After a year of hard lobbying by a team of dedicated South Australians, myself included, it pleases me to announce that on 13 February 2023, Deputy Premier Dr Susan Close MP, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, launched the Maritime/Air Systems Technologies (MAST) Exhibition & Conference 2024 at the Gilbert Suite, Adelaide Convention Centre.

Scheduled for November 19-21, 2024, it is the intention of MAST to showcase to a broad Indo-Pacific audience the unique aspects of South Australia’s defence industrial base. And by defence, we also refer to critical allied and supporting technologies in Space, Cyber, AI, Machine Learning and Robotics – all located within Adelaide’s central business district.

MAST and its CEO Mr Warren Edge aim to place all of these world-leading local technology innovators under one roof, MAST Australia, in order to build up South Australia’s defence and allied technology business and export potential. This should equate in the long-term to new inventment and critically, to new jobs being created for the South Australian market. What is so exciting about this is that MAST 2024 will be the first of a series of biennial events.

For more information, please refer to the MAST Australia page which can be accessed here: https://mastconfex.com/australia2024/

Here are some pictures of the launch event:

SAGE CEO Dr John Bruni, MAST Supporter & MC

Deputy Premier of South Australia, the Hon Dr Susan Close MP, launching MAST 2024

Commander Emma McDonald-Kerr, Naval Headquarters, South Australia, representing Chief of Navy

Tim Dore from the Defence Teaming Centre, SA’s peak defence industry body

MAST CEO, Warren Edge

From the left – side profile of Air Commodore Phil Champion, representing the Chief of Air Force, Dr John Bruni, Deputy Premier Susan Close, Warren Edge and Defence SA Chief Executive, Richard Price

From the left – Dr John Bruni, Deputy Premier Susan Close, Warren Edge