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Event Proceedings
Stay up-to-date - presentation packs, speeches and other materials from our previous events are available for download.
Conference reports: Dr Robbin Laird, Williams Foundation Fellow, and contributor for Second Line of Defense, produces a conference report highlighting the innovation, challenges and policy implications presented. He also interviews a number of senior Defence personnel to produce a series of smaller topical articles.


The Imperative for Cost Effectiveness in Multidomain Operations: Final Report - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Imperative for Cost Effectiveness in Multidomain Operations : Final Report, 22 May 2025 Link to ebook (Defense.info)
2 days ago


Shaping a Way Ahead for the Australian Defence Force in the Context of Global Strategic Transition - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping a Way Ahead for the Australian Defence Force in the Context of Global Strategic Transition, 3 June 2025 Link to...
Jun 3


An Update on the Royal Australian Air Force: A Conversation with Air Marshal Chappell - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, An Update on the Royal Australian Air Force: A Conversation with Air Marshal Chappell, 2 June 2025 Link to article...
Jun 2


The Need to Speed Delivery for the Ready Force and Enabling a More Cost-Effective Future Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Need to Speed Delivery for the Ready Force and Enabling a More Cost-Effective Future Force, 1 June 2025 Link to...
Jun 1


Air Power and the Challenge of Shaping an Effective Ready Force Which Can Deliver Deterrence by Denial - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Air Power and the Challenge of Shaping an Effective Ready Force Which Can Deliver Deterrence by Denial , 29 May 2025...
May 29


Enhancing the Ready Force: Providing the Optimal Mix to Deliver the Desired Combat Effect - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Enhancing the Ready Force: Providing the Optimal Mix to Deliver the Desired Combat Effect, 28 May 2025 Link to article...
May 28


Budgeting for an Enhanced Ready Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Budgeting for an Enhanced Ready Force, 27 May 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) If the strategic environment is...
May 27


Enhancing Non-Kinetic Capabilities in the Ready Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Enhancing Non-Kinetic Capabilities in the Ready Force, 26 May 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) At the 22 May 2025 Sir...
May 26


A Blueprint for Action for the USAF: How to Enhance Combat Readiness to Meet the Strategic Challenges Facing the U.S. and Its Allies - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, A Blueprint for Action for the USAF: How to Enhance Combat Readiness to Meet the Strategic Challenges Facing the U.S....
May 26


Putting the Nature of the Military Capability Threat from the Multi-Polar Authoritarian World in Perspective - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Putting the Nature of the Military Capability Threat from the Multi-Polar Authoritarian World in Perspective, 25 May...
May 25


Dr. Marcus Hellyer on Breaking the Autonomous Systems Defence Employment Barrier - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Dr. Marcus Hellyer on Breaking the Autonomous Systems Defence Employment Barrier, 24 May 2025 Link to article...
May 24


Australia in Era of Strategic Uncertainty: The Defence Dimension - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Australia in Era of Strategic Uncertainty: The Defence Dimension, 23 May 2025 Link to article (Defense.info) Yesterday,...
May 23


Air Power in an Age of Strategic Uncertainty: The Perspective of General Moseley - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Air Power in an Age of Strategic Uncertainty: The Perspective of General Moseley, 23 May 2025 Link to article...
May 23


Enhancing the Ready Force: A Key Imperative for Australia in the Evolving Strategic Environment - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Enhancing the Ready Force: A Key Imperative for Australia in the Evolving Strategic Environment, 23 May 2025 Link to...
May 23


Defence Industry in Australia: Building Strategic Depth and Resilience in Support of the Ready Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Defence Industry in Australia: Building Strategic Depth and Resilience in Support of the Ready Force, 7 October 2024...
Oct 6, 2024


Enabling and Defending the National Information Society: The Space Dimension - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Enabling and Defending the National Information Society: The Space Dimension, 7 October 2024 Link to article...
Oct 6, 2024


Shaping a Way Ahead for Airpower in a Contested Region: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping a Way Ahead for Airpower in a Contested Region: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz, 7 October 2024...
Oct 6, 2024


The Challenge of Shaping the Way Ahead for the Ready Force and Preparing for Future Threats - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Challenge of Shaping the Way Ahead for the Ready Force and Preparing for Future Threats, 5 October 2024 Link to...
Oct 5, 2024


How Does the Ready Force Deal with a Rapidly Changing Operational Environment? - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, How Does the Ready Force Deal with a Rapidly Changing Operational Environment? 4 October 2024 Link to article...
Oct 4, 2024


The Chief of the Australian Army Explains How They are Dealing with the Simultaneous Challenges of the Three R’s - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Chief of the Australian Army Explains How They are Dealing with the Simultaneous Challenges of the Three R’s, 3...
Oct 3, 2024


Building Combat Mass: An Air Force Perspective - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Building Combat Mass: An Air Force Perspective, 2 October 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) The panel on combat mass...
Oct 2, 2024


The Force in Being to Protect the Nation: It's More than the ADF’s Role - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Force in Being to Protect the Nation: Its More than the ADF’s Role, 1 October 2024 Link to article (Defense.info)...
Oct 1, 2024


Building Combat Mass: A Navy Perspective - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Building Combat Mass: A Navy Perspective, 30 September 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) When you are a medium-sized...
Sep 30, 2024


The Challenge for Defence Readiness: The Impact of Politics - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Challenge for Defence Readiness: The Impact of Politics, 29 September 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) If one is...
Sep 29, 2024


