UWA Defence and Security Institute

🚨 That’s a wrap on IODS 2026! 🚨

Wow, what a week! From 26–28 May, Indian Ocean Defence & Security (IODS) 2026 delivered an incredible platform for networking, collaboration, innovation, and showcasing the very best of Western Australia’s defence ecosystem.

The UWA DSI was proud to be part of such a dynamic event, highlighting The University of Western Australia as a nationally recognised hub for defence research, strategic dialogue, and cross-sector collaboration.

✨ Across the three days, it was fantastic to connect with leaders from government, defence, industry, academia, friends and colleagues, to showcase the depth and diversity of expertise at UWA. A huge thank you to the outstanding UWA teams who joined us and helped bring our presence to life:
International Space Centre, ICRAR (International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research), MRG/ANFF-WA, UWA Engineering, CEED Office, The UWA Oceans Institute, and the UWA Future Students Engagement team - including their energy and enthusiasm on Careers Day.

🔬 From cutting-edge research to future workforce pathways, we were proud to share the impactful work happening across UWA and to explore new opportunities for collaboration, both locally and globally.

🤝 Thank you to everyone who visited our stand, connected with our team, and contributed to such meaningful discussions about the future of defence and security.

We’re already looking forward to continuing these conversations!

To coincide with in what is a big week for defence and security in Western Australia, The University of Western Australia Defence and Security Institutes's Adjunct Professor Jennifer Parker and Research Fellow Dr Troy Lee-Brown write for Perth USAsia Centre on why they think 'The Indian Ocean is no longer secondary'.
You can read it here: https://perthusasia.edu.au/research-and-insights/the-indian-ocean-is-no-longer-secondary/

The Indian Ocean is no longer secondary - Perth USAsia Centre The Indian Ocean is no longer secondary The Iran war is again exposing a reality Australia has long overlooked: the Indian Ocean sits at the centre of the nation’s economic and strategic security. Jennifer Parker Adjunct Professor, University of Western Australia Defence and Security InstituteNon-...

We’re excited to see you at IODS 2026!

📅 26–28 May 2026
📍 Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

IODS 2026 brings together senior leaders from government, defence, industry, and academia to explore regional security priorities, sovereign industrial capability, and global collaboration.

The UWA DSI will be exhibiting, showcasing The University of Western Australia's strengths as a nationally recognised hub for defence research, strategic dialogue, and cross-sector collaboration.

Come meet our researchers, explore cutting-edge innovations, and discover opportunities to shape your defence career at the Careers Day on 28 May.

Join us to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the future of defence.

We were pleased to host Paul Papalia CSC MLA at the UWA Coastal and Offshore Research Laboratory (CORL).

The visit brought together key stakeholders for an exclusive tour and strategic discussion, showcasing CORL’s world-class facilities and its vital contribution to Western Australia’s growing ocean and blue economy sectors.

Guests experienced live demonstrations in the O-Tube facility, highlighting cutting-edge seabed and offshore engineering applications, including offshore wind and scour. The wave flume offered insight into coastal engineering and renewable energy research, while CORL’s field monitoring systems demonstrated real-time coastal observation capabilities powered by advanced data.

This visit underscored CORL’s unique ability to replicate complex ocean environments and drive innovation across coastal protection, offshore energy, defence, and marine technology. It also provided an important platform to engage stakeholders in shaping the future of marine research, supporting economic growth, sustainability, and national security.

The Defence Science Centre, together with Team WA universities -The University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Curtin University -successfully launched the inaugural Defence Innovation on Tap event last week at the Raffles Hotel in Applecross.

Bringing together a large audience from across defence, research, industry and the community, the event explored the theme “Truth Under Attack: Understanding Information and Cognitive Warfare and How Research and Innovation are Responding.” From AI-enabled misinformation and disinformation to cognitive warfare and societal resilience, expert speakers shared insights into the complex challenges shaping today’s information environment—and the innovative research underway to address them.

