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Graduates from the Defence Industry Leadership Program (DILP) have celebrated the past nine months of work, reflecting on the key experiences and lessons learned.
This year’s participants represent some of Australia’s biggest defence companies, including Raytheon, BAE Systems, ASC, and REDARC.
Created by the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC), the DILP is one of 22 initiatives that the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan financially supports and is primarily designed to elevate leadership abilities within the Australian defence industry.
“Defence industry is under unprecedented pressure with workforce and skills shortages, our exciting but daunting AUKUS requirements, and the influence of rapid technological change,” said DTC CEO Libby Day.
“DILP is a fast-track mechanism for producing and developing leaders to meet industry demand. There is no time to develop the next generation of leaders organically. We need them now.”
Developed in collaboration with Skills Lab, a Tetra Tech company, and Defence SA, the course provides participants who are already active members in the defence industry with a range of vital leadership skills and knowledge on a part-time basis.
The DILP achieves this through workshops, specialist presentations, site visits and research projects.
DILP participant Kian Ballard Manning from Raytheon said his knowledge has exponentially grown over the course of the program.
“My understanding of industry has grown far beyond my expectations of myself.
“The ability to deliver our research project to industry leaders was an exceptional opportunity.”
Research projects from this year’s participants explored a range of topics, including “Improving Australia’s competitiveness in export markets”, “Bridging the gap between support programs and industry engagement” and “Navigating over-compliance in SME’s – Unlocking creativity and innovation by redesigning regulatory ecosystems”.
Day said that leadership programs like these are valuable to the growth of defence leadership and is proud that the program pays off for participants, with many of the 2025 graduates being promoted into higher roles.
“It is very gratifying to learn that several of the DILP cohort this year have been promoted in their respective companies of employment and that DILP has helped pave the way for this to materialise,” she said.
Applications for 2026 will close soon.
