How to get the most out of a Defence Industry conference.
Introduction: Why Maximising a Defence and Industry Conference Matters
Whether you are a first-time attendee, a seasoned industry professional, or a business looking to expand your network, making the most of a defence and industry conference is essential for achieving your goals. Defence conferences provide critical nexus points for governments and the defence-industrial base, offering unique opportunities to connect, collaborate, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving sector. Maximising your experience at these events can lead to new partnerships, insights into national defence strategies, and a deeper understanding of industry trends. For both newcomers and veterans, a strategic approach ensures you capitalise on every opportunity these high-impact gatherings offer.
The Land Forces 2026 event, held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in Western Australia from 6 to 8 October 2026, connects defence professionals from Australia and the Indo-Pacific.
What is a Defence Industry Conference?
A defence industry conference is a major event where government representatives, defence industry leaders, suppliers, and stakeholders gather to discuss key issues, showcase innovations, and align on national and regional defence priorities. These conferences serve as critical platforms for:
- Fostering collaboration between governments and the defence-industrial base
- Sharing insights on sovereign capability and supply chain resilience
- Shaping investment priorities and improving industrial readiness
- Building networks that support economic and national security
Key Themes and Outcomes of Defence Industry Conferences
Defence industry conferences, such as Land Forces 2026, are designed to:
- Align industry efforts with national defence strategies
- Strengthen sovereign capability and supply chain resilience
- Facilitate connections between Australian and Indo-Pacific defence professionals
- Shape investment priorities and drive innovation in the sector
- Enhance industrial readiness and economic security
By participating, attendees contribute to shaping the future of the defence sector and ensuring the industry is prepared to meet emerging challenges.
Tip 1 – Do your reconnaissance.
Location and Access
PCEC is in a great location on the Swan River, right across from Elizabeth Quay and the Perth CBD. Most major hotels are within walking distance, so don’t bother with the car – it’s simply easier and more enlivening to walk to the exhibition centre (or rideshare if you’re carrying gear).
Survey Visit
A survey visit on the day before the conference opens provides valuable insight into the best access to this industry conference. Arriving early on the first day is crucial. Security is airport-style and queues can get large – an hour might easily be wasted.
Day One Priorities
Even with the best of planning, it is hard to get time to see everything, so prioritising who you are going to see, and hopefully connect with, is of paramount importance.
Stand Locations and Floor Plans
One of the keys to success is to study the event floor plan in the weeks leading up to the event. This provides a great insight into which organisations to zero-in on and their proximity to each other on the trade floor. Forget trying to work this out once you’re there – the size of the venue, plus the sheer overload of information and stimulation, will have you walking around aimlessly and feeling overwhelmed before you’ve even had lunch on day one.
Even with the best of planning, it’s hard to get time to see everything, including key decision makers, so prioritising who you’re going to engage with is of paramount importance. Stand locations & floor plans are often available via the conference’s official app.
Once you’ve planned your reconnaissance, the next step is to go about booking your conference appointments in advance.
Tip 2 – Lock-in your targets.
Book Your Industry Conference Appointments Beforehand
By booking ahead, you can secure a place at your preferred defence industry expo events. By the time the conference kicks off, it can be too late to get into many meetings and seminar sessions. The simple but effective technology is the Event Program, a great resource that:
- Lists every event by day and time
- Shows who is hosting the event
- Identifies which professionals will be speaking
- Provides the location on which floor
- Explains how to register
Accessible either through the event website or official app.
Step-by-Step: Securing Your Appointments
- Review the event program as soon as it is released.
- Identify sessions, seminars, and meetings most relevant to your objectives.
- Register for these events as early as possible to avoid missing out.
- Use the official app to manage your schedule and receive updates.
With your appointments locked in, it’s time to consider the power of alliances.
Tip 3 – Form your national defence alliances.
Go into battle together.
Join a Defence Industry Association. You can rely on expertise with valuable pre-event assistance, including details of special events. As mentioned in Tip 2, book into these events a few weeks out to avoid disappointment. The best events are often oversubscribed and virtually inaccessible if you try to attend on the day.
Engage in Discussion Sessions
A range of professionals from Defence, Government, and Industry will be presenting on defence strategy. Your registration provides a great opportunity to connect and engage with other interested stakeholders, forging pathways, partnerships, and relationships that will pay dividends well into the future.
After forming alliances, the next step is to gather intelligence before the conference begins.
Tip 4 – Intelligence gathering.
Collect Information Before the Defence and Industry Conference Commences
The Defence Department’s Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) should be your go-to for defence industry information. There are ODIS advisors in every state and territory – meet with yours beforehand to gain valuable insights, tips, and information.
What is ODIS?
The Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) is the one-stop-shop for Defence industry support and guidance. ODIS provides a seamless experience for business to engage with Defence. It is the trusted link for Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) looking to enter or expand their footprint in the Defence industry. The core function of ODIS, through its offices around Australia, is to provide advisory, guidance, and mentoring services to SMEs.
ODIS also works with State and Territory agencies, industry associations, and Defence business partners to position the Defence industry to deliver capability that equips and sustains the Australian Defence Force.
Key Services Provided by ODIS
- Specialist defence business advice, increasing the competitiveness of Australian Defence SME partners so they have the capability to integrate into supply chains and grow to become competitive providers
- Direct linkages to Defence procurement programs through proactively identifying needs of Defence capability managers and delivery groups
- Identify current SMEs who can meet Defence needs in the short term and assist to build the capability of Defence industry over longer term horizons
- Direct linkages to Defence end users to support innovative industry initiatives
- Assist SMEs to work with end users and existing Defence projects and industry programs to support greater innovative industry outcomes
- Tailor grants to assist the development of SMEs to meet Defence requirements in the short, medium, and long terms
- Work closely with other key Australian Government initiatives that support Australian SMEs, as well as initiatives at the State and Territory Government level
With your intelligence gathered, ensure your own information is ready to make an impact.
Tip 5 – Your best weapon is your Information.
Have it locked and loaded.
Again, an obvious strategy but totally under-utilised by many. The following tips are the stand-outs:
Prepare Your Quad Chart
1. Have your Quad Chart printed and don’t leave that reverse side blank. Highlight your latest news and summaries from your website. Arrive with 30 of these and return home with none. The best $30 investment you’ll make all year.
Use a Tablet for On-the-Spot Demonstrations
2. Have a tablet with you at all times with your website or streaming video presentation ready to go – demonstrate on the spot to defence prospects your unique capability. Forget a laptop, or even a smart-phone – the tablet screen-size is quick and easy to deploy.
With your information ready, it’s time to choose your battles and make the most of each day.
Tip 6 – Choose your battles.
Defence Industry Expo Summary.
Each day of this event is busy. Set your pre-arranged and pre-planned meetings with key decision makers from businesses and organisations. This could undoubtedly assist you with the challenge of your desired defence industry business and exposure to new defence opportunities.
With a little bit of due diligence and early planning and reconnaissance, you can make full use of the three days by pre-preparing who, and what, you are going to see! You’ll have surprisingly little time to browse the aisles and stands of the remaining exhibitors present.
Avoid FOMO and Maximise Your Experience
Follow the 6 Tips above and your Expo and Conference experience will totally improve, plus you’ll have avoided the dreaded FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) by seeing the exhibitors and prospects you absolutely want, and need to see at this essential platform.
Drop us a line through our Contact Form below or via LinkedIn – we’d love to hear about your Expo and Conference preparation and what worked (and didn’t) for you.
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