Autonomy in the Maritime Domain 2025

Conference Themes

Operations (demand)

• Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) applications and operational concepts including: ISR (military, constabulary, and scientific), EW, countermine, cross-cueing, crewed/uncrewed teaming, autonomous shipping, adjunct missile magazines, UUV/UAV motherships, modular mission packages, 
• Challenges and opportunities for maritime autonomous systems
• Update on Commercial, State and Federal Government MAS adoption and acquisition intentions
• Update from key ADF personnel on strategies emerging from DSR and programs utilising autonomy / uncrewed systems
• International maritime domain opportunities
• MAS safe operation in high traffic regions such as ports, rivers, and harbours
• Benefits inherent or assumed in MAS operations vs reality
• Areas where MAS can save costs, time or environment for Commercial, Federal and State entities
• Net Positive Environmental impact arising from use of MAS

Technologies (enablers)

• Uncrewed system technology and autonomy as applied in the maritime domain
• Update from industry and academia on likely near-term and far-term technologies (with consideration of current TRLs)
• Air, surface and subsurface technologies, applications, and integration challenges
• Developments on cross-domain command & control for autonomous platforms 
• The role of Artificial Intelligence in the future of MAS Autonomy
• Extending operation envelopes for autonomous platforms (eg sea states, range, reliability, and resilience)
• Key Industry challenges in traversing technological and business readiness levels

Assurance (capability integrity)

• Assurance and accreditation of autonomous systems
• Safety considerations and the role of Code of Practice in demonstrating autonomous technologies
• AUV, USV and MAS training and the need for training accreditation

Program

Wednesday November 5

Time	Activity / Presentation	Presenter
09:00	Registration & Coffee
	Session 1:
09:30	Welcome	Moderator:
09:40	Pickets, Pouncers, And Protectors: Using Uncrewed Systems to Evolve the Australian Defence Force For 21st Century Deterrence	Bryan Clark (Hudson Institute)
10:10	A Fireside Chat with the AUKUS Pillar 2 Undersea Warfare leadership - A deep dive on Pillar 2 USW autonomous systems and priorities	Aust – CDRE Michael Turner (Aust), Cdre Marcus Rose (UK), Mr Daniel Packer (USA)
10:40	Rapid, Reliable, Resilient: Building an Uncrewed Maritime Distribution Capability	LCDR Viruben Watson (Royal Australian Navy)
11:00	Enhancing Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific Region	VADM USN (ret'd) Frank Pandolfe (Leidos)
11:20	Transforming Maritime Operations with Uncrewed Surface Vessels in the Indo-Pacific	Ben Fell (Furgo Australia)
11:40	Persistent, Long-range Sub-surface Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (uncrewed and crewed)	Adam Waldie (Thales Australia)
12:00	Lunch
	Session 2:
12:45	Session Introduction	Moderator:
12:50	Defence regulatory settings for maritime autonomous systems	Dr Rachel Horne (Royal Australian Navy)
13:10	Enabling and Assuring Maritime Autonomous Systems	Graeme Bick (QinetiQ Australia)
13:30	A Suitability Framework for Autonomous Marine Operations	Dr Hui Sheng Lim (CSIRO)
13:50	Digital Twins in Tropical Marine Environments: Accelerating Innovation Through Real-World Testing	Melanie Olsen (AIMS)
14:10	Autonomous Maritime Systems (AMS) - The need for formalised Education & Training	Chris White (Australian Maritime College)
14:30	Afternoon Tea
	Session 3:
14:50	Session Introduction	Moderator:
14:55	Lessons Learned from Providing Maritime Autonomy Solutions to the US Navy	Charles Fralick (Leidos US)
15:15	Enhancing Naval Capability Through Retrofit Autonomy: Evolving Operational Concepts for Uncrewed Maritime Systems	Harry Hubbert (Greenroom Robotics)
15:35	Strategic Deterrence through Autonomous Multi-Domain Teaming	Joshua Bailey (Quantum Systems Australia)
15:55	Enhancing AUV Mission Resilience: A Robust System for Safe and Efficient Deployment and Recovery of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles	Mark Roberts (Kongsberg)
16:15	Enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness in Southeast Asia: A Collaborative Approach with the Philippine Coast Guard	Christopher Pearson & Sally Allsopp (DCCEEW)
16:35	Closing Remarks
16:40	Conference Close
18:30	Networking Drinks (1.5hr)

Registration - now open

All registrations will go through the official Indo Pacific website as either a trade visitor or a defence visitor. Once you have selected either of these you will then be able to input your details and then select to attend the AAUS Autonomy in the Maritime Domain event.

Delegate Type	Early Bird Price	Normal Price
AAUS Member	$330.00	$385.00
Non-Member	$412.50	$467.50
Government	$330.00	$385.00