorship Prospectus