Five hundred uniformed Naval personnel, Defence civilians and retired Naval officers this week attended the 2001 Chief of Navy Leadership Conference in Sydney.

The two-day conference began on, July 10 at the Wentworth Hotel with a keynote address by the Chief of Navy, VADM David Shackleton.

In a statement leading up to the conference, VADM Shackleton said, "My July 2001 Leadership Conference is an important one for Navy and I look forward to seeing you there and having you involved.

"This was the major conference for this calendar year, and its aim was for me and my leadership team to report back to Navy people on our achievements over the last 12 months, and to set out priorities and plans for the next year and beyond," VADM Shackleton said.

The conference included reports, presentations, interactive workshops and keynote addresses.

Chief of Navy called for help from those involved to address some of the key priorities and challenges facing the Navy.

"These take the form of workshop sessions, designed to take advantage of experience and expertise in identifying strategic and practical solutions for Navy.

"The range of issues discussed and presented was diverse.

"We will also have grouped workshops on day two, to provide more targeted sessions that are most relevant to you.

"Supporting information is available following each presentation given.

"The conference is an opportunity for those attending to be better informed about Navy's business, and enable them to return to their workplaces with an increased understanding of issues and what is being done to address them.

"Your involvement is important," VADM Shackleton said.

Chief of Navy invites those attending to participate and contribute fully, as it is important that the the wealth of Navy experience gathered at the conference be utilised to discuss and address issues facing Navy today and into the future.

Among those giving presentations to the conference are the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Reith, the Chief of the Defence Force, ADM Chris Barrie and the Secretary for Defence, Dr Allan Hawke.

Among the serving Naval officers giving presentations are the Warrant Officer-Navy WO David Wilson, Deputy CN RADM Brian Adams, Systems Commander CDRE Merv Davis, the Maritime Commander RADM Geoff Smith, the Director General Navy Improvement CAPT Malcolm Wright, Director General Naval Certification and Safety Agency CAPT Drew McKinnie and the Director General Navy Capability.

Also presenting are the Head of Maritime Systems, RADM Kevin Scarce, the Director General Maritime Development CDRE Tony Flint, Director General Navy Personnel CDRE Lou Rago, plus CMDRs Sue Smith, Allan Rankin and Henry Finnis and WO Greg Stroud.

'Getting Money to the Waterfront' will be the subject of an address by the Director General Navy Business, Mr Les Wallace.

'The Services in a Changing World' will be the keynote address from CDF, ADM Chris Barrie.

Attending the conference are sailors from the rate of Leading Seaman upwards, officers to Admiral, Defence civilians from ASO 2 upwards and retired naval officers.