Case Study: The Australian Defence Science, Technology & Research (ADSTAR) Summit

Who 

The Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), its staff, Defence personnel, scientists, researchers, students, academics, industry partners and government officials.

What

The Australian Defence Science, Technology and Research (ADSTAR) Summit. An inaugural three-day hybrid event bringing together leading minds working in AI, Cyber Security, Biotechnology, Warfighting, Engineering and Physics with a central theme of RESILIENCE. An opportunity for collaboration and innovation to build the nation’s sovereign Defence capabilities.

The Summit featured a robust educational program with highlights including panel sessions featuring international keynotes from the US, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

The event also included workshops, an interactive wargaming experience, an exhibition hall and a start-up alley, welcome reception and gala dinner.

Our Challenge 

Working on a brand new event always comes with initial challenges but the passion brought forth by both the clients and the TBE team was a real driving force for success. With the aim to create a must-attend biennial event for the wider Defence sector, all planning activities were executed with long-term goals in mind.

With no prior sponsor or delegate database list to draw from it was imperative that together with DSTG our teams used specific lead-gen activity to build a mailing list. As well as gaining a strong list of sponsors to not only support the event monetarily but give additional cachet to potential attendees.

How we did it 

• Identified and targeted industry and Defence-related media platforms for event awareness
• Always-on social media communications
• Coordinated a large number of speakers from across the globe
• Provided opportunities for speakers to present virtually
• Managed sensitive and classified information with the utmost care and respect
• Engaged with registered delegates and conference database via frequent informative EDMs
• Used Augmented Reality messaging pre-event (to Defence personnel and at significant related event), and in printed collateral (OOH posters, decals) and and on-site (in the event guidebook)

Highlights

• International Plenary Sessions
• Wargaming Experience
• Gala Dinner
• Conference branding including lanyards that were so well received many delegates asked for extras to take home to family and friends!