The Royal Australian Navy will get 29 new ships in the next 'decade and a bit', the Chief of Navy, VADM David Shackleton reminded delegates during his final summation to the Leadership Conference.

After thanking those who had made the conference possible he reminded the 500 present that 'today there are 1600 people who have been away from their families' (serving at sea.)

"What have we learned?" at the conference he asked. "Pride is as strong as ever ...

"We are rebuilding its brand, its people. Recruiting is up and retention is improving. "We are just doing it. We must keep pushing hard.

"We must all be leaders," VADM Shackleton said.

He then listed the targets for the future and the problems to be solved. They included:

• Retention of people.
• Sorting out capability.
• Improving safety.
• Training and sustainability.
• Leadership.
• Recruiting.
• Capability management and budgets.
• The Navy's reputation.
• The right "governance."
• Communication and the sending of the right messages.
• Capability acquisitions ( 29 new ships)
• Progressive reporting back to Navy.
• The holding of another leadership conference about the same time next year.