Speaker list

2025
27 NovemberAir Marshal Stephen Chappell DSC CSC OAM,Chief and RAAFSCA co-patronChief of Air Force address
31 JulyMichael Shoebridge, Founder and Director, Strategic Analysis Australia – ‘Strategic turbulence and risk’.Strategic turbulence and risk
27 MarchAir Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO, Retired Air Force Deputy Chief and National Security ConsultantAustralia’s Liquid Fuel Security
2024
28 NovemberAir Chief Marshal (Ret’d) Mark Binskin AC, ‘retired’ CDF and RAAF Association co-patronThe life and times of a ‘retired’ CDF
25 JulyAir Commodore Benjamin Sleeman CSC, DSM, Director-General Integrated Air and Missile DefenceThe air domain and the national defence strategy
28 MarchRobert Parker, B Eng Civil, M Eng Sci Nuclear, Founder – Nuclear for Climate AustraliaAvoiding an energy blunder down under
2023
1 DecemberAir Commodore James Badgery AM, Chief of Staff, Air Force HeadquartersAir Force in the Defence Strategic Review Era
27 JulyDr Ross Babbage AM, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Forum Ltd, and author of ‘The Next Major WarThe risk of a major war in the Indo-Pacific
20 AprilEmeritus Professor Paul Dibb, AM PhD, Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National UniversityGeopolitical implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
2022
18 NovemberMr Matt Anderson, PSM, Director, Australian War MemorialThe Australian War Memorial – an update
13 October Michael Shoebridge, Director of Strategic Insights AustraliaThe Strategic Review
21 JulyPeter Jennings, PSM, Principal of Peter Jennings Strategy Consultants Pty Ltd, and immediate past Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)Russia, China and the emerging new Cold War
11 MarchAir Vice-Marshal Mike Kitcher, AM, DSM – Deputy Chief of Joint OperationsADF Operations
2021 
19 NovemberMr Michael Shoebridge, Director – Defence, Strategy & National Security, Australian Strategic Policy InstituteMaking Sense of Emerging Indo-Pacific Dynamics – China, The Quad & AUKUS
22 JulyAir Vice-Marshal Stephen Meredith AM, DSM, Deputy Chief of Air ForceThe Air Force in 2021 and beyond – an update
19 FebruaryAir Commodore (Dr) Mark Lax OAM, CSM (RAAFAR)The Air Force’s first hundred years – a trip down memory lane
2020 
9 OctoberMr Peter Jennings, PSM – Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy InstituteChina scenario 2025:  What this means for Australia’s defence
28 FebruaryProfessor Hugh White, AO – Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National UniversityDefending Australia Alone: Might we need to, and could we do it?
2019 
11 OctoberThe Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, AO – Director of the Australian War MemorialThe Australian War Memorial
12 JulyGroup Captain Ernie Walsh – Air Force 2021 Liaison OfficerPlanning the RAAF’s Centenary 2021
22 MarchAir Commodore Phil Champion – Chief of Staff Air Force Headquarters and recently returned Deputy J5 Regional and Multinational Assistance, US Indo-Pacific CommandWhat deterrence looks like in the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility
2018 
29 NovemberAir Chief Marshal Binskin AC (Retd)Reflections of a CDF – the changing nature of ADF operations
24 AugustGroup Captain Doug Hurst, MBE (Ret’d)The Far East Air Force 1949 – 1971
16 MarchAir Commodore Tony McCormack – recently returned Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff U5, United Nations Command, KoreaAn update on the Korean Peninsula
2017 
6 OctoberVern Gallagher – General Manager Communication & Client Relations, Defence Housing AustraliaInnovation at DHA is more than just solar panels
21 JulyAir Marshal Gavin ‘Leo’ Davies, AO, CSC – Chief of Air Force and RAAFSCA co-patronAir Force – the next three years
2 MarchVice-Admiral David Johnston, AM, RAN – Chief of Joint OperationsCurrent ADF Operations
2016 
23 SeptemberAir Commodore Margot Forster, CSM – Commandant, Australian Command and Staff CollegeThe Australian Command and Staff Course (Joint)
7 JulyDuncan Lewis AO, DSC, CSC– Director- General of Security and Head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation‘The role as the head of ASIO and an overview of the current security environment’
18 MarchAir Vice-Marshal Neil Hart, AM  – Head One Defence Implementation and Head Force Structure Review/Head Force Structure ReviewThe 2016 Defence White Paper
2015 
9 OctoberAir Vice-Marshal Warren McDonald, AM, CSC – Deputy Chief of Air ForceThe opportunities and challenges for Air Force modernisation into the future
12 JuneMr Gary Quinlan, AO – recently returned to Canberra after six years as Australia’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations New YorkWas membership of the UN Security Council worth it?
12 MarchMajor General (Retd) Andrew James (Jim) Molan AO, DSC– former chief of MEAO coalition operationsCruising in the Transition Layer is safer because there is less traffic
2014 
17 OctoberAir Marshal Geoff Brown, AO– Chief of Air Force (and RAAFSCA co-patron)Plan Jericho
19 JuneAir Vice-Marshal Margaret Staib, AM, CSC, RAAFAR – CEO Airservices AustraliaAn update on Airservices Australia
7 MarchSenator David Fawcett, BSc, MBA, MAICD, psc, – former test pilot and senator for South AustraliaSovereignty
2013 
13 NovemberGroup Captain Peter Norford, AM, CSC – Director of Studies (Air) Australian Command and Staff CollegeThe Australian Command and Staff Course
6 JuneAir Vice-Marshal (Retd) John Blackburn, AO – consultant to the NRMAAustralia’s liquid fuel security
13 MarchAir Commodore (Retd) Graham Bentley, AM – Director Australian Market Development – Lockheed MartinAn update on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
2012 
4 OctoberAIRCDRE Warren McDonald, CSC – Director-General Capability Planning – Air ForceAir Force capability
7 JuneAVM Margaret Staib – Commander Joint LogisticsJoint Logistics Command
2 MarchAIRMSHL Geoff Brown, AO – Chief of Air Force (and RAAFSCA co-patron)The Royal Australian Air Force
2011 
27 OctoberAIRMSHL Mark Binskin, AO – Vice Chief of the Defence Force (and RAAFSCA co-patron)Current issues relevant to the ADF and future shape of the RAAF
28 JulyRADM Peter D. Jones, DSC, AM, RAN – Head Capability SystemsCapability Development Group, Department of Defence
19 AprilACM Angus Houston, AC, AFC – Chief of the Defence ForceThe Australian Defence Force