top of page

Australian OSINT Symposium 2024 - OSINT Tailwinds

2.png

2024 Keynote Speaker

Buddy Jericho - Indago Technologies

Buddy Jericho is a distinguished figure in the intersection of intelligence operations and technology innovation. With a robust special operations background marked by 16 combat deployments supporting special operations, Buddy has been at the forefront of intelligence and counter-terrorism operations across various global hotspots dating back to Bosnia in 1998.

​

Buddy also served and continues to serve as an advisor to senior US Department of Defense leadership in special operations and intelligence. After government service, he pivoted to entrepreneurship, founding Echo Analytics Group in 2013, one of the first companies focused on training open-source intelligence (OSINT) to the special operations community. Recently, Buddy and his team founded Indago Technologies, a pioneering firm in the intelligence software arena. At Indago, Buddy has been instrumental in harnessing the power of generative AI to enhance intelligence reporting, embodying his commitment to #OSINTforGood.

2024 Presenters

oceans-of-data (1).jpg

2024 Panelists

Panel #1: Trust, Tradecraft & Global Security 

This panel session will explore and discuss OSINT's role in supporting strategic decision-making in the modern world.

2.png

2024 Agenda
Wednesday 11th September, 2024

9:00am - 5:00pm AEST, Level 2 The Hilton

Networking Function 5:00pm - 7:00pm AEST (Zeta Bar, The Hilton)

8:30am - 9:00am

Badge collection and coffee

9:05am - 9:15am

Welcome Address

9:15am - 10:00am

Keynote Address

​

Evolving OSINT: From Post 9/11 Frontlines to AI Innovations​

 

Presenter: Buddy Jericho from Indago Technologies

​

Buddy is going to discuss the evolution of OSINT and its transformative impact on intelligence and national security, from the frontlines of post-9/11 conflicts to cutting-edge innovations in generative AI. Learn how advancements in technology are reshaping the field and enhancing our ability to tackle modern security challenges.

 

​

10:05am - 10:55am

AI and OSINT: Opportunities and Challenges​

​

Presenter: Chris Poulter from OSINT Combine

 

This presentation delves into leveraging generative AI for OSINT by exploring prompt engineering, techniques like chain-of-thought, chunking, and RAG, and applying them to modern OSINT workflows. It contrasts traditional search methods with AI-driven approaches, discusses model selection, and addresses the risks and challenges AI introduces, offering practical, actionable insights.

10:55am - 11:25am

Morning Tea

11:30am - 12:20pm

Room A (Plenary)

Using OSINT to de-anonymize a misinformation X/Twitter account

​

Presenter: Artus Huot de Saint-Albin from Axis&Co

 

A real-world case study demonstrating how false narratives about the Olympic Games’ security were propagated.  Through cross-platform investigation, Artus unravels the story of an anonymous Twitter account published false information about the Olympic Games was unmasked.  This presentation will explore disinformation techniques and how to de-anonymise authors of disinformation.  The case study also provides an opportunity to discuss collaboration between the private and public sectors in OSINT.​

Room B (Session Room)

Mindful OSINT: The Resilient OSINT Practitioner​

​

Presenters: Ashleigh Brady and Colm Phillips from OSINT Combine.

​

This presentation focuses on tips and techniques OSINT practitioners can employ to ensure they remain resilient when exposed to confronting or objectionable material during OSINT investigations.

12:30pm - 13:10pm

USING OSINT to Monitor Great Power Competition​

​

Presenter: Emerald Sage from OSINT Combine

​

In this presentation we explore how OSINT can track the expanding influence of nations in global politics, economics, and technology.
 

  • Using OSINT to monitor Belt and Road Initiative projects.

  • Using OSINT to track investments and acquisitions in critical industries.

  • Understanding 'soft power' strategies using social media.

The Art of OSINT: Use Your Intelligence​

​

*This presentation will not be recorded*

​

Presenter: Jane Spicer from QANTAS

​

Collecting OSINT is one thing, how it is used is another.  Join Jane as she draws from her lived experience to showcase how OSINT is used in a high pressure, high stakes environment.

