06 Dec 2023
Fireside chat with Pat Conroy and Bec Shrimpton
On 6 December 2023, Bec Shrimpton, ASPI's Director of Defence Strategy and National Security participated in AMCHAM's 'Meet the Minister: Business Luncheon' featuring the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific.
After the Minister delivered his address at the event, Bec and Minister Conroy sat down for a fireside chat. The discussion covered a diverse range of topics including AUKUS, the upcoming Defence Industry Development Strategy and the role of Australian sovereign industry capability within it, how Australian industry can better access Defence grants and contracts, the improvements needed to achieve greater agility, certainty and performance in defence acquisition, as well as defence innovation. The Minister took a range of questions and also discussed Australia's unique engagement advantages and responsibilities in the Pacific, including the importance of sports diplomacy.