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Thales Australia has been crowned with the 2025 Northern Territory Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence in Defence Industry as winner of Large Business of the Year.
Thales Australia won the prestigious Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence in Defence Industry – Large Business at the 2025 NT Defence Industry Excellence Awards, held in Darwin this week as part of NT Defence Week.
The award acknowledges Thales Australia’s leadership in defence innovation, sovereign capability and workforce development in the Northern Territory and across Australia.
“We are honoured to receive the Chief Minister’s Award, which acknowledges the critical work our team does every day in building and sustaining Australian defence capability and reflects the dedication of our local workforce,” said Jeff Connolly, Thales Australia and New Zealand chief executive.
“Our operations here play a vital role in supporting the ADF and sustaining naval capabilities in the north – a region that’s critical to Australia’s national security.
“This award acknowledges two of our main strengths – our industry-leading workforce and our role as a partner to the Australian Defence Force and the Australian nation.
“This recognition also speaks to the strength of our truly national footprint – from Darwin to Bendigo, Sydney to Mulwalla and beyond. Thales Australia is delivering Australian-made sovereign capability through cutting-edge technology, advanced manufacturing and trusted partnerships with government and local industry.”
Presented by the Honourable Lia Finocchiaro, NT Chief Minister, the award recognises Thales’ outstanding contribution to maritime sustainment services in the NT, including sustainment of the Armidale Class patrol boats, the company’s enduring support for the ADF, and long-standing role growing the Northern Territory’s defence industry.
The award recognises Thales Australia’s outstanding contribution to Australia's defence capability and industry, both in the NT and across the nation.
Thales Australia’s leadership in defence innovation and its extensive operations span every mainland state and territory, including its Darwin facilities.
As a major contributor to the Northern Territory economy and defence industrial ecosystem, Thales employs approximately 30 staff in the NT’s industry-leading workforce and has actively engaged with over 100 local companies in the Darwin region, injecting more than $100 million into local supply chains over the past eight years.
Thales Australia’s alignment with the capability demands of the ADF, allies and partners, means that in addition to maritime sustainment, Thales teams also support explosive ordinance and avionics capabilities in the Northern Territory.
