Australian-British maritime cooperation in the 2020s

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22 January at 08:15 09:45 GMT

The Sea Power Series convenes allied defence attachés and key stakeholders for in-depth discussions on pressing maritime developments within allied waters. These sessions focus on collaborative efforts with the Royal Navy, addressing shared challenges and exploring strategic opportunities. Each session opens with a presentation by a featured attaché on a prominent topic, followed by an open exchange of views and ideas in a roundtable setting.

These invitation-only bi-monthly sessions are held at the In and Out Naval and Military Club.

Keynote speaker

Capt. Adrian Capner CSC

Naval Attaché, Australian High Commission

Capt. Adrian Capner CSC has been the Naval Attaché at the Australian High Commission in London since January 2023. He joined the Australian Navy as a Midshipman through the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Academy in 1989. Initially serving as a Bridge Watch-keeper, he later transitioned to aviation, earning his pilot wings and completing rotary wing training at the ADF Helicopter School. In 1998, he served with the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force, where he deployed on HMS Ocean, HMS Fearless, RFA Fort Austin, and RNLMS Rotterdam. He also completed two tours in Bosnia and Herzegovina with NATO’s Stabilisation Force. Returning to Australia in 2000, he flew with 817 Squadron, later participating in operations in the Solomon Islands, border protection missions, and bushfire response. Promoted to Commander in 2011, Capner served as Deputy Director of Maritime Aviation, later taking command of 808 Squadron and serving as Commander-Air (Wings) on HMAS Canberra, supporting disaster relief in Fiji and international exercises. Elevated to Captain in 2018, he directed the Navy Aviation Acquisition Project Office and led the MRH90 Sustainment Remediation Project. Recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022, he was commended for his achievements in aviation reform and capability acquisition. A Certified Practising Project Director, he holds degrees in science, strategy, and business.

Honorary chair

Dr Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE

Honorary Chair, Geostrategy Forum

Dr Carl Hunter OBE is Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics, a high-exporting advanced manufacturer. He is also: Chairman of the British Exporters Association; Director-General of the Durham Institute of Research, Development and Invention; Director of the Centre of Underwater Acoustic Analysis; Professor-in-Practice at Durham University Business School; Visiting Fellow of the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre; and Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.

Venue

In and Out Naval and Military Club

4 St James’s Square
London,SW1Y 4JUUnited Kingdom
View Venue Website

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Our members get preferential invitations to our Geostrategy Forum. To find out more about our membership packages, please visit our memberships page.

For further information about the Sea Power Series, please email Luca Hincks, Events and Operations Coordinator, at: [email protected].