The Young Strategic Leaders' Congress

Please note: The congress is full - if you have a spot reserved please continue to register online. If you wish to go on the waiting list please contact the Kokoda Manager on manager@kokodafoundation.org

November 2011 Congress

Security Challenges of New Media – A Double Edged Sword

18-20 November 2011
ANU Coastal Campus, Kioloa

Register online

Download brochure and registration form

Over the course of the weekend, participants will examine how government, industry and the public are involved in protecting the nation against exacerbated unintended consequences of new social media in an increasingly connected world. New Media has penetrated almost every part of our society. Social media based on unconstrained dynamic human communications pose challenges for national security, exemplified by:

Almost half of Australians using at least one form social media,
6.6 million Australians logging in daily,
Indonesia becoming the second largest user of Facebook in the world behind the US with 60% of males registered on the site, and
The Asian region rapidly embracing new media with or without their governments' input

As New Media has rapidly become the new tool of influence, this Congress will explore the breadth of the dynamic social media environment and the whole of nation effort required to protect Australia’s interests from unwanted global influences, in particular exploring the nexus between New Media and National Security implications, its use, affects and cooperative efforts. Participants will workshop issues with colleagues from across government, academia and industry, as well as some of Australia’s leading strategic thinkers and decision makers in examining future national security challenges of new media

The Kokoda Foundation has invited a number of speakers from key organisations. More details to follow shortly.

Key Speakers (confirmed)

ADML (Rtd) Chris Barrie AC
Former Chief of the Defence Force

Mr James Brown
Military Associate
Lowy Institute for International Policy

Dr Mark D. Drapeau (via skype)
Director of Innovative Engagement
Microsoft Office of Civic Innovation
Washington

Ms Paula Hanasz
Consultant
Noetic Solutions

Dr Sebastian Kaempf
Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies
School of Political Science and International Studies
University of Queensland

Assistant Commissioner Tim Morris AM APM
National Manager Intelligence
Intelligence
Australian Federal Police

Research Professor Andrew Markus
Pratt Foundation Chair of Jewish Civilisation
School of Historical Studies Staff
Monash University

Mr Craig Thomler
Government 2.0 Advocate

Kokoda Foundation Directors attending

Andrew Balmaks
Director, Kokoda Foundation
Principal, Noetic Solutions

RADM (Rtd) Raydon Gates AO, CSM
Director, Kokoda Foundation
CEO, Lockheed Martin Australia

AVM Peter Nicholson AO (Retd)
Director, Kokoda Foundation

Who should attend

The Young Strategic Leaders’ Congress should be a priority for young professionals employed in all parts of the Australian national security community and for graduates who aspire to work within the Australian national security community. The Congress program has been designed from the outset to build the strategic, analytical, leadership and networking skills of young strategic professionals.

Please note that applicants to attend the Young Strategic Leaders’ Forum Congress will be reviewed by the Board of the Kokoda Foundation, which retains absolute discretion on whether individuals are accepted.

Registration Fee (GST inclusive)

Includes two days’ accommodation, all meals and all program materials.
Individuals: A$330.00
Members: A$270.00
Full time civilian Students: A$165.00

Inquiries and registrations to:

YSLF Congress Manager
Kokoda Foundation
PO Box 4060 Kingston ACT 2604 AUSTRALIA
Office Phone: +61-(0)2 6295 1555
Fax: +61-(0) 2-6169 3019
E-mail: registration@kokodafoundation.org

About the Young Strategic Leaders' Forum Congresses

The Young Strategic Leaders' Forum gathers twice a year for a weekend-long Young Strategic Leaders' Congress.

The purposes of the Congress are to:

Enable Young Strategic Leaders to meet and network with senior national security decision makers
Foster the professional development of Young Strategic Leaders through seminars, workshops hypothetical/s and informal discussions
Facilitate networking of Young Strategic Leaders with their professional colleagues in other organisations
Foster the development of esprit de corps amongst the Young Strategic Leaders

The weekend involves a series of workshops and seminars with senior national security community leaders and industry heads. The weekend’s activities are structured around a central theme with time in between seminars and workshops to talk informally with some of Australia’s senior officials.

The Young Strategic Leaders' Congress is intended primarily for Kokoda's Young Strategic Leaders (YSLs). YSLs are typically those who have either joined the national security community during the last 8 years or so, are in the final phases of their studies and aspire to join the national security community and are generally below the age of 35.

Previous Congresses

Securing Digital Australia:
Whole of Nation Approaches to the Cyber Challenge

20-22 May 2011
ANU campus, Kioloa, NSW South Coast

This Congress explored the range of cyber challenges facing Australia to 2030.

Participants examined how government, industry and the public are each involved in defending the nation against cyber threats in an increasingly networked world. From protecting home users, to critical infrastructure, government networks, and international cooperation, this Congress will explore the breadth of the dynamic online environment, and the whole of nation effort required to defend Australia online. Participants will workshop issues with colleagues from across government, academia and industry, as well as some of Australia's leading strategic thinkers and decision makers in examining future national challenges in the cyber domain.

