Mark your calendars: the Drone Industry Summit is back for 2025!
Global Drone Solutions, Australia’s most awarded drone training provider, is proud to host Perth’s most anticipated industry event. In 2025, we’re bringing together innovators, regulators, operators, enterprise leaders, and educators for the biggest drone event of the year.
From tech demos to talks covering a range of topics, this year’s Summit is your chance to interact with the future of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) industry and meet the people shaping it.
2025 Drone Industry Summit Essential Info
- When: August 29, 2025 from 8am to 6pm.
- Where: The Hub, Bentley Technology Park.
- What to expect: Unique tech demonstrations, networking sessions, panel discussions, keynote speakers.
- Who’ll be there: Commercial operators, fleet managers, Chief Remote Pilots, regulators, tech innovators, and drone disruptors.
Get all the information and book tickets here.
Why The 2025 Drone Industry Summit Matters
Drone use is accelerating across Australia’s biggest sectors, including mining, agriculture, infrastructure, emergency services, environmental management and government. The number of CASA-certified drone operators has officially eclipsed traditional pilots, reaching almost 39,000 in May 2025.
Competition in commercial drone operations is heating up. But the rules, technologies, and expectations around RPAS are shifting quickly. So are the risks. The 2025 Drone Industry Summit gives professionals at every level a place to cut through the noise:
- Unpack CASA’s updated roadmap and what it means for real-world operations.
- Learn how the latest autonomous systems, real-time remote operations and AI are being deployed on site.
- Hear directly from the teams leading Australia’s most ambitious drone programs.
- Discover the role of drones in enterprise, energy and industry transformations.
Whether you fly, manage, regulate, develop or design drones, the Summit will help you prepare for a busy year ahead.
See highlights from last year’s Drone Industry Summit.
Event Details
Keynote Speakers and VIP Guests
The 2025 lineup will feature some of the most respected voices in Western Australia’s drone and aviation sectors:
- Edward Morris, RPAS Operations Team Leader, CASA.
Based in Perth, Ed plays a key role in shaping CASA’s BVLOS, EVLOS, and area approvals. Known for his clear and practical approach, Ed offers direct insight into regulatory reform and how it impacts operators on the ground. - Chris Clark, CEO, AVCRM.
A commercial pilot and aviation entrepreneur, Chris has navigated two regulation reforms and built one of the sector’s most relied-on RPAS compliance platforms. He brings sharp insight into what scalable, safe drone operations really look like. - Christo Louw, Business Unit Manager – Digital Services, Applus+.
Christo leads Applus+ RPAS integration across energy, mining and infrastructure. A global expert in photogrammetry, thermography and UAV pilot training, he brings a systems view of compliance, quality, and data value. - Ed Boxall, Managing Director, Sensorem.
Ed’s team pioneered drone-in-a-box (DiAB) deployments across Australia. With more than 10,000 flights completed and some of CASA’s most complex area approvals, he’ll share lessons from scaling autonomous inspection in the real world. - Andrew Davies, Founder, Taz Drone Solutions.
From FIFO work to founder, Andrew built TDS from a granny flat into one of the country’s most respected drone providers. With a CV that includes TEDx speaker and Entrepreneur of the Year, Andrew leads his team to solve complex challenges for mining, agriculture, and government clients. - Mahmood Hussein, Founder & CEO, Global Drone Solutions.
Under Mahmood’s leadership, GDS has trained over 5,000 pilots and built partnerships with major industry and government clients. He’s received national recognition for his work in aviation training and is now driving the development of immersive training metaverse solutions. - Dr Hammad Khan, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Dr Khan leads major plant phenomics initiatives that use drones to boost productivity in WA’s grain industry. His work connects UAV innovation with outcomes in food security and regional agriculture. - Paul Daly, Superintendent, WA Police Air Wing.
With nearly 30 years in WA Police, Paul now leads the Police Air Wing and chairs the national RPAS working group for law enforcement. He brings a frontline perspective on drone use in emergency response and public safety. - Sarah Hussein, Co-Founder, Industrial Metaverse.
A leader in VR-based safety and leadership training, Sarah is transforming how high-risk industries train for human factors. Her perspective bridges drone operations with the future of immersive education.
Drone Tech in Action at This Year’s Summit
Drone technology is evolving at lightning speed. It seems like every month brings new tools in automation, AI, remote ops and data capture.
Staying across the changes means more than watching from the sidelines. The 2025 Drone Industry Summit gives you hands-on exposure to emerging and evolving trends:
- Live demos of DiAB systems and AI-supported RPAS platforms.
- Emergency response vehicles with real-time drone integration.
- Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and remote ops showcases, featuring operators with CASA-approved workflows.
- Industry applications, including smart farming, mine site automation, and large-scale inspection.
You’ll see how drone systems are being deployed in real-world scenarios and gain ideas (and contacts) to enhance your own operations.
Panel Sessions
Get straight to the real issues affecting Australia’s drone professionals. We’ve curated thought-provoking panel discussions and Q&As where industry experts will break down topics like:
- CASA drone updates, including the vision for 2025 and beyond.
- Operational risk, compliance and data security in commercial drone operations.
- BVLOS, DiAB, AI, and what’s needed for broader autonomous adoption.
- How to build internal drone capability that’s safe, scalable, and efficient.
- The future of drone careers and training pathways to get qualified.
With panellists from CASA, Global Drone Solutions, WA Police, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Industrial Metaverse and more, these sessions are an invaluable chance to hear real-world insights and engage with experts.
Networking Opportunities
As one of the hallmark drone conferences in Australia, the Summit draws people who are invested in Australia’s RPAS-powered future. Expect to connect with:
- Drone training experts and Chief Remote Pilots.
- Project managers and fleet coordinators.
- Tech disruptors and drone software developers.
- CASA regulators and aviation consultants.
- Researchers and public safety agencies.
- Mining, infrastructure, energy and agtech companies.
Whether you’re seeking career opportunities, business partnerships, project collaborators, or just general advice about the industry, this is the best place to start the conversation.
Venue: The Hub, Bentley Technology Park
This year’s event takes place at The Hub, a net-zero events and coworking space at Bentley Technology Park. The newly refurbished venue features a global streaming centre, curved mega-screen, green room studios, and contemporary fit-out.
It’s purpose-built for sharing knowledge and showcasing new ideas, making it the perfect location for the Drone Industry Summit.
Sponsors and Exhibitors
We’re incredibly grateful to the companies supporting the 2025 Drone Industry Summit and shaping the future of drone operations.
Platinum Sponsors
- AVCRM: Trusted compliance software for aviation professionals.
- D1 Store: Australia’s leading DJI retailer and service provider.
- Applus+: Experts in digital inspections and UAV-enabled asset management.
Gold Sponsors
- Sensorem: A pioneer in industrial drone inspection and remote sensing for critical infrastructure.
- Taz Drone Solutions: Custom drone solutions for mining, government, and agriculture.
Silver Sponsor
- Elk Fish Robotics: Specialists in robotics and remote inspection tools.
As well as supporting the biggest drone event in Perth, our sponsors are providing opportunities to get hands-on with equipment, software, and services that can take your operations to the next level.
Join the Future of Drone Operations at the 2025 Drone Industry Summit
The drone industry is moving fast. Those who stay informed, connected, and certified will be in the best position as new tech and tools transform Australia’s biggest industries.
Hosted by Global Drone Solutions, this year’s Summit is set to be the premier drone event in Perth. It’s where industry leaders come together and new ideas emerge.
