Why Diversity in Defence Matters Now More Than Ever - ‘Voices of the Future: Young Women Shaping the AUKUS Discourse’ Panel Event

Why Diversity in Defence Matters Now More Than Ever - ‘Voices of the Future: Young Women Shaping the AUKUS Discourse’ Panel Event 

By Katya Hoare

In recent years, diversity and inclusion have been at the forefront of political and defence dialogues. However, while efforts have increased representation of women and other traditionally marginalised communities, why are these groups still facing the same oppression? Systemic barriers deeply rooted in patriarchy continue to undermine true gender equity and clearly, representation alone is not enough. Instead, it must be accompanied with dismantling longstanding structural inequalities.

To explore these challenges and envision future pathways towards meaningful change in the security sector, Women in International Security Australia Inc. (WIIS-A), in collaboration with Girls Run the World (GRTW) and the Australian National University Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, hosted the panel event, Voices of the Future: Young Women Shaping the AUKUS Discourse (Voices of the Future). Held on the 4 March 2025 at ANU in Canberra, this panel event provided a platform to address the marginalisation of women in security - particularly within the context of the AUKUS partnership.

The event also precedes the release of a policy paper by the Women in Strategic Policy (WISP) program being jointly run by GRTW and the ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs. This policy paper will be authored by a group of young women and will analyse AUKUS from the lens of three issues: AI, intersectionality and climate change.

Follow opening remarks from Maria Rost Rublee, WIIS-A’s President, the panel discussion was moderated by Asha Clementi, CEO of GRTW. The following panellists shared their insights as women working in the security and defence sectors:

·         Ms Jennifer Babic (Senior Regional Security Officer, US Embassy in Canberra),

·         Ms Kathryn Essex (First Secretary, British High Commission in Canberra)

·         Dr Cathy Moloney (Australia Vice President, The Asia Group)

Closing remarks were provided by Akrti Tyagi, Head of Digital and Partnerships at GRTW.

The panellists all agreed on the cultural and strategic benefits of including diverse perspectives in security, with Dr Moloney emphasising that AUKUS is about deepening partnerships to support peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific region. Dr Moloney also spoke about how AUKUS is creating a cultural shift in how the three AUKUS countries think strategically, politically, economically and normatively about their regional engagement.  

While AUKUS is currently a trilateral pact, Ms Essex highlighted future possibilities of expansion, given there is already keen interest from other Indo-Pacific nations. She also stressed that the inclusion of diverse perspectives as a way to shift the current environment from one that is dominated by “male, pale and stale” perspectives. She emphasised her experience of working on Pillar 1of AUKUS in the UK whereby decision-making roles have predominantly been held by women. Yet, Essex explained these roles are often behind the scenes and do not receive the same media coverage as staged public events that are often showcasing men. As a result, she called on male allies within the defence community to advocate for dismantling these structures—not just in words, but through tangible actions.

Ms Babic spoke about the invisibility that women feel in the defence and security sectors, especially those from intersectional and marginalised backgrounds. As Babic remarked, “If people don’t see themselves in positions of power, it feels impossible to imagine themselves there.” But representation alone is insufficient and is often where defence gets stuck. Accordingly, Ms Babic shed light on the opportunities to involve universities, civil society and the youth stakeholders into security conversations as a way to include underrepresented concerns, such as environmental sustainability and intersectional equity.

While unified in their advocacy for greater inclusion, each panellist had differing opinions in how much emphasis there should be on diversity in AUKUS. Although Ms Clementi noted that AUKUS still does not align with younger demographics due to the lack of communication and transparency about the impact of AUKUS, Dr Moloney’s perspective did not aim to attract younger generations. She argued that AUKUS is at the heart, a defence pact first, before it is about diversity. Dr Moloney articulated that while diversity and climate considerations are essential, positioning them as the core objectives of AUKUS risks diluting its primary defence focus and disappointing people. Instead, she advised that these insights be implemented in future defence agendas, alongside, rather than within its core tenets.  

Throughout the conversation, the panel made one thing abundantly clear: defence remains a space where systemic gender inequalities persist. While progress has been made for inclusion, gender equity will require transformative cultural change – both within security institutions and societal attitudes.

If you were unable to join the event, you can watch the recording on WIIS-A’s YouTube channel here.