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With more than 400 participants and 100 speakers, this was a security conference for the nation.

'Securing our Future' was no ordinary conference, and not just for national security experts. Australia’s strategic problem demands difficult decisions licensed by an inclusive conversation. We also need to understand the intersection of security and wider risks – from economic and social pressures to the climate crisis.

With more than 20 panels across three thematic streams – Indo-Pacific and global security, national resilience, and capability – the conference ranged beyond traditional concepts of security.

The agenda encompassed social cohesion, democratic resilience, workforce, intergenerational wellbeing, economics, technology, intelligence, law, transparency, human security, climate, the maritime domain, changing ways of war, geopolitics, partnerships and the US alliance in a contested world.

The focus was on engagement and participation, exploring dissonance and convergence in search of practical ideas for our nation. 

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Andrew Hastie at 'Securing our Future'
Image: NSC

Our speakers

Speakers included Ministers, parliamentarians, agency heads, military chiefs, experts, practitioners, thinkers and emerging voices from across Australia and around the world.

Some of our key speakers included: 

  • Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs 

  • The Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs 

  • The Hon Andrew Hastie MP, Shadow Minister for Defence 

  • The Hon Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs 

  • Senator James Paterson, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs 

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  • Professor Genevieve Bell AO FTSE FAHA, Vice-Chancellor and President, The Australian National University 

  • Richard Fontaine, CEO, Center for a New American Security 

  • Tom Rogers, Australian Electoral Commissioner 

  • Dr Janka Oertel, Director Asia Program, European Council on Foreign Relations 

  • Beth Sanner, former US Deputy Director for National Intelligence 

Claire O'Neil
Senator James Paterson
Picture of Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaking at Securing our Future
securing our future manning clark photo
Session panel
Securing our Future session picture

For those who missed out

Recordings of keynote addresses and some sessions are available.

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Resources

Throughout the conference many excellent resources were shared – several key documents are available below.

Thumbs up and thumbs down in speech bubbles

Security survey

The NSC Futures Hub designed and released a pre-conference survey delphi survey (March, 2024), to capture key trends shaping the future of Australian national security.

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Will Leben on stage at conference

A more prepared Australia 

These NSC Policy Options and Occasional Papers were written by conference speaker Will Leben (April, 2024), and used as a framework for the 'Australians all: a whole-of-nation security workforce' panel. 

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Girt by sea book on table, with authors signing books in background

Girt by Sea: Re-Imagining Australia's Security 

Written by conference speakers Rebecca Strating and Joanne Wallis, this book was launched as part of the 'Securing our Future' conference.

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Ben Scott on stage at conference

Adapting Australian intelligence to the information age  

This NSC Occasional Paper was written by conference speaker Ben Scott (December, 2023) and used as a framework for the 'Intelligence and statecraft' panel. 

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Mike Smith on panel at conference

Peacebuilding in Australian Foreign Policy 

This discussion paper from the Australian Peace and Security Forum was referenced throughout the 'Towards a national strategy' panel by Major General (Ret'd) Mike Smith.

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James Renwick on stage at conference

The role of courts in national security law and policy, some current issues 

This paper was written by conference speaker Dr James Renwick (April, 2024) and used to summarise the key issues at the 'Securing our Federation: the rule of law' panel.

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