Dr. Peter Layton joins IADSS global advisory board

Australian defence strategist Dr. Peter Layton has been selected for the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit, joining 18 experts from 13 countries. The appointment comes as governments and defense leaders weigh how to govern autonomous weapons and AI-enabled military systems.

Why it matters: - Dr. Peter Layton’s appointment adds an Australian defence strategist to an international board focused on the responsible development of intelligent and autonomous defence systems. - The summit’s agenda sits at the center of a global policy debate over human control, accountability and governance for autonomous weapons. - The appointment reflects growing attention to how militaries adopt connected and autonomous capabilities without weakening oversight.

What happened: - Dr. Peter Layton was selected to serve on the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit (IADSS). - The board includes 18 military, strategic, academic and technology experts from 13 countries. - Great Minds Event Management in Dubai, UAE organizes the summit series. - The announcement was dated October 26, 2026.

The details: - Layton’s background spans military aviation, defence strategy, force development and international defence cooperation. - His experience includes fast jets, maritime patrol, major defence equipment projects and service as a defence attaché. - He received the U.S. Secretary of Defense’s Exceptional Public Service Medal for work at the Pentagon on the Quadrennial Defense Review. - Layton is a Visiting Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute. - He is an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. - He is also a Fellow of the Institute for Integrated Economic Research in Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group. - Layton holds a PhD in International Relations focused on grand strategy. - His research covers autonomous systems in modern conflict, the restructuring of air forces for autonomous operations, contemporary air power, national security strategy and defence force development. - He is the author of Grand Strategy and co-author of Warfare in the Robotic Age. - IADSS said Layton’s mix of defence experience, strategic research and autonomous systems expertise brings valuable perspective to the board.

Between the lines: - The summit is positioning itself as a forum for dialogue rather than a rule-setting body. - IADSS says it does not seek to establish rules or policies, but to create an international space for open exchange across the defence community. - The announcement ties the board’s mission to broader international concern about autonomous weapon systems. - The United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross have renewed calls for states to act on autonomous weapon systems, emphasizing human control, accountability and international frameworks. - The focus on “responsible governance” signals that the summit wants to balance innovation with restraint and oversight.

What's next: - IADSS will continue its Global Summit Series across multiple countries. - The series will bring together governments, armed forces, policymakers, defence experts, research institutions and industry. - The summit will examine the development, operational integration and responsible advancement of intelligent and autonomous defence capabilities. - The IADSS Network and Directory will extend engagement throughout the year and connect expertise, institutions, technologies and opportunities across the international defence community. - Media and partnership inquiries go to partnerships@gmevents.ae or +971 4 568 7805. - More information is available on IADSS global website and Great Minds Event Management.