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
8:50 am - 9:00 am
Chair's Opening Remarks
9:00 am - 9:30 am
Beyond eGate – Borders as Strategic National Assets
Michael Outram -
Former Commissioner (2018-2024),,
Australian Border Force
• Deglobalization: Trump 2.0 and Chinese Trade Aggression
• Criminal Exploitation and Economic
• Emerging Threats and System Vulnerabilities
• Technology, AI, and National Resilience
• Strategic Recommendations
9:30 am - 10:00 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
• 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?
10:00 am - 10:15 am
Speed networking: Fast-track new connections in this high-energy session designed to introduce you to your industry peers
10:15 am - 10:45 am
Morning Break & Demo Zone Open
10:45 am - 11:15 am
Customs, Cargo & Trade Tech Innovations
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.
11:15 am - 11:30 am
Identity at the Edge: Biometrics for Trusted Border Operations
• 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: Balancing advanced identity technologies with public trust, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance.
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Futureproof Borders: Building Secure & Seamless Traveller and Trade Systems
Matt Jones -
Assistant Secretary - Traveller, Cargo and Trade Systems,
Department of Home Affairs
• Technology vision for traveller and trade systems.
• Secure, seamless border crossings.
• Futureproofing Australia’s border IT infrastructure.
Matt Jones
Assistant Secretary - Traveller, Cargo and Trade SystemsDepartment of Home Affairs
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Panel Discussion: Operational Innovation at Airports & Ports – Border Technology at the Frontline
Matt Jones -
Assistant Secretary - Traveller, Cargo and Trade Systems,
Department of Home Affairs
Aaron O'Neill - Assistant Secretary Customs & Border Modernisation, Australian Border Force
• Smart gates, sensors, and automation in action.
• Tech-enabled passenger and cargo screening.
• Boosting efficiency while tightening security.
Matt Jones
Assistant Secretary - Traveller, Cargo and Trade SystemsDepartment of Home Affairs
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
Lunch Break, Demo Zone Open & VIP Hosted Lunches
1:45 pm - 2:15 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.
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Securing the Pacific: Disrupting Criminal Networks Across Borders
Ernie Verina -
Regional Attache Oceania,
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• Targeting Illicit Flows: How HSI is working with regional partners to detect and disrupt drug trafficking, human smuggling, and illicit trade across Pacific routes.
• Operational Collaboration: Real-world examples of joint investigations and intelligence sharing with ABF, AFP, and Pacific law enforcement to strengthen border enforcement.
• Building Regional Resilience: Supporting long-term capacity building, legal cooperation, and trusted networks to secure borders in a geopolitically complex region.
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Afternoon Break & Demo Zone Open
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm
Operation Sovereign Borders – Tech-Enabled Maritime Security
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
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Panel Discussion | Smart Borders Smart Borders & e-Gate Technologies
• Seamless Passenger Experience: Exploring how biometric e-Gates and smart border systems can reduce wait times, enhance security, and improve traveler satisfaction.
• Interoperability & Data Sharing: Addressing challenges and opportunities in integrating smart border technologies across jurisdictions and agencies for real-time decision-making.
• Privacy, Ethics & Trust: Examining the balance between technological innovation and the protection of individual rights in the deployment of surveillance and identity verification systems.
