-28.029901825539408, 153.43195430713072
09.09.2026
ANNUAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
PRESENTED BY BEATEN ZONE VENTURE PARTNERS
DATE
Wednesday, 09 September 2026
SUPPORTED BY
Reveille Conference 2026
LOCATION
Sofitel Hotel, Gold Coast, Queensland
DELEGATES
200+
BACK THE INNOVATORS
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READY THE NATION
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BACK THE INNOVATORS • READY THE NATION •
01Capital Meets Mission. Here.
The world has changed. The mission is clear.
Global defence founders are building the technology that will define the next decade of national security. The United States has shown what happens when private capital backs that mission at speed and at scale. Australia is ready to do the same.
REVEILLE is the call.
Australia's first Defence Investment Conference, hosted by Beaten Zone Venture Partners on the Gold Coast, 9 September 2026. One day. One room. Global defence founders and leading US and Australian investors, side by side, aligned on what needs to be funded and built.
This is the moment private capital steps forward. This is where the conversations that move nations actually happen. This is where founders meet the investors who back missions, not just business plans.
REVEILLE 2026. Gold Coast. 9 September.
REaDY THE NATION.
Back the Mission.
02The bugle has sounded. Australia answers.
Australia cannot defend itself with good intentions.
We need sovereign capability in the air, at sea, underground, and in the digital domain. We need founders brave enough to build it and investors willing to back them. We need US and Australian capital in the same room, pointed at the same problems.
REVEILLE was built because that room did not exist.
Beaten Zone Venture Partners created this conference to do one thing: mobilise private capital into the defence asset class and connect it directly to the founders solving the hardest problems in national security.
The name comes from the military bugle call sounded at dawn. The signal to rise. To get ready. To begin.
Australia's moment is now. The capital needs to wake up.
Ready the Nation. Back the Mission.
Private Capital.
Sovereign Capability.
WAKE THE INNOVATORS
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READY THE NATION
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WAKE THE INNOVATORS • READY THE NATION •
Speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
SteVE BAXTER
Founder & Lead Investor, Beaten Zone Venture Partners
Steve Baxter is founder & lead investor of Beaten Zone Venture Partners, an early-stage VC firm dedicated to backing disruptive technologies that enhance Australia's sovereign defence and space capabilities. A former Army soldier turned tech entrepreneur, he built & exited two landmark Australian technology businesses before becoming one of the country's most active startup investors and ecosystem drivers. Former Shark Tank Shark, co-founder and executive Chairman of TEN13.
SPEAKER
JAMES CHISWELL
Co-Founder & CEO of High Tor Capital
James spent 35 years in the British Army before concentrating in 2018 on emerging technology, advising companies such as Entrepreneur First, Palantir and Mind Foundry. He has strong links with Sweden, centred on Anglo-Swedish innovation and investment. He is passionate about the role technology plays in defending our values and is a co-founder of MissionLink UK, a network to connect the country’s leading technology founders with the defence and security communities.
SPEAKER
Dr MICHAEL
SMART
Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Hypersonix Launch Systems
A world leader in scramjet technology, Michael Smart spent 10 years as a Research Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center in the Scramjet Branch. Michael is the technology architect of the Wirraway satellite launch system and a recognised research field leader in aviation and aerospace engineering.
SPEAKER
TYLER SWEATT
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board, Second Front Systems
Tyler reduces barriers between commercial technology & national security communities. He is a partner at Silicon Valley Defense Group & serves on the Board of Directors for Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund. Tyler founded & sold the advisory firm Future Tense, served as Head of National Security at CalypsoAI, and led the emerging technology practice at Toffler Associates. A West Point graduate, Tyler is a former U.S. Army officer with multiple deployments to Afghanistan.
SPEAKER
Steen
Bisgaard
Founding Director of GaardTech
Steen Bisgaard is a former Australian Army officer and the founding director of GaardTech, a defence innovation company with manufacturing facilities across Australia, the UK, and the USA. GaardTech recently won the US Army's xTech Edge Strike Ground competition and is now a recognised commercial leader in combat robotics.
