Ready for Anything: What can Sweden's 'Total Defence' Teach New Zealand?
Jan Eldeblad, Sweden's Defence Adviser to New Zealand
Tuesday, 21 July 2026 5:30pm - 7:00pm (networking reception to follow)
National Office
Old Government Buildings Lecture Theatre 1 (GBLT1), Pipitea Campus, Victoria University of Wellington—Te Herenga Waka
The Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic Hub for Shared Security Challenges invites you to:
In a world where conflicts no longer play out only on battlefields, but through cyberattacks, disinformation, and pressure on ports and pipelines, one country rebuilt its entire national psyche to be ready for the worst. Sweden's total defence model - bringing together government, business, and citizens into a single system of resilience - has moved from Cold War relic to essential blueprint almost overnight. As New Zealand confronts a more contested and unpredictable world, what can we learn from a nation that never stopped preparing? Join us to explore what Swedish approach to total defence really means, and what it would take to build genuine national resilience here in New Zealand.
Jan Eldeblad is Sweden’s Defence Adviser to New Zealand, based in Canberra. He has served in numerous roles in the Swedish armed forces, including serving as a battalion commander. Before taking up his current role he served at the Swedish Defence University, where his work included training civil and military leaders to develop skills in decision making and problem framing. This included working closely with Ukrainian colleagues, drawing lessons from the war with Russia.
The Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic Hub for Shared Security Challenges is a virtual network connecting think tanks and universities from Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Japan and NATO countries interested in enhancing understanding of common challenges between the two regions. It is supported by a grant from NATO Headquarters and it is open to relevant stakeholders from the two regions.
All welcome, but please RSVP to attend.
In-person attendance and after-event recording available
The Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic Hub for Shared Security Challenges invites you to:
In a world where conflicts no longer play out only on battlefields, but through cyberattacks, disinformation, and pressure on ports and pipelines, one country rebuilt its entire national psyche to be ready for the worst. Sweden's total defence model - bringing together government, business, and citizens into a single system of resilience - has moved from Cold War relic to essential blueprint almost overnight. As New Zealand confronts a more contested and unpredictable world, what can we learn from a nation that never stopped preparing? Join us to explore what Swedish approach to total defence really means, and what it would take to build genuine national resilience here in New Zealand.
Jan Eldeblad is Sweden’s Defence Adviser to New Zealand, based in Canberra. He has served in numerous roles in the Swedish armed forces, including serving as a battalion commander. Before taking up his current role he served at the Swedish Defence University, where his work included training civil and military leaders to develop skills in decision making and problem framing. This included working closely with Ukrainian colleagues, drawing lessons from the war with Russia.
The Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic Hub for Shared Security Challenges is a virtual network connecting think tanks and universities from Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Japan and NATO countries interested in enhancing understanding of common challenges between the two regions. It is supported by a grant from NATO Headquarters and it is open to relevant stakeholders from the two regions.
All welcome, but please RSVP to attend.
In-person attendance and after-event recording available
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