Local businesses attend Western Sydney Defence Supplier network event

Last month, attendees from over 100 local businesses attended a breakfast at Saints, St Marys to meet representatives from the Western Sydney Defence Supplier network and learn about opportunities to become suppliers to the Defence Industry.

The Defence Supplier network is a free business network created in collaboration with Penrith City Council, Australian Industry Group, Investment NSW via Defence and Aerospace NSW, and the Western Parkland City Authority.

James Scotland, General Manager of Defence Supplier network, spoke at the event and explained the many emerging opportunities for local businesses.

“Ai Group’s Defence Suppliers network assists local businesses to engage with the procurement sections of the defence and aerospace industry both locally and nationally”.

“The establishment of the network comes at a critical time for Defence and for Australia. Defence annual procurement spends more than $57 billion every year and this is scheduled to grow more than 13% over the federal government’s forward estimates”. James continued.

“Defence is a huge operation: Defence Procurement covers everything from war fighting ability to cyber and aerospace, to high tech and advanced manufacturing, to food and beverage; repair and maintenance, construction and infrastructure, and much more.”

Mike Gallagher, Executive Director of Defence and Aerospace NSW explained how Penrith could work with the other regions in NSW to build a strong local Defence Industry, while several representatives from government and industry also detailed the support available to help local businesses during the procurement process.

The Defence Supplier network and Penrith City Council have committed to delivering more Defence Industry information sessions to the local business community through 2023 and beyond. The next event is a half-day training program for businesses called ‘Introduction to Defence’ on 22 March 2023. The event is designed to guide businesses on the journey to successfully supplying the Defence Industry.

To join the network, and find more information on the upcoming training program, visit www.defencesuppliersnetwork.com.au

Pictured: L-R; Raquel Bloom, Economic Development - Lead Penrith City Council, Ian Hudson, Executive Director - Industry Capability Network, James Scotland General Manager - Supply Chains, Ai Group, Tony Green, Defence Industry Business Advisor - Office of Defence Industry Support, Sanket Purohit, Director of Investment Attraction – WSPA, Mike Gallagher, Executive Director - Defence NSW, Mai Le, A/Associate Director Investment Partnerships - Investment NSW Defence.