SPEAKER
HEather
RICHMAN
Founder of US Defence Investor Network
Heather Richman is founder of the US Defense Investor Network and has held senior roles across national security, technology, and investment, including at Stanford University and on Capitol Hill. She co-chairs the AUKUS Defense Investors Network, representing over $400 billion in private capital across the US, UK, and Australia.
SPEAKER
MAJOR GENERAL
Mick Ryan AM
Major General Mick Ryan AM is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army with 35 years of service, including command of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan and a strategic role on the US Joint Staff in Washington DC. A Masters graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Distinguished Graduate of the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College, he is now Senior Fellow for Military Studies at the Lowy Institute, an adjunct fellow at CSIS, and the author of three books on modern warfare and strategy.
SPEAKER
SAMUEL
BURRELL
Partner, Expeditions
Sam is a Partner at Expeditions leading investments across AUKUS. A former Royal Marines officer and current reservist, he brings over a decade of venture investing experience across Octopus Ventures, NKB Group, and the UK National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF). Sam holds an MBA from INSEAD.
SPEAKER
LUKE
SANDERS
Managing Director, Foxglove Defence
Luke Sanders is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Foxglove Defence, a platform that strengthens national security for Australia and its allies while generating investor value. Leveraging his experience leading cutting-edge capabilities in complex defense environments, he combines financial expertise with warfighting practitioners to deliver rapid innovation and outcomes at the edge.
SPEAKER
CHARLIE
MCGILLIS
Founder & CEO, 2 Polaris & Beyond
Charlie is a U.S. Air Force veteran, aerospace executive, and founder of 2 Polaris & Beyond, specializing in national security space strategy. She serves as VP, Public Sector at The Provenance Chain Network, sits on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s TraCSS Independent Review Board, and mentors for the Creative Destruction Lab.
SPEAKER
DR WILLIAM
CROWE
Cofounder and CEO, HEO
Dr William Crowe is the Co-Founder and CEO of HEO, a Sydney-based company providing commercial, non-Earth imaging services to help satellite operators and governments monitor space assets. He founded HEO in 2016 while completing his PhD in astrodynamics at the University of New South Wales, where his research focused on spacecraft swarms.
SPEAKER
BEN
DULLROY
Director, Bravo Delta
Ben is a leader with over 23 years of experience in business performance improvement, operational management, and strategic planning. Having developed his leadership foundation commanding soldiers early in his career, he excels at managing complex organizations & remains relentlessly focused on delivery—whether local or global.
SPEAKER
ROSS C.
MORRELL
Director, Innovation and Growth for CatalystCampus for Technology and Innovation
Ross leads growth efforts with startups, government and private capital to accelerate innovation velocity in support of our national security ecosystem. Ross is a retired Air Force cyber officer, co-founder of M2 Ventures & startup investor with over 25 years of experience leading mission critical operations within Department of Defense organizations
SPEAKER
ANTHONY
WILSON
Executive Director of Brindabella & Co
Anthony is a capital markets professional with 25+ years of investment banking & alternative asset management experience. He spent 20 years in Asia, primarily as Head of Institutional Sales Trading (APAC) for Macquarie Bank, before focusing on venture capital, equities, & national security postured technology investments. He was also a co-founder of QxBranch.
SPEAKER
IAN
MURRAY AM
Rear Admiral (Rtd)
Rear Admiral Ian Murray AM (Retd) served 40 years in the Australian Defence Force, culminating as Chief of Joint Capabilities and Australian Defence Attaché to the United States. In Washington DC, he served on the frontline of AUKUS implementation and US export control reform, collaborating with Australian Defence Industry to grow access to US defence markets. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2022.
SPEAKER
AMIT
VERMA
Senior Manager, Listings for Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
Amit leads the development of ASX's domestic and international listings business while working closely with VC, Growth Equity, and PE funds. He is an Explorer at Airtree Ventures, a Founder Institute mentor, and holds degrees in Engineering and an MBA.
