Where Industry, Security & Defence Converge to Shape the Future of Flight
May 26, 2026
| Canberra, Australia
What Do We Do?
UAVs are now mission-critical tools across ANZ — transforming agriculture, logistics, utilities, border security, emergency response, and frontline defence. Accelerating advances in autonomy, AI, and swarm technologies, combined with regulatory shifts and sovereign capability priorities, mean the UAV market is evolving faster than ever.
For industry, drones unlock new efficiency, safety, and data intelligence. For emergency services, they deliver speed and accuracy in crisis response. For defence, they are reshaping operations and sovereign capability. Yet rapid growth also brings challenges: airspace integration, counter-drone threats, regulation, workforce readiness, and public trust.
NextGen Flight: UAV & Drone Summit ANZ is the region’s first cross-sector platform to tackle these issues head-on. Bringing together commercial leaders, emergency agencies, defence stakeholders, regulators, and innovators, the summit delivers a one-day program of strategy, collaboration, and live demonstrations — uniting ANZ’s UAV ecosystem to align policy, capability, and innovation for the decade ahead.
Who Is This For?
Who Attends
NextGen Flight brings together the decision-makers and practitioners from industry, emergency services, and defence who are driving UAV adoption, innovation, and regulation across ANZ.Commercial and Industry
Driving UAV adoption across mining, utilities, construction, logistics, and enterprise operations.
Industries attending include
- Mining & Resources
- Utilities & Energy
- Construction & Engineering
- Logistics & Supply Chain
- Telecommunications
- Agriculture & AgTech
Job Titles Include:
- Head of Asset Management
- Head of Operations
- Infrastructure Manager
- Engineering Manager
- Head of Geospatial / Surveying
- UAV Program Manager
Industries attending include
- Mining & Resources
- Utilities & Energy
- Construction & Engineering
- Logistics & Supply Chain
- Telecommunications
- Agriculture & AgTech
Job Titles Include:
- Head of Asset Management
- Head of Operations
- Infrastructure Manager
- Engineering Manager
- Head of Geospatial / Surveying
- UAV Program Manager
Emergency Services & Public Safety
Harnessing drones to transform disaster response, law enforcement, and border protection with speed and accuracy.
Departments intending include:
- State Police Aviation Units
- State Fire & Emergency Services
- Ambulance & Aeromedical Services
- Australian Federal Police (AFP)
- Australian Border Force (ABF)
- State Emergency Service (SES)
Job Titles Include:
- Director of Emergency Management
- Chief Superintendent (Police / Fire)
- Police Air Wing Manager
- Head of Disaster Response
- Chief Remote Pilot
- Search & Rescue Commander
Departments intending include:
- State Police Aviation Units
- State Fire & Emergency Services
- Ambulance & Aeromedical Services
- Australian Federal Police (AFP)
- Australian Border Force (ABF)
- State Emergency Service (SES)
Job Titles Include:
- Director of Emergency Management
- Chief Superintendent (Police / Fire)
- Police Air Wing Manager
- Head of Disaster Response
- Chief Remote Pilot
- Search & Rescue Commander
Defence & Military
Integrating UAVs into ISR, tactical operations, and sovereign capability development across ANZ defence forces.
Departments intending include:
- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
- Australian Army Aviation Command
- Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm
- Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG)
- Capability Acquisition & Sustainment Group (CASG)
- Defence Innovation Hub
Job Titles Include:
- Director General ISR
- Program Director UAS
- Head of Capability Development
- UAV Integration Officer
- Test & Evaluation Manager
- Defence Scientist – Autonomy & Systems
Departments intending include:
- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
- Australian Army Aviation Command
- Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm
- Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG)
- Capability Acquisition & Sustainment Group (CASG)
- Defence Innovation Hub
Job Titles Include:
- Director General ISR
- Program Director UAS
- Head of Capability Development
- UAV Integration Officer
- Test & Evaluation Manager
- Defence Scientist – Autonomy & Systems
What Are We Going To Talk About?
10 Key Discussions
Scaling UAVs Across Industry
How enterprises are moving beyond pilots to embed UAVs into core operations, unlocking efficiency, safety, and measurable ROI.
Transforming Critical Infrastructure
From utilities and mining to construction and logistics — why drones are now indispensable for monitoring, maintenance, and asset management.
Mission-Critical Public Safety Applications
How drones are reshaping emergency response with unmatched speed, precision, and situational awareness in disaster and crisis management.
Defence Readiness & Sovereign Capability
The role of UAVs in strengthening ANZ’s defence posture, ISR integration, and sovereign technology investment.
Airspace Integration & Regulation
Defining the path for BVLOS approvals, certification, and regulatory harmonisation to enable safe UAV scale-up across ANZ skies.
Counter-Drone & Security Threats
Addressing malicious UAV use — how to protect infrastructure, secure airspace, and stay ahead of adversarial innovation.
AI, Autonomy & Swarm Technology
The frontier of autonomous flight, mission planning, and swarming — and how it is redefining what UAVs can achieve across sectors.
Dual-Use Technology & Innovation Ecosystem
How startups, primes, and integrators are blurring the lines between commercial innovation and defence application in a dual-use ecosystem
Data, Integration & Analytics
Turning UAVs into airborne data platforms — integrating intelligence into enterprise, government, and defence decision-making
Workforce, Training & Safety
Building the skilled UAV workforce of tomorrow, embedding safety, and creating sustainable career pathways for pilots and technicians.
Looking To Sponsor?
Sponsorship
Position your brand at the heart of ANZ’s UAV revolution. NextGen Flight: UAV & Drone Summit ANZ connects you directly with defence, industry, and public safety leaders who are investing in UAV solutions right now.
With tailored packages spanning keynotes, boardrooms, demo zones, and high-impact networking, this is your platform to showcase capability, build relationships, and shape the market.
Why Attend?
Why attend NextGen Flight: UAV & Drone Summit ANZ?
- Experience ANZ’s only cross-sector UAV summit bringing defence, industry, and public safety together
- Network with senior decision-makers driving UAV adoption and investment
- See the latest drone technologies live in action in the Demo Zone
- Deep dive into sector-specific challenges in industry, emergency services, and defence
- Gain insights from exclusive boardrooms, panels, and scenario-based discussions
- Explore innovation across AI, autonomy, swarms, and counter-UAS solutions
