What does AUKUS really mean beyond submarines? Why do laws written decades ago matter for today’s technology and security?

Explore these questions and more at this timely public lecture, presented by Dr Geoffrey McGovern (2026 Fulbright Don DeBats Distinguished Chair in Politics and Public Policy).

About the event

This public lecture brings together the findings of Dr McGovern’s five‑month research project examining how U.S. laws and regulations affect technology sharing between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom under the AUKUS security partnership. How is cooperation on cutting‑edge technologies such as cyber, AI, space, and advanced defence systems affected by the legal system?

Drawing on conversations with experts from industry, universities, government, and policy organisations, the lecture will explain where well‑intended regulations create obstacles for the cooperation on cutting‑edge technologies, and which rules can be modernised so trusted partners can innovate together more effectively.

What you’ll learn

• What AUKUS Pillar Two is and why it matters for Australia’s future
• How export controls work, and why they can hold back research and innovation
• Real‑world examples of challenges facing Australian and U.S. researchers and companies
• What policy changes could unlock stronger cooperation on critical technologies

Who should attend

This event is open to the public and ideal for anyone looking to understand how AUKUS affects Australia beyond headlines. The lecture is designed to be informative, accessible, and engaging for everyone interested in international affairs, defence, or technology, regardless of pre-existing knowledge.

About the Fulbright Distinguished Chair

The Fulbright Don DeBats Distinguished Chair in Politics and Public Policy (funded by Flinders University) is designed to attract full or associate U.S. professors with distinguished academic careers and significant publication and teaching records, to conduct collaborative research for 4–5 months at Flinders University, housed within the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies (JBC).

Geoffrey McGovern is the 2026 Fulbright Don DeBats Distinguished Chair. A director of Intellectual Property, a senior political scientist at RAND, and a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, his research has focused on matters of civil justice, statutory compliance, asbestos litigation, national defense, and homeland security. Past RAND research includes a series of extensive studies of asbestos personal injury bankruptcy trusts; and examinations of state judicial resourcing and management, and intellectual property considerations for homeland security.

A two-time Fulbright Scholar, McGovern previously researched the Finnish legal system at the University of Tampere, Finland, and he holds the 2026 Fulbright-DeBats Distinguished Chair of Politics and Public Policy at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. He received his Ph.D. in political science from Binghamton University in New York and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.