By Darian Macey, March 24 2026
The 30-second airport read
CollabX is industry’s annual signal check on how Defence will actually deliver the estate.
This is what matters:
- The next Integrated Investment Program (IIP) shape will be hinted at, not published
- Pipeline visibility is still the biggest friction point
- Base Services Transformation is really about data and accountability
- Indigenous participation is shifting from narrative to enforcement (but still weak in planning)
- There is still no standard for project scheduling across Defence
- AI is coming fast, but governance is ahead of practical direction
If you attend, your job is simple:
extract clarity on those six points.
Why this CollabX matters now
The Defence estate is entering a different phase.
Not growth.
Execution.
The signals are clear:
- More money committed
- Less tolerance for delay
- Higher expectations on industry performance
- Increasing pressure on productivity
At the same time:
- Data is now treated as a capability input
- AI is being actively explored across logistics, planning and decision-making
But the system is still fragmented.
That gap – between ambition and execution – is where the opportunity sits.
1. Strategy & Pipeline (Perkins, Sowry, Quinn)
What you’ll hear
Strategic intent, priorities, constraints, confidence language
What actually matters
- Direction of the next IIP update
- Near-term pipeline (next 6–18 months)
- Where Defence lacks delivery confidence
Questions that matter
- What is actually funded vs “directional”?
- What will be released in the next two quarters?
- Where are projects failing before contract?
Watch for
- Any move toward clearer pipeline communication
- Language around “confidence” and “certainty”
Red flags
- Long-term vision with no near-term detail
- Continued opacity on sequencing and timing
2. Delivery & Performance (Follett, McLeod)
What you’ll hear
Service delivery, base services reform, estate outcomes
What actually matters
- How Defence will measure performance
- What behaviours will be rewarded or penalised
- How base services contracts will evolve
Questions that matter
- What metrics actually drive payment and penalties?
- What does “good performance” look like in practice?
- What data will industry be required to provide?
Watch for
- Shift from reporting → accountability
- Increased reliance on data systems
Red flags
- More reporting without consequences
- No clarity on performance enforcement
3. Major Programs (Submarines, NT, WA)
What you’ll hear
Program updates, regional opportunities, constraints
What actually matters
- Which packages are real vs speculative
- Where industry can invest with confidence
- Constraints (workforce, approvals, security)
Questions that matter
- What is locked vs still shaping?
- What will be tendered in the next 12 months?
- What are the gating constraints?
Watch for
- Clear sequencing of packages
- Signals on procurement timing
Red flags
- “Opportunities” without timelines
- No clarity on how work will be packaged
4. Reform Themes (Productivity, Collaboration, MVP)
What you’ll hear
Innovation, collaboration, risk-sharing, productivity
What actually matters
- How Defence will actually reduce delivery time
- Whether requirements will stabilise earlier
- Whether industry risk will reduce or just shift
Questions that matter
- What is the minimum viable requirements baseline?
- How do we stop rework loops?
- What will be standardised across projects?
Watch for
- Any mention of standardisation
- Early contractor involvement models
Red flags
- “Collaboration” without structural change
- No movement on requirements certainty
5. Policy Direction (Indigenous, Sustainability, Data)
What you’ll hear
Indigenous participation, net zero, governance
What actually matters
Indigenous participation
- Shift from commitments → enforcement
- Integration into planning phase (not delivery phase)
Questions
- How is participation verified?
- What happens when targets aren’t met?
- Why is planning-phase participation still weak?
Sustainability
- What is mandatory vs optional
- Who owns trade-offs (cost vs compliance)
Questions
- What standards will be enforced?
- Who arbitrates cost vs sustainability?
The unresolved issues (this is where the value sits)
If CollabX delivers real value, it will address these directly:
1. IIP visibility
Not headlines — actual pipeline clarity
2. Contract award transparency
Who won what, why, and what it means for the market
3. Indigenous accountability
Particularly in planning and design, not just delivery
4. Project scheduling standard
Defence still lacks a consistent approach
This is a major inefficiency across the estate
5. Data as a capability input
Now formalised, but not operationalised consistently
The big one: AI in Defence estate delivery
Defence has already set the policy direction.
From the Responsible AI policy:
- AI must be lawful, accountable and explainable
- Humans remain responsible for outcomes
- Risk-based controls apply across the lifecycle
From the Data Strategy:
- Data is a fundamental input to capability
- Decision advantage = faster, better decisions
- AI will be enabled through platforms like OneDefence Data Platform
But the practical gap is obvious.
What industry needs clarity on:
- Can contractors use AI in delivery workflows?
- What documentation is required if they do?
- Where is AI prohibited vs encouraged?
- How will Defence audit AI-assisted outputs?
If this isn’t answered at CollabX, the gap remains.
If you only do three things
- Ask one hard question on pipeline – get a date, not a narrative
- Validate one opportunity with two independent sources
- Leave with one agreed next step – not “let’s stay in touch”
Final word
Most people will attend CollabX and take notes.
A few will extract signals.
Very few will convert those signals into action.
That’s the difference.
Don’t go to learn.
Go to test assumptions.
Go to force clarity.
Go to position.
If you leave with:
- One clearer pursuit
- One stronger relationship
- One sharper narrative
Then it was worth it.
If not, it was just another conference.
Author: Darian Macey
Darian is a former Engineering Officer with the RAE with tertiary qualifications in Engineering and Project Management. He is a leading practitioner within Australia's NSI sector with previous employment in Government, project management and building contractor organisations.
