5, Nov 2025 – AAUS Conference Opening – Autonomy in the Maritime Domain.

Vic Grosjean opens the AAUS Maritime Conference at Indo Pacific 2025.

Setting the Direction for the Maritime Sector

The AAUS “Autonomy in the Maritime Domain” Conference at Indo Pacific 2025 opened to a full house, setting the stage for a high-impact discussion on the future of maritime autonomy in Australia and beyond.

The conference was officially opened by AAUS Board members Bill Waters and Vic Grosjean, marking a strong and unified leadership presence to commence proceedings.

Opening the floor, Vic Grosjean, Chair of the AAUS External Affairs Committee, Chair of the Maritime Working Group (MWG), and an 8-year AAUS Board member, delivered a focused and forward-looking address.

Vic highlighted AAUS’s core mission:

“Leading the way in promoting a safe, professional, and commercially viable uncrewed systems industry across Australia.”

The AAUS Accreditation Program: From Vision to Delivery

A central theme of Vic’s address was the AAUS Accreditation Program, described as one of the most ambitious strategic initiatives delivered by the External Affairs Committee to date.

Designed to:

• Set industry-wide professional standards
• Enhance credibility and trust
• Support responsible and commercially sustainable operations

the program will see the maritime domain at the forefront of accreditation efforts from 2026–2027 and beyond.

Evidence-Based Advocacy: The 2025 Maritime Discussion Paper

Vic presented insights from the AAUS 2025 Maritime Discussion Paper, developed using:

• Results from the 2023 Maritime Survey
• Findings from the 2025 survey

What began as a vision paper evolved into a discussion paper, reflecting the reality of a sector that is growing rapidly but remains highly diverse.

“There is not one maritime industry, but many.”
— Vic Grosjean

Since its launch, the Maritime Working Group has become the largest working group within AAUS, demonstrating both the scale and diversity of the sector.

Persistent Challenges Facing Maritime Autonomous Systems

Despite growth and momentum, the surveys confirmed that four key challenges remain unchanged:

1. Access to financial capital – Difficulty securing funding to develop and scale maritime autonomous platforms.
2. Skilled workforce shortages – A lack of trained professionals with MAS-specific expertise.
3. Regulatory complexity and uncertainty – Making long-term planning and operations challenging.
4. Infrastructure limitations – Insufficient investment in test ranges, deep-water access, and operational facilities within Australia.

The 2025 survey provides a clear snapshot: progress is being made, but structural challenges persist.

A Call to Action for Industry

Vic concluded with a clear call to action, outlining how industry can help drive meaningful change:

• Support the industry association
• Participate in quarterly Maritime Working Group meetings
• Contribute to industry surveys
• Engage with and adopt AAUS accreditation
• Continue showing up—demonstrating the sector’s relevance and capability

“How do you build a choir with so many voices and get them to sing in unison?”
“By listening, collaborating, and setting shared standards.”

Looking Ahead to 2026

AAUS will transition from development to delivery in 2026, with key priorities including:

• Rolling out the first wave of accredited organisations
• Deploying the digital CPD tracking platform
• Identifying insurance benefits linked to accreditation
• Launching a Maritime-specific accreditation stream
• Expanding marketing and communications
• Strengthening governance and transparency

Through these initiatives, AAUS will further cement its role as a trusted professional body for Australia’s uncrewed systems sectors.

Author: Vic Grosjean
Chair – AAUS External Affairs Committee
Chair – AAUS Maritime Working Group