09:30 –10:00 hrs

Welcome – Networking and Refreshment 

10:00 – 10:30 hrs

Framing Remarks

Speakers will introduce the program and provide insights into how to enhance Australia-India Maritime cooperation for a resilient Indo-Pacific. 

• Dr D Dhanuraj, Founder & Chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research 
• The Hon. Lisa Singh, Chief Executive Officer, the Australia India Institute
• David Eggleston, Deputy Consul General at Australian Consulate-General Chennai

Session 1

10:30 – 11:45 hrs

India-Australia Maritime Security: Strengthening Naval Security and Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

As the Indo-Pacific becomes an arena of increasing geostrategic competition, ensuring maritime security requires robust cooperation between like-minded partners. As two key Indo-Pacific countries, India and Australia have an enduring interest in a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. To that end, India and Australia have deepened their naval and defense collaboration, but further efforts are needed to enhance multilateralism, security operations and Naval cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. This session will explore opportunities for strengthening joint naval exercises, addressing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, enhancing collaboration among QUAD states and leveraging technology for real-time maritime domain awareness 

Framing questions:

What is the significance of the India Australia Joint exercise in the Indo-Pacific region in the current geopolitical scenario? How can India and Australia further integrate their naval forces to improve joint operational capabilities in the Indo-Pacific? How can India and Australia leverage their naval partnership to support smaller Indo-Pacific nations in building maritime security capacity? What role do QUAD and other regional security frameworks play in strengthening maritime cooperation?

Speakers:

• Vice Admiral M P Muralidharan AVSM & Bar, NM (Rtd), Former Director General, Indian Coast Guard 
• K V Thomas, Former Assistant Director, IB, Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI, & Senior Fellow, CPPR
• Dr Prakash Panneerselvam, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies

Moderator:

• The Hon. Lisa Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Australia India Institute

11:45-12:00 hrs

Tea Break

Session 2

12:00 – 13:15 hrs

Building a Resilient Blue Economy: Climate, Fisheries, and Ocean Governance 

The sustainability of the Indo-Pacific’s marine resources is critical to regional economic stability, food security, and environmental resilience. As climate change intensifies and competition over ocean resources grows, India and Australia must work together to develop sustainable maritime practices. This session will examine key issues such as climate adaptation for coastal communities, tackling Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and best practices in fisheries management from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the need for stronger regional regulatory frameworks for seabed mining. Discussions will focus on balancing economic opportunities with ecological preservation and governance.

Framing questions:

What are the biggest challenges climate change poses to maritime economies, and how can India and Australia collaborate on solutions? How can fisheries management best practices from the Pacific and Indian Oceans help India and Australia combat IUU fishing? What steps can be taken to establish regional regulatory frameworks for seabed mining to ensure sustainable resource extraction? How can maritime governance frameworks be strengthened to promote the long-term sustainability of the blue economy?  

Speakers:

• Prof. Mohamed Hatha Abdulla, Professor, Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science & Technology
• Aarthi Sridhar, Founder & Trustee, Dakshin Foundation
• Dr Ramu C M, Senior Geopolitical Analyst, APAC Assistance, Singapore
• Tushar Joshi, Research and Policy Officer, Australia India Institute

Moderator: 

• Dr D Dhanuraj, Founder & Chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research 

13:15 – 13:30 hrs

Closing Remarks & Photograph

J Paul Zachariah, Programme Officer (Chairman’s Office), CPPR