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More than 150 guests attended the Defence Teaming Centre's May 19 Defence Leaders Breakfast, rewarded with special insight from key national and South Australian defence leaders into how the recently released National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program will directly affect industry and the nation.
Industry heard from South Australian Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Chris Picton, from industry leader Dean Rosenfield and from four key senior Defence leaders charged with implementing major programs and capability across all domains.
“It’s not often that industry gets the ability to hear directly from the front edge of the warfighting community,” said Defence Teaming Centre Board Chair Mike Hartas.
“Having Defence lean in to this event through the presence of Defence leaders with directly relevant and local experience was a privilege.”
The morning’s program ranged from national defence strategy to industry as a fundamental input to capability, the realities of supporting Australia’s forward bases and the drive to speed introduction of new capabilities.
Keynote speaker, Group Captain Tim Ireland, Director Joint Navigation & Spectrum Warfare, Joint Capabilities Group, noted “In delivering new capability we must choose adequate solutions that are achievable and affordable and not wait for the perfect.”
Minister Picton told the audience, “We’re able to highlight the new ABS stats that show the defence economic contribution to South Australia in the past five years has doubled."
To round out the event, Nova Systems CEO Dean Rosenfield moderated a panel on how the NDS and IIP will affect local industry, with Brigadier Corey Shillabeer CSC, Australian Army, Captain Dane Wilson, Royal Australian Navy and Group Captain James Blagg CSC, Royal Australian Air Force.
“The Defence Teaming Centre believes events such as this are critical for connecting industry to Defence, the end user,” said Mike Hartas. “We thank our industry sponsors, Nova Systems, Shoal Group Pty Ltd and Pirtek Defence, for helping us deliver this Defence Leaders Breakfast.”
