Support, capability pose greatest challenges
Leadership summit also address safety issues

Chief of Navy VADM Chris Ritchie addresses the Leadership Conference: “We normally talk about renewal at these gatherings,” he said. “In Navy we are renewing, but we will take an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary approach.”

Operational objectives, working relationships and challenges for 2003 were the main themes of the Senior Leadership Summit held in Canberra earlier this month.

Approximately 250 Defence star rank and civilian Senior Executive Service (SES) leaders attended the summit.

The Chief of Navy, VADM Ritchie, told his assembled colleagues that future workforce requirements posed a fundamental challenge for Navy.

“The biggest challenge for us in 2003 is a sustainable balance between support for current operations and future capability requirements,” he said. “We cannot overstate the importance of geographic stability in Navy’s planning for its future workforce.”

Navy also needed to guard against complacency with safety issues, to continue to pay careful attention to Navy people and to manage its training throughput while meeting operational commitments, he said.

CN listed winning funding for CSIG as one of his five priorities for 2003, and foreshadowed further work relating to the possible rationalisation of naval bases around Australia.

The Chief of the Defence Force, GEN Cosgrove, along with Secretary Ric Smith hosted the summit, the fourth in an annual program of Senior Leadership Summits and Recall Days arranged by Defence Renewal Branch.

In his opening address to the summit, CDF reflected on recent changes in global and domestic security. He provided the senior leadership with a comprehensive view of current ADF operations along with his perspective on corporate issues facing Defence.

GEN Cosgrove described the various operations Defence personnel are taking part in around the globe, highlighting Defence’s ability to balance and prioritise commitments. He commended both the ADF and the broader Defence community for their cooperative efforts in military operations, policing and law enforcement, and the fight against terrorism.

The CDF believes that we are now dealing with the stark business of Defence, guarding our people and securing and promoting our threatened national interests.

Turning to the renewal program, CDF commented: “The process must continue, but like many of you we are determined that it will be practical and focussed”.

“We both want renewal that delivers reforms with outcomes and observable advantages in the short term ... not just an attractive theology but ways and means of doing our jobs better,” he said.

This sentiment was shared by CN who expressed his own view of the renewal program.

“We normally talk about renewal at these gatherings,” he said. “In Navy we are renewing, but we will take an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary approach.”

Every member of the Defence Committee (DC) addressed the summit, focussing on issues such as the need to regain credibility with ministers and government, and highlighting success stories from across Defence.

This year’s summit reflected the new focus on practical outcomes rather than ideologies, with a number of briefings given at the confidential security level to enhance the exchange of information relevant to the senior leadership.

Feedback from the senior leaders indicated that the summit was a useful and timely update on domestic and international issues confronting the organisation.

The summit also included guest addresses by Professor Graham Hubbard, the author of a new book on ‘winning organisations’ in Australia, and the Cabinet Secretary, Mr Paul McClintock.

For more information on the Senior Leadership Summit please contact Defence Renewal Branch on renewal@cbr.defence.gov.au.

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