17 May 12. Australia to host International Lessons Learned Conference. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Dr Mike Kelly, announced a call for papers for the 8th International Lessons Learned Conference, which will be hosted by Australia in Sydney from 3-6 December 2012.
The conference is held in a different country each year and provides a forum for discussion and debate about the issues that impact on the planning and conduct of operations including conflict, peacekeeping and disaster response missions. This is the first time the conference will be held in Australia. To be co-hosted by the Australian Civil-Military Centre and Headquarters Joint Operations Command, the conference will bring together lessons learned practitioners from around the world. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Dr Mike Kelly, said “I am very pleased Australia is hosting this important conference in 2012. Australia has a long and proud history of making significant contributions to international operations and it is one of my key objectives to make sure our successes are measured and analysed effectively to ensure we learn from our experiences. The focus of the 2012 International Lessons Learned Conference is on transitions – this will provide civil-military practitioners from around the world with a dedicated forum in which to discuss and debate what we have learned from conducting peacemaking operations such as those in Afghanistan, Iraq, Solomon Islands and East Timor, as well as disaster response missions in Haiti, Pakistan and Indonesia. While there has been much analysis of these operations, it is only by bringing together experts and practitioners that we can really share information and embed what we’ve learned into future planning and operational conduct,” said Dr Kelly. “I am therefore very pleased to announce a call for papers. All civil and military practitioners and lessons learned experts are invited to submit an abstract for possible presentation at the conference. As well, because there are continuing lessons around all facets of peace operations, I encourage papers on other areas in which lessons might be learned. I encourage all lessons learned practitioners to participate in the conference.” Information about the conference and details about the call for papers is available at http://internationallessonslearned.org