Why it matters
Western Australia is the hub of Australia's naval shipbuilding and sustainment ambitions, including the Henderson Consolidation precinct and AUKUS-related infrastructure, making this summit a critical forum for suppliers seeking early visibility into upcoming contracts and policy direction. For SMEs and startups, it offers direct access to senior Department of Defence officials, prime contractors, and state government decision-makers in a focused single-day format. Scheduling immediately after Land Forces 2026 (6–8 October, Perth) creates a high-value week for defence industry participants already in the city.
About
The 4th Annual ADM Western Australia Defence Summit is a one-day, high-level policy-driven conference convening defence leaders, government officials, and senior industry executives in Perth. The summit focuses on building sovereign maritime capability in Western Australia, upgrading and maintaining defence estate and infrastructure, and fostering a stronger local defence industry. Key themes include navigating the Indo-Pacific security environment, advancing WA's defence workforce, and investing in critical defence infrastructure. The event is co-located in Perth the week after Land Forces 2026, making it a natural extension of that major exposition.
Market intel
Moderate pricingmedium confidence
The summit draws senior speakers from the Department of Defence's Naval Shipbuilding & Sustainment Group (including RADM Michael Houghton and Helen Loundes on Henderson Consolidation), DST Group, and NAIF, alongside prime contractors and WA-based SMEs. It is a compact, high-access policy forum rather than a trade exhibition, with networking built around a welcome reception included in the delegate ticket. Confirmed speaker organisations for 2026 include NSSG, DST Group, and NAIF; full programme was still in development at time of research.
Notable exhibitorsDepartment of Defence – Naval Shipbuilding & Sustainment Group (NSSG)Defence Science and Technology Group (DST Group)Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)
AI-researched Tue, 25 August 2026. Estimates from public sources. Verify with the organizer.
Topics
MaritimeProcurementManufacturing & Supply ChainLogisticsDual-use
Who it's for
PrimesSMEsStartupsInstitutions