The Hunter Defence Industry collaborated to discuss current events, issues and the path forward

The Hunter Defence Conference 2023 was held in August in the Hunter Valley and attended by the large primes, NSW SMEs, academia, and the Department of Defence. The conference was yet again a fantastic opportunity to build networks and reconnect with our peers, as well as to discuss the future of our industry. The annual event has become Australia’s premier regional Defence event, offering excellent program quality.

The Honourable Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industries, was a keynote speaker and is a huge advocate for Hunter Defence. Conroy said the government’s Defence Industry Development Strategy would be a critical step in delivering reforms to the defence industry identified in the Defence Strategic Review. “It will establish the framework and principles for the direction of defence industry policy and will be delivered by the end of the year. In particular, it will articulate the strategic rationale for a defence industrial base, more detailed and targeted Sovereign Industrial Capabilities, and the critical procurement reforms needed to deliver the capabilities we need.”

BlueZone Group has been an important part of the Hunter Defence industry and we look forward to the developments to come from the Defence Strategic Review and we are certain that Mr Conroy will ensure that the Hunter is considered and utilised so it can continue to contribute to Australian Defence.