Key takeaway
The Quad CT-TTX 22 showcased Australia’s leadership in counterterrorism cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. Vaxa Bureau’s expert facilitation, planning support, and hosting capabilities helped ensure the success of this multilateral engagement—aligning national priorities with regional security outcomes.
Table of Contents
When Australia hosted the third counterterrorism tabletop exercise in 2022 as part of the nation’s ongoing Quad partnership with India, Japan and the United States, Vaxa was engaged to provide an experienced, subject matter expert to perform the role of planning and Facilitator.
Background
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad, is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States that is maintained by talks between member countries.
Australia’s Quad partnership with India, Japan and the United States is a key pillar in Australia’s foreign policy and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the lead Australian Government department for Australia’s commitment to QUAD.
One of the Workstreams in the Quad is counterterrorism. The Group works to support a peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region through counter-terrorism cooperation. Quad partners convene annually to hold a multi-agency policy dialogue and a counter-terrorism Tabletop Exercise (TTX), designed around current and emerging threats in the region.
The TTX enables Quad partners to share concepts, methods and experience on contemporary and emerging counter-terrorism challenges, issues, and capabilities. The TTX is a key deliverable in the Foreign Ministers’ QUAD responsibilities.
The solution
Australia hosted the third counterterrorism TTX in Sydney in October 2022 (QUAD CT-TTX 22).
Vaxa was engaged by DFAT’s Office for Counter Terrorism to provide an experienced, subject matter expert to perform the role of planning and Facilitator for the event.
The requirement included advice and input into the development of the TTX exercise papers and associated discussion topics, acting as Master of Ceremonies for the whole event, the principal facilitation role and hosting support to international delegates as required.
The outcome
Vaxa’s provision of key input and advice into the planning of QUAD CT-TTX 22 and successful conduct of facilitation and the Master of Ceremonies role ensured DFAT’s hosting requirements were met, and Australia’s objectives for the TTX counterterrorism workstream were achieved.
