Head of Nuclear Submarine Capability to headline Budget 2026: National Defence Outlook

With the federal government having committed $425 billion over the decade to deliver accelerated capability for the integrated, focused force, the 2026 National Defence Strategy and its accompanying 2026 Integrated Investment Program (IIP) have fundamentally redrawn the map for Australia’s defence and industrial future. This year’s event will put those ambitions under the microscope.

The forum has long been regarded as the engine room for frank, substantive conversation, a sharp contrast to the glossy brochures and talking points that too often pass for policy debate. This year, organisers say they’re moving past the “what” and firmly into the “how” – how $425 billion actually flows through the Australian industrial base and how the platforms and systems deemed critical to national sovereignty will actually be delivered.

Defence and Aerospace Lead at Momentum Media, Steve Kuper said: “The addition of Rear Admiral Phillips in this already impressive line-up is testament to the pivotal role that the annual Defence Connect budget event plays informing the nation’s defence industry.”

The 2026 IIP prioritises investment to deliver an enhanced undersea warfare capability supported by a sovereign fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, accelerate the delivery of more lethal maritime capabilities, further expand long-range strike capabilities, and expand the adoption of autonomous and uncrewed systems across the land, air and maritime domains.

“Rear Admiral Phillips’ insights into the role of the nation’s future nuclear submarine fleet, combined with the increasing capabilities to be delivered as part of our planned expanded surface fleet, will help to identify lines of effort for industry to get after immediately, providing avenues for future business expansion,” Kuper added.

With defence spending projected to rise to 3 per cent of gross domestic product by 2033 under the NATO approach, accompanied by structural reforms including the establishment of the Defence Delivery Agency, the speaker list will prove to be one you can’t afford to miss.

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Speakers include:

• The honourable Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, will bring the government’s perspective on how investment is being structured to strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial base and regional relationships.
• Major General Matt Pearse AO, acting head of Force Design and Head Force Integration, will offer rare insight into how the Australian Defence Force is thinking through capability integration at the force design level, the unglamorous but critical work that determines whether ambitious spending commitments translate into genuine operational capability.
• Veteran geostrategic analyst Marc Ablong PSM will provide the broader strategic context, helping industry players understand the threat environment driving these unprecedented levels of investment.
• Michael Shoebridge, founder and director of Strategic Analysis Australia, and Dr Marcus Hellyer, the organisation’s head of research, are two of the country’s sharpest independent voices on defence policy and procurement. Together, they bring rigorous, evidence-based analysis that cuts through the noise on capability gaps and delivery timelines.
• Major General (Ret’d) Andrew Bottrell AO brings hard-won operational and institutional experience to the table, offering a perspective grounded in the realities of defence capability development.
• Senator James Paterson, shadow minister for defence, will outline the Coalition’s position on national security priorities, a crucial dimension as Australia navigates what both sides of politics acknowledge is a rapidly deteriorating strategic environment.
• Rear Admiral Tom Phillips RAN, head of Nuclear Submarine Capability, a headline appointment given the centrality of the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway to Australia’s long-term strategic posture.

Moderating proceedings is David Speers, one of Australia’s most respected political editors and journalists, whose incisive questioning style is well-suited to keeping discussions accountable and substantive.

For Australian businesses, the message is clear: this is not a peripheral conversation. These investments are supporting tens of thousands of highly skilled, well-paid Australian jobs directly and across supply chains. Understanding where your business sits within that ecosystem – and how to engage with the procurement and delivery machinery, is no longer optional.

Get your tickets here. More information, including the full agenda, is available here.