1:15pm - 2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm - 2:40pm

OSINT and the National Security Enterprise in an Uncertain Geostrategic Environment​

​

Presenter: Marc Ablong PSM from Geostrategic Risk Partners

​

Government and corporate organisations face an increasingly complex and uncertain geostrategic environment.  Effectively navigating this environment requires organisations to apply a range of traditional and modern techniques to understand their operating environment and find pathways to ongoing success and profitability.  This presentation will address the opportunities and challenges of OSINT as a tool to manage current crises and future strategic planning and provide advice to OSINT practitioners on effective engagement with decision makers from the highest levels of Government to Boardroom and the C-suite.​

2:50pm - 3:25pm

Tailwinds and Tensions of Technology and OSINT​

​

Presenter: Dr Miah Hammond-Errey from Strat Futures

​​​

3:25pm - 3:45pm

3:45pm - 4:55pm

Afternoon Tea

PANEL: Trust, Tradecraft & Global Security - OSINT and Strategic Decision-Making in the Modern World​

​

Moderator: Andrew Robertson from BAE Systems Digital Intelligence

​​

5:00pm - 7:00pm

Networking Drinks @ Zeta Bar, The Hilton. ​​

Thursday 12th September, 2024

9:00am - 5:00pm AEST, Level 2 The Hilton

8:30am - 9:00am

Welcome and morning coffee

9:00am - 9:50am

Hostile Profiling: Risks from Online Data and Devices​

​

*This presentation will not be recorded*

​

Presenter (virtual): David Benford from Blackstage Forensics​​

10:00am - 10:45am

OSINT in Action: Investigating ISIL's Development and Use of Chemical Weapons in Iraq​

​

Presenter: Sarah Andruchow from Maven Consultancy

10:50am - 11:20am

Morning Tea

11:25am - 12:10pm

12:15pm - 1:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm - 2:10pm

Room A (Plenary)​​​

Room B (Session Room)​​​

Data Acquisition OSINT​

​​

*This presentation will not be recorded*

​

Presenter: Ginger T from The-OSINT-Toolbox

​

Data OSINT is a powerful OSINT technique and like everything OSINT, tradecraft, knowledge and responsibility are key. Improve your awareness of how to find and use data that is publicly available on the World Wide Web to enhance your OSINT investigations and find leads you may not have been able to do previously. Explore the many sources on the open, deep and dark web. If there is one area of OSINT that is evolving and changing frequently, it is Data OSINT. #OSINTforgood

From Chats to Hacks: OSINT Insights into an Evolving Cybercrime Ecosystem​

​

Presenter: Jesse Hoppo from Telstra

​

This presentation will explore the evolving cybercrime ecosystem plaguing corporations around the world. From soliciting insider access, to the latest 'method', threats, or social engineering, it is all being communicated through memes, abuse and communities spread across Telegram and other online chat services. Through this session we'll explore methods we've used to identify, analyse, and pivot through this information, and lesson learned along the way.​

2:20pm - 3:00pm

Using OSINT to Build Safer Communities​

​

*This presentation will not be recorded*

​

Presenter: Peter Quain from National Australia Bank

​

Peter will be exploring the development of OSINT capabilities within one of Australia's largest financial institutions, and how open-source intelligence has been integral to mitigating risks to communities, helping them to prosper. 

Mastering the Digital Frontier: Triumphs and Challenges in the Age of AI​

​

Presenters: Ashleigh Brown & Emma Sanderson from Control Risks

​

A practical exploration of how AI is transforming the threat landscape and what organisations must do to stay ahead of these changes.

 

​

3:00pm - 3:25pm

Afternoon Tea​

3:30pm - 4:45pm

PANEL: #OSINTforgood: From Good to Great, OSINT for a Better World​

​

Moderator: Kylie Pert from Lantern Rescue

4:50pm - 5:00pm

Closing Remarks​​​​

Navigating the Ethical and Legal Risks of OSINT: Data Protection, Intellectual Property and Emerging Regulations​

​

*This presentation will not be recorded*

​

Presenter: Dalvin Chien from Mills Oakley

​

Data protection / sovereignty

  • Discussing the privacy concerns associated with OSINT and AI technologies.

  • Discussing data sovereignty considerations, especially in the decentralised data management contexts in the context of AI.

Intellectual property right (especially in the training data)

  • Discussing the IP ownership of input / output data and OSINT tool itself

  • Discussing legal concerns with handling customer data (including derivative data) and publicly available information

Upcoming AI regulation. 

​​

​

Panel #2: #OSINTforgood: From Good to Great, OSINT for a Better World

This panel will discuss and explore 'from good to great' using OSINT for a better world. Exploring how OSINT supports humanitarian and philanthropic efforts around the globe from counter-human trafficking and counter child exploitation to missing persons and beyond.

2.png

2024 Training Day (Virtual)

The virtual training day is designed for analysts and investigators. This year the focus will be on enhancing online investigative skills and staying at the cutting edge in OSINT. 

​

Many of the concepts and techniques covered are at the intermediate-level with the instruction catering to all skill-levels.

​

Join OSINT Combine's Training & Tradecraft instructors as they explore the latest in social media investigations including techniques with and without personas, various collection and validation methodologies, and how OSINT can add value to your daily work.

​

Sessions from the training day will be recorded and available to ticket holders post the event.

​

To view our comprehensive online training library click below

bottom of page