Border Technology Summit ANZ
Creating A Secure, Digital Border That Streamlines Travel, Trade, And Safeguards Against Threats
February 24, 2026
| 59 Cameron Avenue, Canberra
Main Conference: Tuesday, 24th February 2026
Borders as Strategic Assets in an Era of Disruption
9:00 am - 9:10 am
Chairperson’s Opening Remarks and Welcome
Rear Admiral Lee Goddard -
Former Commander Maritime Border Command & Operation Sovereign Borders,
Royal Australian Navy
Rear Admiral Lee Goddard
Former Commander Maritime Border Command & Operation Sovereign BordersRoyal Australian Navy
9:10 am - 9:40 am
Beyond eGate – Borders as Strategic National Assets
Michael Outram -
Former Commissioner (2018-2024),,
Australian Border Force
- Deglobalisation and U.S - China Strategic Competition
- Criminal Exploitation and Economic
- Emerging Threats and System Vulnerabilities
- Technology, AI, and National Resilience
- Strategic Recommendations
9:40 am - 10:10 am
Panel Discussion: Securing Borders in a Fragmented World
Hans Koenderink -
Assistant Commissioner Crime Command,
Australian Federal Police
Michael Outram - Former Commissioner (2018-2024),, Australian Border Force
Evan Smith - Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Altana AI
- What does a secure supply chain mean for Australia in today’s multipolar world?
- Where are the biggest blind spots in supply chain visibility for frontline agencies?
- How do you modernise legacy systems without disrupting critical operations?
- What builds trust when sharing data across borders and sectors?
- Where can AI and analytics make the biggest impact on frontline decisions—and what guardrails are needed?
- If you could redesign border tech from scratch, what capabilities are essential?
10:10 am - 10:30 am
Speed networking: Fast-track new connections in this high-energy session designed to introduce you to your industry peers
10:30 am - 11:00 am
The Connected Border: Turning Data, Devices and Duty into One Trusted System
Rhys Hodgson -
Managing Director, ANZ,
Axon
- From islands of inputs to a truly connected operational picture
- The digitally confident frontline: Software, sensors and AI that work for officers and the public
- Trust by design: Ethics, privacy and security in a high surveillance border
- A roadmap to 2032: Modernising a 5% of the planet border without stopping it
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Morning Break & Demo Zone Open
Travel & Trade Border Protection
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Customs, Cargo & Trade Tech Innovations
Commander Aaron O'Neill -
Assistant Secretary Customs & Border Modernisation,
Australian Border Force
- Digitised cargo clearance for speed and accuracy.
- AI/IoT to secure global supply chains.
- Trade efficiency without compromising security.
Commander Aaron O'Neill
Assistant Secretary Customs & Border ModernisationAustralian Border Force
12:00 pm - 12:20 pm
Identity at the Edge: Biometrics for Trusted Border Operations
Robert Avell -
Federal Sales Manager,
IDEMIA
- Operational Certainty in Uncertain Times: How biometric identity verification supports secure, efficient border crossings amid geopolitical and technological fragmentation.
- Modernising Without Disruption: Lessons from integrating biometric systems into legacy environments while maintaining mission-critical performance.
- Privacy-First Innovation
12:20 pm - 12:50 pm
Futureproof Borders: Building Secure & Seamless Traveller and Trade Systems
- Technology vision for traveller and trade systems.
- Secure, seamless border crossings.
- Futureproofing Australia’s border IT infrastructure.
12:50 pm - 1:20 pm
Panel Discussion: Operational Innovation at Airports & Ports – Border Technology at the Frontline
Commander Aaron O'Neill -
Assistant Secretary Customs & Border Modernisation,
Australian Border Force
Monica Collins - First Assistant Secretary | Biosecurity Operations Division, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Smart gates, sensors, and automation in action.
- Tech-enabled passenger and cargo screening.
- Boosting efficiency while tightening security.
Commander Aaron O'Neill
Assistant Secretary Customs & Border ModernisationAustralian Border Force
Monica Collins
First Assistant Secretary | Biosecurity Operations DivisionDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
1:20 pm - 2:20 pm
Lunch Break, Demo Zone Open
Join us in the expo hall to connect with peers, explore the latest innovations in border technology and security, and experience live demonstrations in the Demo Zone.
Criminal Networks and Border Control: A Regional Response
2:20 pm - 2:50 pm
Targeting Illicit Trade: Securing Borders Against Tobacco and E-cigarette Smuggling
Amber Shuhyta -
Commissioner, Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette,
Australian Border Force
- Understanding the Threat: How illicit tobacco and e-cigarette smuggling undermines public health, revenue, and border integrity.
- Coordinated Enforcement: ABF’s multi-agency approach to disrupting criminal networks and supply chains.
- Tech-Enabled Disruption: Leveraging intelligence, screening tools, and data to detect and prevent illicit flows in a fragmented global landscape.
Maritime Border Security
2:50 pm - 3:10 pm
Maritime Decision Advantage: Persistent AI Monitoring for the New Normal
Tom Farrow -
Strategic Business Development, APAC,
Planet
In the Indo-Pacific, archipelagic and maritime sovereignty is increasingly challenged by "dark ships"—vessels that disable AIS to conduct illegal fishing, evade sanctions, or engage in grey-zone activities. Achieving a true Maritime Decision Advantage requires the capability to detect and classify vessels even when they are operating in Emission Control (EMCON).
This session examines how the Planet MDA Solution acts as a force multiplier, scanning vast areas of open ocean to provide unclassified, unspoofable intelligence. We will demonstrate how integrated AI/ML workflows transform high-cadence imagery into a Common Operating Picture, allowing regional partners to move beyond traditional tasking toward automated, shareable insights to secure sovereign borders and resources.
Key Highlights:
- Non-Cooperative Detection: Gaining a "First Look" advantage against vessels attempting to hide by turning off tracking signals.
- Protecting Sovereign Waters: Using algorithmic tracking to identify "shadow fleets" and spoofing that threaten regional security.
- The Intelligence Bridge: Strengthening regional partnerships through unclassified, shareable data that removes disclosure bottlenecks.
- Automated Pattern Recognition: A technical look at how automated feeds provide classification and heading scores to accelerate decision-making.
3:10 pm - 3:40 pm
Afternoon Break & Demo Zone Open
3:40 pm - 4:10 pm
Operation Sovereign Borders – Tech-Enabled Maritime Security
Rear Admiral Lee Goddard -
Former Commander Maritime Border Command & Operation Sovereign Borders,
Royal Australian Navy
- Leveraging advanced surveillance to protect Australia’s maritime domain.
- Coordinated response across Defence, Border Force, and partner agencies.
- Tech-driven deterrence of illegal maritime ventures.
Rear Admiral Lee Goddard
Former Commander Maritime Border Command & Operation Sovereign BordersRoyal Australian Navy
4:20 pm - 4:30 pm
Chairperson’s Closing Remarks
Rear Admiral Lee Goddard -
Former Commander Maritime Border Command & Operation Sovereign Borders,
Royal Australian Navy
Rear Admiral Lee Goddard
Former Commander Maritime Border Command & Operation Sovereign BordersRoyal Australian Navy
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Drinks Reception and Demo Zone Open
Unwind and connect with peers over drinks as the Demo Zone opens for an exclusive showcase of the latest innovations in border technology and security. Experience live demonstrations, meet solution providers driving smarter, faster, and more secure border operations, and toast to the ideas shaping the future of border management across Australia and New Zealand.
