Message from the Head of College: January 2026

Welcome to 2026, a year where it is already clear that Australia – like all nations – will be under pressure to prepare for growing risks to its security. A confronting range of recent events, from the Bondi terrorist attack to the ructions or ruptures in global order, are reinforcing the need for our country to pursue whole-of-nation cohesion and resilience. I am writing this message from Brussels where I'm joining consultations with NATO partners to try to make sense of the rapidly changing global disorder; expect more on that in our next newsletter. 

A priority for the ANU National Security College in the weeks ahead is preparing for our major conference on 24–25 March. We are delighted that the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP, has agreed to be the Government keynote speaker at our conference dinner, with dozens of other compelling speakers lined up for two days of intensive exploration of our nation's policy challenges and opportunities.

Participating in the conference will give you the opportunity to be part of a crucial national conversation, as well as providing early and direct insight into the findings of our landmark community consultations project, currently in its final stages. Register now – tickets are strictly limited.