Keynote speaker: Mr Michael Pezzullo, Secretary, Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Confirmed Speakers

• Mr Lachlan Colquhon, First Assistant Secretary, International Division, Immigration and Border Protection
  
• Dr Chris Chung, Strategic and Defence Policy Section, Strategic Issues and Intelligence Branch, International Security Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Mr Chris Dawson, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Crime Commission
  
• AC Scott Lee, Australian Federal Police, National Manager International Operations
  
• Mr Paul Gordon, Director, Catalyze
• RADM Peter Laver, Commander, Border Protection Command
  

Other speakers will be confirmed shortly.

Since the end of the Cold War the issue of national sovereignty’s relevance has been a recurring theme in the debate about the future strategic landscape. The rise of powerful non-state actors such as multinational corporations, NGOs, transnational organised crime syndicates and terrorist organisations encouraged many to dismiss the sovereign state for a more fractured international system.

However recent events in the South China Sea, Ukraine and the Middle East have shown that even in a more fractured international system national sovereignty is a powerful, driving influence on global interactions. The diversification of national security issues and the multiple pressures they have placed on a state’s capacity has only increased the importance of our borders further. However it has done so in such a way that the traditional state actor appears to give up a degree of sovereignty by engaging and working in partnership with both State and non-state international partners.

The Congress will explore the importance of sovereignty to national security by exploring what constitutes Australian sovereignty, its relationship to our border, the need to leverage engagement to manage multiple security issues and the affect that this has on not just our national security but also our trade, diplomacy and global reputation.

The congress will also provide Australia’s future strategic leaders with an introduction to the core skills necessary for working in the strategic environment, including:

• Strategic thinking – making the connections between operational and strategic outcomes
• Writing for national security – presenting information for decision making
• Negotiation and facilitation skills – working in groups and solving problems

Who should attend: Early to mid Career members of the national security community, those currently studying in the field and those who aspire to join the national security community.

Accommodation: Accommodation onsite is included in the cost.  It is shared student accommodation - basic but comfortable.

Cancellation Policy: Final numbers for accommodation and meals are provided one week out.  We are happy to provide a full refund up until then (Friday13 May).  Unless prior arrangement has been made any unpaid registrations by that date will be cancelled.

Chatham House Rule: Please note we operate strictly under the Chatham House Rule.  Under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.

Attendance: Please note that all registrations to attend the Future Strategic Leaders’ Congress will be reviewed by the Board of the Institute for Regional Security, which retains absolute discretion on whether individual applications are accepted.