Key Speakers


AVM John Blackburn AO (Ret) Former Deputy Chief of Air Force Director, Kokoda Foundation Author of Optimising Australia's Response to the Cyber Challenge	Dr Gary Waters Head of Strategy Jacobs Australia Author of Optimising Australia's Response to the Cyber Challenge

Professor Craig Valli Head of School Director - secau - Security Research Centre	Louis Rago, AM, FAICD Director Defence & National Security Microsoft Australia

Andrew Balmaks Principal Noetic Solutions Director, Kokoda Foundation	Brett Biddington Director Kokoda Foundation

Australia's Place in 2030: Regional Power or Pretender?

3-5 December 2010
ANU campus, Kioloa, NSW South Coast

This congress centred on examining Australia's position in the region and the world, and the future of Australia's role as a regional leader and middle power in an increasingly competitive and challenging strategic environment out to 2030.

Over the course of the weekend, participants were presented with a unique opportunity to engage with some of Australia's leading strategic thinkers, decision makers and their peers across government, industry and academia, on the challenges Australia faces, in economic security, regional engagement and assistance, national alliances, international cooperation, defence, and how these might be overcome.



Andrew Balmaks Principal Noetic Solutions and Director, Kokoda Foundation	ADML (Rtd) Chris Barrie AC Visiting Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia and former Chief of the Defence Force

AVM John Blackburn AO (Ret) Former Deputy Chief of Air Force and Director, Kokoda Foundation	Prakash Mirchandani Managing Director of Media Gurus

AVM Peter Nicholson, AO (Ret) Director, Kokoda Foundation	Michael Pezzullo Chief Operating Officer Australian Customs and Border Protection

Andrew Shearer Director of Studies and Senior Research Fellow Lowy Institute for International Policy	MAJGEN Richard Wilson, AO Director Defence Intelligence Organisation

Looking in: Examining Australia’s National
Resilience to 2030

21-23 May 2010
ANU Coastal Campus, Kioloa

This congress focused on Australia’s internal capacity to provide a comprehensive, co-ordinated and national response to current and emerging security challenges to 2030. some of Australia’s leading strategic thinkers debated with participants the key issues concerning future national challenges in the fields of energy security, economic security, environmental security, emergency management and critical infrastructure, strategic immigration, organisational resilience and more.

Protecting our borders: Future challenges
in a globalised world

December 2009, ANU Kioloa Coastal Campus

The fifth YSLF Congress debated the key issues concerning future challenges in Border Protection for Australia and internationally.

China's Strategic Future: Planning Options for the Western Allies

May 2009, ANU Kioloa Coastal Campus

This Congress debated the key issues concerning future Australian and allied security strategy for the Western Pacific.

Future Security Strategy for the Western Pacific

December 2008, ANU Kioloa Coastal Campus

Some of Australia’s leading strategic thinkers debated the key issues concerning future Australian and allied security strategy for the Western Pacific

Session highlights included:

Key Features of the Future Northeast Asian
Security Environment
The Military Capabilities of the Major Powers
in the Western Pacific in 2030
China’s Strategic Future and the Implications for Australia and the United States
United States Perspectives on Western Pacific Strategy and Implications for Australia
Key Steps in the Personal Development of
National Security Professionals
Options for Defence and Security Strategy in the
Western Pacific 2030-2040
An Introduction to Some Methodologies for Long Term Security Planning

Key Issues for the National Security Statement and the
New Defence White Paper

May 2008
ANU Kioloa Coastal Campus

Some of Australia’s leading strategic thinkers lead debate in the key themes that should characterise the pending national security statement and the new Australian defence white paper.

The program included the following session topics:

Intelligence Foundations for the National Security Statement and the Defence White Paper
Key Themes for the National Security Statement
Key Themes for the New Defence White Paper
Key Principles of Strategic Leadership and Management
Hypothetical: Strategy for the Defence of Australia in 2030
How to Foster a Highly Productive Organisation?
Priority Strategic Theme

Strategy for Winning the Long Struggle Against International Terrorism: Key Factors for Success

Kioloa, NSW South Coast, December 2007

The Congress was a great success with several very senior Australian government officials participating over the weekend. The weekend was broken into a number of sessions with opportunities for participants to work closely with Australia’s current generation of national security leaders in a relaxed environment.

Some of the activities for the weekend included:

A “hypothetical” exercise where young leaders will be exposed to decision-making at the highest-levels of the Australian Government;
A series of seminars focusing on long-term strategic challenges and priorities; and
A series of workshops where small groups will partner with senior government and industry leaders for discussions prior to reporting back to the congress on group outcomes.

The Young Strategic Leaders’ Forum is proudly sponsored by Noetic Solutions Pty Ltd