Thursday 18 September 2025
9:00am - 5:00pm AEST, Level 2 The Hilton, Sydney
Networking Function 5:00pm - 7:00pm AEST, Zeta Bar, The Hilton
8:30am - 9:00am
Badge Collection and Coffee
9:05am - 9:15am
Welcome Address
9:15am - 10:00am
Keynote Address
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Principles Under Pressure
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Presenter: Professor Peter Greste
Macquarie University; The Alliance for Journalists' Freedom
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Drawing on his lived experience as a journalist and press freedom advocate, Peter Greste reflects on the ethical weight of working with information in today's world. His perspective, grounded in a discipline that has long grappled with questions of public interest, transparency and integrity, offers the OSINT community a powerful lens for considering how principles-based approaches can help build trusted, enduring capability
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10:05am - 10:55am
The New OSINT Arsenal: GenAI as the Analyst's Force Multiplier​
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Presenter: Chris Poulter
OSINT Combine
Discover how Generative AI is transforming open-source intelligence, from accelerating deep web research to detecting disinformation. Analysts and decision-makers will gain practical tools, integration strategies and insights into emerging risks, with guidance on using custom GPTs, agent-based tools and prompt engineering in real-world workflows.
10:55am - 11:25am
Morning Tea
11:30am - 12:15pm
Room A (Stateroom)
Intelligence Tradecraft for Humanitarian Crises​
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Presenter: Mitchell King
HADR Institute
Explore how multi-disciplined intelligence is being used to support humanitarian outcomes in some of the world’s most complex crises. Using the Myanmar civil war as a case study, this session examines the ethical dilemmas, access challenges and unique risks faced by humanitarian actors, and how intelligence professionals can contribute to principled, effective action in contested environments.
Room B (Session Room)
Chinese Espionage Operations and Tactics (virtual)​
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Presenter: Professor Nicholas Eftimiades​
Penn State University
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​Based on OSINT analysis of 855 cases, this presentation examines Chinese espionage, covert influence and illicit technology transfers. It highlights the scale of activity and the resulting threats to Western political, military and commercial security.
12:20pm - 1:05pm
Exploring the Utilisation of OSINT in Human Rights & Accountability for International Crimes​
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Presenter: Daniel Anlezark
OSINT & Human Rights Expert
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Learn how OSINT is being applied in international human rights investigations to support accountability for serious crimes. This session also considers how open-source approaches can be more fully integrated into mainstream investigative practice.
The Illegal Empire, Business is Booming​
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*This presentation will not be recorded*
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Presenter: Hayley Van Loon
Crime Stoppers International
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The Illegal Empire refers to a global network of illicit economies—from environmental crime and drug trafficking to human exploitation and financial crime. This session explores how OSINT is being used to support the Stop the Illegal Empire campaign by tracing financial flows, connecting crime types and enabling more agile, international disruption efforts.
1:10pm - 2:00pm
Lunch
2:00pm - 2:40pm
OSINT as a Force Multiplier for Executive Protection Operations​
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Presenter: Matthias Wilson
PLOSINT Consulting
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Effective executive protection relies on strong intelligence support, beginning with an awareness of the protected individual’s online footprint. Explore how OSINT enhances situational awareness and why collaboration between analysts and close protection operatives is key to building trust and delivering precise, actionable intelligence.
Disinformation: A Strategic Threat to Enduring Capability​
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Presenter: Rebecca Jones
Sibylline
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Disinformation, propaganda, lies and deceit are as old as time. But in the age of social media and AI, we find ourselves facing a different and more dangerous type of deception. This talk examines why disinformation has become so invasive, explores how it’s undermining democracy and business, and what new forms of deception may emerge in the years ahead.
2:50pm - 3:25pm
Title Withheld​
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Presenter: Adele Desirs
Taskforce Argos, Queensland Police Service
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Trust in User-Generated Evidence: Insights from the TRUE Project (virtual)​
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*This presentation will not be recorded*
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Presenter: Professor Yvonne McDermott Rees
Swansea University
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User-generated evidence is playing a growing role in documenting human rights violations but deepfakes and synthetic media are challenging its credibility. Drawing on findings from the TRUE project, this session examines public trust in citizen-captured content and the implications for legal and accountability processes in an era of increasingly sophisticated misinformation.