The Perspective of Australia’s AUKUS Partners on Shaping the Way Ahead for Airpower - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Perspective of Australia’s AUKUS Partners on Shaping the Way Ahead for Airpower , 28 September 2024 Link to article...
Sep 28, 2024


The September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation Seminar: An Initial Take - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation Seminar: An Initial Take, 27 September 2024 Link to article...
Sep 27, 2024


Conference Proceedings: Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective
Dr Robbin Laird Final Report: Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective - will be released in October...
Sep 26, 2024


Shaping a Way Ahead for Airpower in a Contested Region: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping a Way Ahead for Airpower in a Contested Region: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz, 7 October 2024...
Sep 7, 2024


Conference Proceedings: The Multi-Domain Requirements of an Australian Maritime Strategy
Dr Robbin Laird Final Report: The Multi-Domain Requirements of an Australian Maritime Strategy 11 April 2024 More articles from Dr Laird...
May 17, 2024


The Strategic Shift in Australian Defence Requires a Shift in the Approach for Australian Defence Industry - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Strategic Shift in Australian Defence Requires a Shift in the Approach for Australian Defence Industry, 16 May 2024...
May 16, 2024


A Focused Force: Autonomous Systems and a Distributed ISR Enterprise - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, A Focused Force: Autonomous Systems and a Distributed ISR Enterprise, 14 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) As the...
May 14, 2024


Australia’s New Defence Strategy: Reshaping the ADF into a Focused Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Australia’s New Defence Strategy: Reshaping the ADF into a Focused Force, 9 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) The...
May 9, 2024


Layered ISR and a Focused Force - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Layered ISR and a Focused Force, 9 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) If you want to shape an effective focused...
May 9, 2024


Shaping C2 for the ADF and Coalition Forces: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Mike Kitcher - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping C2 for the ADF and Coalition Forces: The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal Mike Kitcher, 7 May 2024 Link to...
May 7, 2024


RPAs, Autonomous Systems and How to Strengthen the ADF in the Next 3-5 Years - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, RPAs, Autonomous Systems and How to Strengthen the ADF in the Next 3-5 Years, 6 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info)...
May 6, 2024


Cognitive and Information War and the “Gray Zone” - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Cognitive and Information War and the “Gray Zone”, 5 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) An aspect of modern...
May 5, 2024


How to Enhance Space’s Contribution to Australian Multi-Domain Operations in Support of Maritime Operations - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, How to Enhance Space’s Contribution to Australian Multi-Domain Operations in Support of Maritime Operations, 4 May 2024...
May 4, 2024


How to Build a Focused Force for Australia’s Extant Strategic Environment? - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, How to Build a Focused Force for Australia’s Extant Strategic Environment?, 2 May 2024 Link to article (Defense.info)...
May 2, 2024


Logistics and Sustainment for an Evolving Defence of Australia Strategy - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Logistics and Sustainment for an Evolving Defence of Australia Strategy, 30 April 2024 Link to article (Defense.info)...
Apr 30, 2024


Multi-Domain Operations in Australia’s Maritime Strategy: The Army, Navy, and Air Force Orient Their Efforts - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Multi-Domain Operations in Australia’s Maritime Strategy: The Army, Navy, and Air Force Orient Their Efforts, 29 April...
Apr 29, 2024


Aligning Airpower Capabilities with Australia’s Maritime Strategy - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Aligning Airpower Capabilities with Australia’s Maritime Strategy, 26 April 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) At the...
Apr 26, 2024


Conceptualizing Australia’s Maritime Strategy and Shaping a Government Approach - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Conceptualizing Australia’s Maritime Strategy and Shaping a Government Approach, 24 April 2024 Link to article...
Apr 24, 2024


Shaping Space for Autonomous Systems in the Operating Force: The Case of the Loyal Wingman - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping Space for Autonomous Systems in the Operating Force: The Case of the Loyal Wingman, 23 April 2024 Link to...
Apr 23, 2024


Air Power in Australia’s Maritime Strategy - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Air Power in Australia’s Maritime Strategy, 21 April 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) This was the title of the...
Apr 21, 2024


Mike Pezzullo on the Strategic Shift For Australian Defence - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Mike Pezzullo on the Strategic Shift For Australian Defence, 21 April 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) Australia as...
Apr 21, 2024


Shaping a Way Ahead for Australian Maritime Strategy - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Shaping a Way Ahead for Australian Maritime Strategy, 20 April 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) The Williams...
Apr 20, 2024


Multi-Domain Operations in the Maritime Domain: The Significance of Digital Interoperability - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Multi-Domain Operations in the Maritime Domain: The Significance of Digital Interoperability, 16 April 2024 Link to...
Apr 16, 2024


What does a 21st century defence strategy look like for Australia in a multi-polar authoritarian world? - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, What does a 21st century defence strategy look like for Australia in a multi-polar authoritarian world?, 16 April 2024...
Apr 16, 2024


The Future is Now for the ADF: Shaping Space for Maritime Autonomous Systems - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, The Future is Now for the ADF: Shaping Space for Maritime Autonomous Systems, 15 April 2024 Link to article...
Apr 15, 2024


Working the Sustainability Piece in Australian Defence: The Case of Munitions - Dr Robbin Laird
Dr Robbin Laird, Working the Sustainability Piece in Australian Defence: The Case of Munitions, 10 April 2024 Link to article...
Apr 14, 2024
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