The evening featured a keynote from Dr Onno van der Groen (Defence Science and Technology Group), followed by presentations from leading researchers across Team WA universities, and an engaging panel discussion with audience Q&A.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to kick off this exciting new series. We look forward to continuing the conversation at future Defence Innovation on Tap events across Perth!

🍻 Defence Innovation on Tap – Launch Event 🍻
🔍 Truth Under Attack: Information & Cognitive Warfare

Join the Defence Science Centre and Team WA Universities (UWA, Murdoch, ECU and Curtin) for the launch of Defence Innovation on Tap - a new free public event series showcasing how WA researchers and partners are tackling complex defence and security challenges.

🎤 Keynote Speaker: Dr Onno van der Groen
Dr van der Groen is Acting Director of the Information Advantage Program and a cognitive neuroscientist with the Defence Science and Technology Group. His keynote will explore how the brain processes information, how beliefs and decisions are shaped, and how research and innovation are responding to information and cognitive warfare.

📅 Thursday 7 May 2026
⏰ 5:30pm – 8:00pm
📍 Riverside Room, Raffles Hotel, Applecross
🍴 Light refreshments provided | 🍹 Drinks available for purchase
🔞 18+ event | ⚠️ Places are limited
👉 Register and join the conversation.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-event-invitation-defence-innovation-on-tap-tickets-1987035698263?aff=oddtdtcreator

DSI's Patrick Triglavcanin co-authored the paper 'Assessing the contribution of defence industrial base collaborations for Britain’s deterrence posture' for the Council on Geostrategy.

The paper argues that major UK defence industrial collaborations such as AUKUS and GCAP are strategically vital long‑term investments that will deliver advanced capabilities from the 2030s, though their immediate contribution to deterrence depends on how they are integrated alongside measures addressing current threats.

Read the paper here

Assessing the contribution of defence industrial base collaborations for Britain’s deterrence posture – Council on Geostrategy Dr Euan Graham and Patrick Triglavcanin assess the impact upon British deterrence of international defence industrial collaborations.

For Blue, City of Cockburn, and support partners invite you to "Heading to the Horizon", a showcase of emerging marine, maritime and naval innovations, and launch of new platforms and services for innovators, SMEs, corporates and investors.

This is your opportunity to see a vetted selection of the best innovations from the Cockburn instance of the Blue Gravity incubation program, and to get exclusive insight into the future support for ocean innovators, blue economy export market development and the best pathways and pipeline of ocean innovations.

Thursday 23 April 2026
3pm - 5pm
City of Fremantle, 8 William St, Fremantle

Register here https://events.humanitix.com/heading-to-the-horizon

The Honourable Paul Papalia CSC MLA visited The University of Western Australia to see world‑class research underpinning Australia’s sovereign defence capability 🇦🇺

Touring the NCRIS‑funded WA node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), the Minister viewed Australia’s only demonstrated HgCdTe‑based infrared sensor and imaging FPA capability, supporting critical defence applications from ISR systems to advanced surveillance.

A powerful example of how UWA research drives innovation for defence and industry!

🚨 NEW Undersea Domain Awareness Report OUT NOW 🌊
We’re excited to launch the first scoping report from our joint project with :

Enhancing Australia–India Underwater Domain Awareness Cooperation in the Indo‑Pacific.

Authored by , , , and , the report highlights how the underwater domain is fast emerging as one of the Indo-Pacific’s most decisive arenas for strategic competition.

The authors outline four key areas where deeper Australia–India coordination will be crucial:
🔹 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
🔹 Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)
🔹 Undersea Search & Rescue
🔹 Deep Sea Awareness

This UDA Project is proudly supported by Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
👉 Read the full report here: https://defenceuwa.com.au/australia-india-uda-program-satpi-grant/

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Happymon Jacob
UOW: University of Wollongong, Australia Troy Lee-Brown Fiona Considine

The University of Western Australia