SPEAKER
Ken
Kroeger
Managing Partner, ACTivate Capital
Ken Kroeger is Managing Partner at ACTivate Capital, the ACT's first sector agnostic Early-Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership, launched in 2025 with $23 million in committed capital. He has spent more than 25 years building technology companies, including Catalyst Interactive (acquired by Halliburton/KBR) and Seeing Machines, which he grew to over 200 employees ahead of its London Stock Exchange listing. He is also Chairman of Epicorp.
SPEAKER
Alezeia “AB”
Brown
Principal, Main Sequence
Alezeia “AB” Brown is a principal investor at Main Sequence - a $1B deeptech VC - with a long background in product management, systems design and software engineering. AB spends most of her time with companies in defence/dual use, AIML, and decarbonising industry (materials, energy) categories, and loves to back founders who combine science/tech with market insight to build companies that will create a resilient and abundant society.
SPEAKER
Will
Scully-Power
General Partner, Pine Gap
Will Scully-Power is the General Partner at Pine Gap, a venture capital firm that invests in space technologies. It focuses on defence, intelligence and national security capabilities across the US, UK and Australia. Will is the son of Australia's first NASA astronaut (Dr. Paul Scully-Power), flying aboard Space Shuttle Challenger STS 41-G.
SPEAKER
Marc
Cervantes
Founder & CEO, Q-Branch
Marcos Cervantes, Founder & CEO of Q-Branch, is an accomplished Army Officer with 23 years of experience specialising in technology development efforts. Having excelled in leading cutting-edge projects during his military career, Marc possesses deep expertise in government research and development (R&D) procurement.
SPEAKER
Alex
Leigh
Managing Director (National), Future Planet Capital
Alex Leigh is a Managing Director at Future Planet Capital leading defence, security, and dual-use investments. With over 15 years across VC, engineering, and entrepreneurship, he helps deep-tech founders scale through strategic growth and capital.
SPEAKER
Adam
Pate
Director, Henslow
Adam is an internationally experienced executive and corporate advisor. He has led businesses, teams and projects for unlisted, listed and international companies. Adam has previously worked for KPMG, AMP and private investment groups, and works across a breath of transactions in public and private markets. Adam is a senior member of Henslow’s Defence & Security team, advising clients on growth, capital raising and M&A.
SPEAKER
Alex
Ghiculescu
Co Founder, Tanda
Alex Ghiculescu co-founded Tanda in 2012. Fourteen years later, Tanda is the workforce management software behind more than 10,000 businesses across Australia. As CTO, Alex has spent over a decade solving one problem: how to take the complexity out of employing people. Alongside his role at Tanda, Alex is an investor with Beaten Zone Venture Partners, backing founders building Australia's sovereign defence capability. At Reveille 2026, he'll join the investor panel to share why he believes backing Australian defence tech matters now more than ever.
SPEAKER
Remy
Grangien
Chief Investment Officer, Dumm Capital
Remy is Chief Investment Officer at Dumm Capital, a single-family office focused on critical industries in Australia. Alongside direct investment, Dumm Capital connects emerging talent with emerging companies in these industries
SPEAKER
Benny
Johanson
Founder & CEO, Chaos1
Benny accelerates the path from technology to fielded capability for the Australian and Allied warfighter. He is Founder & CEO of Chaos1, a veteran-owned bridge–catalyst delivering sovereign speed to capability through rapid assessment, prototyping & experimentation. A veteran of 18 years, Benny continues to lead teams operating at the cross-section of innovation and capability.
SPEAKER
Vu Tran
CoFounder, Black Sky Industries
Vu Tran is a Queensland-based tech founder. A GP by trade, he cofounded Queensland headquartered edtech unicorn Go1, and now is a cofounder of Black Sky Industries, building sovereign rocket motor and missile capability in Australia, OneMRI delivering preventative health via full body MRI and Bloody Good Tests providing on demand private blood testing.
He is also on the boards of the Metro South Hospital Health Services, Starboard Maritime Intelligence and ASX Listed PeopleIn.
He mentors defence and deep tech startups through the UQ Momentum, UNSW Defence 10x and LuminaX accelerators.
