Michael Mitchell – Elysium EPL

Australia’s maritime domain is vast, complex, and central to our national prosperity and security. Yet our traditional, crewed approaches to ocean observation — fixed gauges, ship-based campaigns, and isolated systems — cannot deliver the persistence or coverage now demanded by science, industry, and Defence.

This presentation explores the reasons behind a shift toward integrated, autonomous observation, where subsea, surface, and airborne platforms operate as one connected network. It outlines the concept of operations for these systems: enduring, adaptable, and capable of providing trusted data across sectors.

As technology advances, the cost of autonomy will continue to fall, making persistent and distributed monitoring achievable at scale. The opportunity — and the challenge — lies in coordination. Australia is too small a nation for fragmented effort. By aligning our methods, standards, and purpose, we can build a sovereign, shared capability that truly keeps pace with our ocean.

Biography:

Mitch is the Director of Elysium EPL, an Australian company delivering advanced operational and environmental capabilities across Defence and industry. A former Royal Australian Navy submarine officer, Mitch brings deep experience in maritime operations, capability development, and cross-domain integration.

At Elysium EPL, he leads programs that connect autonomous systems, data assurance, and mission delivery in complex ocean environments. His work focuses on turning innovation into operational reality — creating persistent, trusted, and shared approaches to ocean data collection that support both national security and science.

Mitch has overseen the introduction of uncrewed surface vessel operations into real-world monitoring and surveillance, integrating subsea, surface, and airborne data to enhance Australia’s maritime awareness. A strong advocate for collaboration across government, industry, and research, he believes Australia’s size demands alignment, not duplication. His work reflects a commitment to building enduring, sovereign capability through innovation and cooperation.