We don't want to be stuck fighting the last war

Dear ,

There are just over 7 days to go until our “Australian grand strategies in a time of real and imagined wars”.

I’m still in Europe, after attending the ARC Conference – more on that in the future – but I’d have to say that while it wasn’t exactly nerve-wracking to see our original Qantas flight path appear to go over Iran, and then skirt the lower reaches of Russia, I did feel some relief when we ultimately tracked further west and south over Iraq and Turkey.

The world, which for so long had seemed peaceful, now seems once more another episode in Game of Thrones. Anywhere near Ukraine seemed risky, as did anywhere near an ally of Hamas’s.

Which are some of the emotional reasons why I think this is a very important lecture. As a nation we have a habit of assuming the best and getting landed with the worst when we should be assuming the worst and hoping for the best.

To book click here.

Speaking of Ukraine, a good friend of mine, and a strong supporter of the AIP, Martin Corkery (who has been nominated for Queensland and Australian Senior of the Year) has been raising money for Ukraine. This may be late notice, but he is running two functions, one in Ipswich on Thursday 9 November and the other on the Gold Coast on Friday 10 November. His guest is the Ukrainian Ambassador, Mr Vasyi Myroshnychenko and cost is $110. To find out more please click here (Ipswich) or click here (Gold Coast).

And to return to the main event. Peter Layton is an expert in the kinds of wars we face today (as much as one can have expertise in the future).

It is said that the generals all fight the last war, and also that wars are lost on the edges of maps. The first is testament to the fact that we all tend to do what we know best and are slow to deal with change, and the second is testament to the fact that wars are frequently lost because of intelligence blind spots.

We live in an age of information overload and maps without edges, but that doesn’t mean there are no blind spots.

Peter has literally written the book on Network Warfare. Network warfare is about using all the information resources available to us without being overwhelmed by them.

It’s also the best way to ensure an adaptive and innovative defence force during conflict. The Ukrainians have shown us what innovation can do.

I’m looking forward to being able to question Peter over the whole range of his expertise.

Details again are:

Time and date:  November 14, 2023. Starts 12:00 for 12:30 pm and ends 2:30 pm
Place: Brisbane Club, 241 Adelaide Street, Brisbane 4001
Cost: $135 for AIP members, $165 general admission, $100 students, plus tables of  ten $1,350. (Includes two-course meal and all drinks).
Booking: To book, please click here.

Regards,
GRAHAM YOUNG
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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