Welcome to AOC EW ANZ 2026 - CEO Welcome Message
Tuesday 3rd March, 2026
Dear Delegates and Partners,
It is my privilege to welcome you to EW ANZ, convened under the theme Coalition Convergence: Interoperability and Innovation in the Indo-Pacific. This conference brings together defence, government, industry and academia at a point where the electromagnetic environment is no longer a supporting function, but a central determinant of operational success.
The Indo-Pacific security environment continues to reinforce a hard reality: no nation will operate alone. Coalition operations are now the default, not the exception. In that context, interoperability is not a technical nice-to-have; it is a strategic necessity. Our ability to integrate systems, data, doctrine and decision-making across partners will determine whether coalitions can generate tempo, resilience and credible deterrence in contested environments.
Electronic Warfare sits at the heart of this challenge. As advanced capabilities proliferate—autonomous systems, AI-enabled decision support, resilient sensing and communications—the electromagnetic spectrum has become increasingly congested, contested and operationally decisive. Innovation is moving quickly, but innovation without convergence risks fragmentation. Coalition advantage depends on our ability to align standards, architectures and concepts of operation across national boundaries.
This conference is deliberately structured to move beyond theory. Over the coming days, you will hear from operational leaders, technologists and strategists who are actively grappling with coalition integration in practice. You will see emerging capabilities, challenge assumptions, and engage in frank discussions about where interoperability succeeds—and where it still falls short.
My call to action is simple: engage fully. Use this forum to test ideas, build relationships, and identify concrete opportunities for collaboration. Ask the difficult questions. Challenge legacy approaches. Most importantly, leave this conference with at least one action you can take to strengthen coalition effectiveness in your own organisation or program.
Finally, thank you. Thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise, to our sponsors and partners for their support, and to you—the delegates—for committing your time and insight to this community. Your participation is what makes EW ANZ a serious forum for progress, not just discussion.
I wish you a productive and thought-provoking conference.
Sincerely,
Lauren Hassall
Chief Executive Officer
Association of Old Crows Australia–New Zealand Chapter