3:25pm - 3:50pm
Afternoon Tea
3:50pm - 4:50pm
Building Safe, Enduring Capability in a Volatile World ​
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Presenter: Dr. Nicole Matejic
Christchurch Call Foundation
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Moderator: Jane van Tienen
OSINT Combine​​
OSINT Combine’s Chief Intelligence Officer, Jane van Tienen, facilitates a conversation with Dr. Nicole Matejic of the Christchurch Call Foundation on why playing the long game matters in OSINT. From ethical strain to influence operations, this discussion explores what it takes to build resilient, principled capability in a world shaped by volatility, grey zones and contested truth.
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Networking Function @ Zeta Bar, The Hilton Sydney ​​
Friday 19 September 2025
9:00am - 4:00pm AEST, Level 2 The Hilton, Sydney
8:30am - 9:10am
Welcome and Morning Coffee
9:10am - 9:50am
OSINT in Action: Practical Techniques for Online Investigations​
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Presenter: Ritu Gill
OSMOSIS Association​​
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Packed with real-world case studies and actionable strategies, this session offers practical techniques for new and experienced analysts to sharpen their online investigative tradecraft. Learn how to apply effective tools, sound methodology and the right analytical mindset to build sustainable, high-impact OSINT capability.
9:55am - 10:45am
Applied OSINT for Good: Fusing Intelligence and Operations to Counter Sex Trafficking​
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Presenters: Michal (Michele) Block & Liz Bradt
Skull Games
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The Skull Games Task Force is an OSINT capability that supports law enforcement with actionable intelligence for counter sex trafficking operations and victim recovery. Using real-world examples, this session explores the evolving role of OSINT in this mission and the value of fusing intelligence with operational execution to drive impact.
10:50am - 11:20am
Morning Tea
Room A (Stateroom)
Room B (Session Room)
11:25am - 12:10pm
Session Pending​
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Pivot or Sink: Turning Maritime OSINT into Action in the South China Sea (virtual)​​
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Presenter: Rae Baker
Author, Deep Dive: Exploring the Real-World Value of Open-Source Intelligence
Amid rising tension and grey zone activity in the South China Sea, maritime OSINT offers a critical window into illicit patterns and behaviours at sea. Through real-world case studies, this session demonstrates how shifting investigative approaches in response to new data can transform complexity into actionable intelligence.
12:15pm - 1:00pm
Mastering the Art of OPSEC & Pushing Frontiers​​
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*This presentation will not be recorded*
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Presenter: Tony M aka Ginger T
CQCore Solutions
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Poor operational security (OPSEC) is one of the fastest ways to derail an OSINT investigation. Discover the hidden risks of exposure, why one-size-fits-all approaches fall short, and how to innovate in OPSEC to protect both your capability and your personal safety.
Blurred Lines: Human Judgement & AI Assistance​
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Presenter: Jacob Hunter
OSINT Combine
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As AI becomes more embedded in OSINT workflows, the line between human judgment and machine assistance is increasingly blurred. This presentation unpacks the risks of shadow AI, accountability gaps and model agreeableness, and offers analysts and decision-makers practical governance tools and real-world strategies to integrate AI into analytical workflows without compromising integrity.
12:15pm - 1:45pm
Lunch
1:50pm - 2:35pm
Managing OSINT Toolkits for Operational Sustainability​
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Presenter: Ashley Lawson
NexTech Solutions
​Explore how organizations can strategically build and manage OSINT toolkits that evolve with a rapidly changing information environment. This session shares practical approaches for assessing tool needs, vetting vendors and maintaining long-term performance to ensure operational sustainability.
2:40pm - 3:45pm
Panel: Building Enduring OSINT Capability for Australia's Critical Infrastructure​
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Moderator: Stephen Beaumont AM
CI-ISAC Australia
When the lights stay on and the port stays open, open-source intelligence is often part of the story. This panel will explore how critical infrastructure operators and security leaders are building lasting OSINT capability, not just for incident response, but as part of daily operations, enterprise risk management and decision-making under real-world pressure.
3:50pm - 4:00pm
Closing Address
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Presenter: Chris Poulter
OSINT Combine
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Reflections on key insights from the Symposium and what comes next for OSINT Capability