The countdown is on for the PNT 2026 conference, to be held at Royal Randwick racecourse in Sydney from 4 to 6 February, 2026.
PNT 2026 is the premier Australasian event dedicated to positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies and research, led by the newly established PNT Sub-Committee of the Australian Institute of Navigation (AIN).
With the US Institute of Navigation (ION) as Event Partner, the conference will bring together the international PNT community for three days of collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Building on the legacy of the IGNSS conference series, the conference is expected to attract many hundreds of PNT experts from around the world, who will gather to learn about research, policy and applications spanning GNSS, autonomy, resilience, and the next generation of multi-GNSS infrastructure.
The organisers have just announced the first keynote speaker, being Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, Chief of Joint Capabilities within the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Lt Gen Coyle was appointed Chief of Joint Capabilities in July 2024, becoming the first woman to lead an operational domain within the ADF. In this role, she oversees the Space and Cyber Domains and National Support for Defence.
Lt Gen Coyle’s military career spans more than three decades, with senior leadership appointments including Head of Information Warfare, Commander of Forces Command, Commander Joint Task Force 633, Commander of the 6th Brigade, and Commanding Officer of the 17th Signal Regiment.
Her keynote at PNT 2026 will explore the evolving intersection of space, cyber and logistics, highlighting the essential role of resilient PNT in enabling information advantage and operational superiority.
Also announced as a keynote speaker is Professor Zak Kassas, the TRC Endowed Chair in Intelligent Transportation Systems at The Ohio State University.
Professor Zak Kassas is a global leader in resilient and alternative PNT. He directs the US Department of Transportation’s Center for Automated Vehicle Research with Multimodal AssurEd Navigation (CARMEN+) and leads the Autonomous Systems Perception, Intelligence & Navigation (ASPIN) Lab at Ohio State.
His research focuses on navigation in GNSS-challenged environments, sensor fusion, and signals of opportunity. A Fellow of IEEE and the ION, Professor Kassas has authored more than 200 publications and holds multiple patents.
He was also awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and the IEEE AESS Richard Kershner Award for his pioneering contributions to resilient navigation technologies.
Early bird registration rates are available until 30 November 2025, with significant discounts on offer. Registration includes:
- Access to all sessions and the exhibition
- Morning and afternoon teas and lunches
- Networking drinks with exhibitors
- The PNT 2026 harbour cruise dinner
- Delegate materials and app access
The event also will include a large exhibition area, for which a limited number of sponsorship and exhibition packages are available.
