A full day of Defence, capital and collaboration – Henslow Defence and Security Conference 2026
Last week we hosted the Henslow Defence Conference 2026 in Sydney, it’s our fourth consecutive year bringing together a broad cross-section of the defence ecosystem from emerging sovereign capability providers through to listed leaders, private equity and global advisory.
It’s our view that we are in the midst of the most significant uplift in global defence spending in a generation. Across NATO and the Indo-Pacific, governments are accelerating investment in response to a more contested strategic landscape. In Australia, the focus has shifted to execution and turning policy into sovereign industrial capability.
For companies and investors, the equation has changed:
- A shift from a “just-in-time” peace-time model to a “just-in-case” industrial reality
- Greater emphasis on scale, resilience and integration into allied supply chains
- A step-change in the strategic relevance of defence businesses
At the same time, warfare itself is evolving.
Autonomous and counter-autonomous systems are rewriting the playbook, but they are only one layer of a broader rearmament cycle across long-range strike, missile defence, hypersonics and enabling resilient digital infrastructure. The ‘kill chain’ is no longer about individual assets rather it’s the network of sensors, software and supply chains behind them.
Defence is firmly back on the agenda for both private and public markets:
- Increased participation from venture and growth equity
- Accelerating M&A and cross-border consolidation
- Greater depth of capital supporting the sector globally
So, building on that thesis, at Henslow, our goal in hosting this conference has always been to connect capability with capital, to spotlight the companies building real-world solutions to national security challenges, and to foster the partnerships, networks, and insights that will drive Australia’s defence ecosystem forward.
The day was intentionally structured to maximise engagement and outcomes:
- Morning session: A high-intensity series of curated 1:1 meetings between private equity firms and unlisted defence companies facilitating direct conversations around investment, growth and partnership opportunities.
- Afternoon session: Presentations from a select group of ASX-listed defence companies, highlighting the depth of innovation and momentum across the sector, followed by a global panel and keynote.
Across both sessions, we saw strong representation from businesses operating in the defence sector which reflects the increasing breadth and sophistication of Australia’s defence capability base.
A highlight of the afternoon was the panel session, with contributions from senior representatives from Oaklins France, Oaklins Cavendish and Oaklins Janes Capital, sharing their expertise and valuable perspectives on international defence markets and capital flows.
We also welcomed back Dr Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Instituted (ASPI), whose keynote provided insights into the evolving geopolitical landscape and its implications for the sector.
Most importantly, a big THANK YOU to all of the companies, investors and participants who contributed to such a constructive day. The level of engagement across both sessions reinforced the strength of interest in the defence sector and the importance of bringing the right people into the room.
