Comms Connect Melbourne 2025: conference highlights

Comms Connect 2025 has returned to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre with renewed energy and an unmistakable sense of momentum, reaffirming its position as the region’s leading event for critical communications professionals.

Over two packed days from 15–16 October, the event brought together a diverse and influential mix of industry leaders, technology providers, frontline responders, policymakers and innovators from across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, France, the US and the UK. This international representation set the stage for a powerful exchange of ideas and solutions, reflecting the truly global nature of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

“This year’s conference program is packed with more international speakers than we’ve ever had before and includes a series of genuine end user case studies, the first ever Women in Critical Communications panel session and an international public safety fireside chat session, along with a lot of great content from global and regional experts in critical communications and public safety,” said Events Director Geoff Hird in the lead-up to the show.

From live technology demonstrations and expert panel sessions to a bustling exhibition floor, Comms Connect Melbourne served as both a showcase and a sounding board for the next wave of secure, resilient and interoperable communications technologies. With critical infrastructure, emergency response, utilities, transportation and public safety all under the spotlight, the event made clear that collaboration, innovation and readiness remain at the heart of the industry’s evolution. Whether exploring advancements in land mobile radio (LMR), mission-critical broadband, satellite integration or AI-enhanced network management, attendees left with a clearer view of what’s next and what’s needed to keep critical communications connected in an increasingly complex world.

The conference offered an extensive and dynamic agenda, showcasing the breadth of innovation and collaboration shaping the critical communications sector. Delegates explored a range of topics — from the evolution of LMR in Australia and the US, to emerging strategies in public safety, resilience and emergency response. One of the standout sessions, ‘Energy Company Responding to a Cyclone’, saw James Lowe from Ergon Energy detail the network recovery efforts before, during and after Ex-Tropical cyclone Alfred in Queensland, providing valuable insights into disaster preparedness and field response. Equally compelling was the panel ‘Keeping Communities Connected with Rapidly Deployable Connectivity When it Matters Most’, which examined the role of cells on wheels (COWs) in maintaining vital communication links when traditional infrastructure fails. Together, these sessions reflected the conference’s commitment to connectivity when it counts most.

Another highlight of Comms Connect Melbourne 2025 was the inaugural ‘Women in Critical Communications — Progress with Purpose’ panel, which brought together five influential leaders shaping the direction of public safety and critical communications. Moderated by Telstra’s Natalie Kolodziej, the discussion featured Rania Wannous (NSW Telco Authority), Ruth Tovo (South Australia State Emergency Service), Cheryl Giggetts (P25 Technology Interest Group), Bidar Homsey (Australian Critical Communications Forum) and Genie Tan (Connectivity Innovation Network). The panel explored how diversity, collaboration and purpose-driven leadership are redefining success across the sector. Together, the speakers reflected on the industry’s evolution from highly technical, male-dominated environments to a more balanced and inclusive ecosystem where innovation and inclusion go hand in hand. Their insights reinforced a clear message: advancing gender diversity and fostering inclusive leadership are not only essential to equity, but fundamental to building a stronger, more innovative communications future.

Reflecting on the industry’s evolution since the 1990s, Giggetts noted the progress that greater diversity has brought to the sector. “It’s wonderful to come to conferences like this and see all of the diversity; not just male and female, but different ethnicities too,” she said. “I think this helps us all learn more and we develop better technologies when we listen to each other. Having other women in your corner and being your support system, and having a mentorship program, is something that I feel passionately about. Every organisation I join, I move them in that direction so that we can start to lift other women up — and young people too.”

That focus on collaboration and shared responsibility carried through to other sessions across the conference, including ‘Cybersecurity & Digital Radio — Protecting Mission-Critical Comms’ led by Paul Whitfield, Research & Development Manager at Omnitronics. Whitfield reminded attendees that cybersecurity threats are real and growing, and that LMR and mission-critical systems are not exempt. While the industry’s specialised nature offers some protection, its role in controlling essential services makes it a double-edged sword. His message was clear: security must be a shared priority across the ecosystem, from vendors and consultants to end users, to ensure robust, secure deployments that protect vital communication networks.

As Comms Connect Melbourne 2025 drew to a close, one message resonated across every session: the critical communications community continues to evolve through collaboration, innovation and shared purpose. From exploring the future of LMR and emergency connectivity to advancing diversity and cybersecurity, the conference highlighted the sector’s commitment to strengthening communication networks when it matters most.

The conversations and connections formed in Melbourne will continue into 2026, with the next Comms Connect conference set to take place in Wellington, New Zealand, before returning to Melbourne. Both events promise to build on this year’s momentum, bringing together leaders and innovators to further shape the future of mission-critical communications across the region. For updates, keep an eye on www.comms-connect.com.au.