Security & Defence PLuS

Explore the key themes and standout moments from our recent Athena Series event at Arizona State University: https://lnkd.in/eVJ7v-qc The conference brought together women leaders and experts from across the military, government, academia, and industry to explore evolving trends, challenges and opportunities in their fields. If you missed the discussions, you can catch up on the livestream and use the chapter function on YouTube to navigate directly to the sessions that interest you. ?? Next stop: UNSW Canberra! Australia-based audiences can register for our third Athena Series event on 7 April: https://lnkd.in/ebwJXZzG

We're looking forward to joining our friends over at Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (PCFR) for the 2nd Annual International State of the State Summit. Explore Arizona's global potential through in-depth discussions on key topics such as national military readiness, subnational trade and diplomacy, and semiconductor value chains. Register below ?? .

?? Registration is open for the third Athena Series: Women in Strategy Conference: https://lnkd.in/ebwJXZzG On Monday 7 April we're hosting an incredible lineup of strategy, security and defence leaders and experts at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy Adapting to the #Australian context, we'll explore topics such as inclusive leadership and the impact of gender on decision-making, geopolitics and gender perspectives in the #IndoPacific, inclusive military reform, and women's leadership in addressing the critical challenges of our time, including #climatechange and #cybersecurity.??? Sign-up now to secure your spot! UNSW Ian Langford, PhD Emma Sparks Verity Firth Debi Ashenden Jennifer Parker Sally Burt Cheryl Durrant Jacinta Carroll Cathy M. Rajeswari (Raji) Pillai Rajagopalan Bec Strating Miranda Booth

Yesterday, we hosted the second Athena Series: Women in Strategy Conference at Arizona State University, spotlighting the critical contributions, expertise, and leadership of women in the fields of #strategy, #security, #diplomacy, and #defence. The event radiated an undeniable sense of solidarity, ambition, and collective strength, as women from across military, government, academia, and industry explored the evolving challenges and opportunities in their fields. Conversations spanned leadership styles, military policy, democratic values, evolving geopolitics, and technological innovation, with each session highlighting the strategic value of diverse voices, experiences, and expertise in shaping the future of security and defence. A highlight of the day was the keynote address from General Richardson, who reflected on her career journey and drew on her experiences as Commander of SOUTHCOM to provide sharp analysis of today's global security landscape. A huge thank you to all our speakers, attendees, and supporters who made this event such a success! If you missed it, the livestream is available to watch, and a deeper dive into the key themes will be coming soon: https://lnkd.in/eWe48dev

In his latest article for?The Australian, Security & Defence PLuS Executive Director Dr Ian Langford, PhD, delves into the rising pressures from the Trump administration on Australia’s defence commitments. Central to this debate is the future of #AUKUS and Australia’s plan to acquire Virginia-class submarines. “Australia is now part of a US tribute system, where countries extract benefits from alliances based on their contributions.” Langford’s analysis underscores a critical shift in Australia’s defence policy; a move towards not only meeting US demands but also building true self-reliant defence capabilities. https://lnkd.in/eutRcM94

?? 1 day to go! Tomorrow, we will kick off the second instalment of the Athena Series at 9am MST (1200 EDT / 1600 GMT). Full agenda available here: https://lnkd.in/ehXe6N4X For those who can't join us in person at Arizona State University, you can follow along via the livestream and share your thoughts and questions in the chat box! No need to register, just click the YouTube link below and select 'Notify Me'. https://lnkd.in/eWe48dev

"We need to play both offense and defense to advance a “peace through strength” agenda to outcompete rivals like China; prevent costly wars; and stop disease, drugs and terror from reaching our borders. Withdrawing from America’s leadership role on the global playing field risks leaving a void for our adversaries to fill." - General Anthony Zinni and General Laura J. Richardson on the critical role of international aid in US security for The Hill. We're looking forward to hearing from General Richardson as the keynote speaker at our Athena Series, Phoenix event at?Arizona State University next Tuesday! If you can't join us in person, you'll be able to follow along via the livestream: https://lnkd.in/eWe48dev https://lnkd.in/eEeMAtyM

“If Americans want to win, and avoid losing influence around the world, then we need international development, global health, and humanitarian assistance programs to support our allies, deter our adversaries, and ultimately protect our homeland.” ? Top Generals Anthony Zinni and Laura J. Richardson, former Commanders of CENTCOM and SOUTHCOM and USGLC National Security Advisory Council Co-Chairs, explain how these programs help prevent costly wars and keep Americans safe, secure, and prosperous. Read Full Op-Ed in The Hill: https://lnkd.in/eEeMAtyM

?? ?? This week, UNSW Canberra launched two new self-paced short courses: Mission Engineering Integration (https://lnkd.in/eCGdJniY) and Strategic Foresight: Thinking About Security (https://lnkd.in/ehmydxSm). These courses complement the existing Systems Thinking for a Complex World (https://lnkd.in/ecmxpJrH) course, expanding the portfolio of offerings in this critical and dynamic field. The Mission Engineering Integration course, led by Travis Hunt and Dr Kumudu Amarawardhana, delves into the foundational concepts and frameworks related to mission engineering. Facilitated by Dr Emiliya Suprun, the Strategic Foresight course?equips learners with a robust understanding of strategic foresight principles and the ability to anticipate, analyse, and respond to emerging security threats effectively. ?? Explore our full range of short courses on the Learn With Us page of our website and enrol to start learning today! https://lnkd.in/efFHEE_M

'The presence last week of a Chinese naval task group off our east coast in international waters demonstrates the sudden and dramatic pressure the Chinese navy can exert on our neighbourhood. Australia must implement an effective military strategy now; it cannot wait until 2030,' writes Ian Langford, PhD.