Day One of the Chief of Army Symposium 2025 is now available to watch!
This year's Chief of Army Symposium (CAS) was held across three historic locations in Canberra over 26-27 August.
The Symposium is a significant event in the Army’s annual calendar, serving as an opportunity to gather, reflect, engage, and analyse. This year's theme was "Army in Society", and inspired Defence leaders and esteemed academics to lead sessions that delved into our deep connection and relationship with the society we serve.
You can view all the presentations and panel discussions from Day 1 below.
CAS 2025 Opening
Master of Ceremonies: Brigadier Michelle Campbell, AM
Director General Workforce Integration, Australian Army
Welcome to Country
Opening Address: Army in Society
Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC
Chief of the Australian Army
Keogh Chair Address
Professor Risa Brooks
Keogh Chair and Allis Chalmers Professor of Political Science at Marquette University
Keynote Address
Professor Peter Dean
General Sir Francis Hassett Chair of Military Studies, Australian Defence College
Panel Session: The Modern Army in Society
Moderated by Professor Peter Dean, General Sir Francis Hassett Chair of Military Studies, Australian Defence College
Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC, Chief of the Australian Army
Professor Risa Brooks, Keogh Chair and Allis Chalmers Professor of Political Science at Marquette University
Dr Evan Laksmana, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow and Editor of the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment at the International Institute for Strategic Studies
The Indo-Pacific Perspective
A Conversation with:
Dr Evan Laksmana, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow and Editor of the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment at the International Institute for Strategic Studies
Dr Natalie Sambhi, Senior Policy Fellow, Asia Society Australia
The Army, Trust and National Resilience
A Conversation with:
LTGEN Peter Leahy, AC (Retd), Director of the National Security Institute, University of Canberra and former Chief of the Australian Army
Tony Jones, Journalist, Radio & Television Presenter and Writer
The Army, Society and National Memory
A Conversation with:
Matt Anderson, PSM, Director of the Australian War Memorial
Tony Jones, Journalist, Radio & Television Presenter and Writer
Panel Session: The Future of Societal-Military Relations
Moderated by Professor Rory Medcalf, AM Head of National Security College, Australian National University
Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC, Chief of the Australian Army
Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, KCMG, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King’s College London
Professor Sir Hew Strachan, CVO, FBA, FRSE, Professor of International Relations, University of St Andrews
