Chief of Navy's History Conference
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Matthew Paul Buckley AM CSC RAN welcomes you to this special conference highlighting the four themes of his tenure as Chief of Navy — Purpose, People, Platforms and Partnerships.
Dates
19–20 November 2026
Thursday and Friday
Venue
Australian National Maritime Museum
Darling Harbour, Sydney
Times
08.00 for 08.45–17.00
Both days
Presented by
Sea Power Centre – Australia
Australian Naval Institute
With support from
Australian National Maritime Museum
UNSW Canberra
Topics
- Shipbuilding and acquisition
- Innovations in navy history
- The social dimensions of sea power
- Case studies of the RAN in regional and global conflicts
- Navy heritage and material culture
- Maritime trade protection
Speakers
Keynote
Professor Craig Stockings
UNSW Canberra
Delivering the keynote address at 0845 on Day 2.
Dr Natali Pearson
University of Sydney
Rear Admiral Peter Jones RAN, retired
Naval Studies Group, UNSW
Dr Richard Dunley
UNSW Canberra
Commodore Peter Leavy RAN, retired
President, Australian Naval Institute and PhD candidate, ANU
Dr Miranda Booth
UNSW Canberra
Paul Grace
Author, Operation Hurricane
Further speakers to be confirmed. The full list of presenters appears in the program below.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 0800–0830 | Registration |
| 0830–0845 | Intro & Welcome from CN |
| 0845–1015 | Session 1: 4 The RAN in regional and global conflicts Puttock, Townshend, Efsthaisdou, Peden |
| 1015–1030 | Morning Coffee |
| 1030–1200 | Session 2: 3 Shipbuilding and fleet acquisition - the long run view Platforms Dunley, Cooper, du Toit |
| 1200–1300 | Session 3: Panel - navy heritage in action Purpose People Partnerships Pearson, de Ruyter, Lewis |
| 1300–1345 | Lunch |
| 1345–1515 | Session 4: 3 The social dimensions of sea power Purpose People Hatcher, Gifford, Mohammed |
| 1513–1530 | Break |
| 1530–1700 | Session 5: 3 Telling Bathurst class corvette stories - panel People Partnerships Eklund, Holm, Monaghan |
| 1700–1730 | Max Speedy Book Launch - Just Another Day in the Delta |
| 1800 | Conference Dinner |
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 0800–0845 | Registration |
| 0845–0945 | Keynote Prof Craig Stockings Purpose People Platforms Partnerships |
| 0945–1000 | Morning Coffee |
| 1000–1130 | Session 6: 3 Essential enablers Purpose People Westphalen, Chamberlain, Rudenno |
| 1130–1300 | Session 7: 3 Navy, maritime trade and prosperity in the Empire and in our region Purpose People Partnerships Little, Mackie, Kingsley |
| 1300–1345 | Lunch |
| 1345–1515 | Session 8: 3 Shipbuilding and deployment in regional environments Purpose Platforms Partnerships Grace, Jordan, O'Neil |
| 1515–1530 | Break |
| 1530–1700 | Session 9: Closing Panel 3 Strategy, command, and the way ahead Purpose People Platforms Partnerships Leavy, Jones, Booth |
Draft program - subject to change.
Register
$160
AUD · early bird · two days
Registration opening soon