SPEAKER
Campbell Newman
Chairman and Managing Director, Arcana Capital
Campbell Newman, AO is the Chairman of Arcana Capital, syndicating commercial property investment opportunities for sophisticated investors, a Director & adviser to a number of start-up technology companies and a regular commentator on News 24.
He previously held the role of Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 2004 to 2011 and Premier of Queensland from 2012 to 2015 and was involved in the conception and delivery of major road, public transport, water supply & community infrastructure projects.
Before politics, Campbell worked for six years as an executive for Grainco Australia in the grain storage, handling and logistics industry and also for four years as a management consultant.
He also spent 13 years in the Australian Army and served as an officer in the Royal
Australian Engineers. BE Hons (UNSW), MBA Financial Management (UQ), Graduate of RMC Duntroon. FIE Aust.
04
ORDER OF OPERATIONS
PILLAR 01
KEYNOTES AUKUS alignment, sovereign capability, emerging technologies ready for adoption.
PILLAR 02
Panels Investment pipelines, early-stage Defence funding, risk frameworks for founders.
PILLAR 03
BReakout Sessions & INVESTMENT ROOMS INVESTMENT READINESS & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
PROGRAM REVEILLE 2026, 09, 09, 2026
SOFITEL, GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
Who backed Australian defence before it was easy, and why
Standing up a US presence — the playbook for going from AU to allied ground and ecosystem players.
Stories from the front line. Founders who built, broke things and scaled anyway.
Leading US investors in backing the next generation of allied defence tech
UK and EU capital making the case for defence investment
Founders who scaled and exited, and the acquirers who made it happen
Why space is the next defence frontier
Investing in the companies building Australia's space defence edge
WAKE THE INNOVATORS
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READY THE NATION
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WAKE THE INNOVATORS • READY THE NATION •
05 SECURE YOUR SPOT
Register for
Reveille 2026
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
THE EARLY BIRD OBSERVER
Early Bird
General Admission
$750 $950
A general admission pass for founder, investors, innovation enthusiasts looking to engage the future of Australian defence technology.
Inclusions:
- Exhibitors Lounge Access
- Keynotes & panel discussions
- Post Conference Networking Drinks
Open to Investors, Founders, Government, Industry, Ecosystem Partners and ADF/DOD
THE OBSERVER
Early Bird
General Admission + Investor Breakfast
$950 $1150
Full access to the Reveille 2026 program, connecting you with the people shaping early-stage defence innovation across Australia and beyond.
Inclusions:
- Exhibitors Lounge Access
- Keynotes & panel discussions
- Post Conference Networking Drinks
This ticket also includes an exclusive investor breakfast to your ticket for access to an intimate morning session where you can connect with investors from across the ecosystem before the day begins.
STARTUPS
Early Bird
Startup Showcase
$1150 $1350
Founders only. Limited spots available and application required.
Express interest via EOI.
General Entry payable on submission
If selected, exhibition balance invoiced separately.
Full inclusions TBC
06 WAITLIST ONLY
The VIP INVESTOR EXPERIENCE
SOUND THE CALL AND WIN A VIP NFL EXPERIENCE
We're giving away one AUD $3,000 NFL VIP Experience package to a lucky REVEILLE 2026 early bird ticket holder.
Here's what's included:
VIP transfer flight from the Gold Coast to Melbourne
Dinner with International Investors, Defence dignitaries and VIPs in Melbourne
Access to Australia's first-ever NFL game in the VIP Hospitality Package Reserved Section.
Accommodation in Melbourne
All you need to do is buy your REVEILLE 2026 ticket before Friday 21 August. One ticket. One draw. One extraordinary experience.
REVEILLE 2026 is Australia's first Defence Investment Conference, 9 September, Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach.
US, UK and EU Defence investors are flying in. The room is filling up. And one early bird ticket holder is getting a lot more than a seat.
Ready the Nation. Back the Mission.
T&C's Apply. Early bird closes Friday 21 August. Don't wait. It is only for early-bird tickets. So we will need to close them off on Friday 21 August. 
REaDY THE NATION.
Back the Mission.
Partners & Supporters
08
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
INTERESTED IN PARTNERING?
Sponsor packs available for Defence industry, government, and commercial organisations.