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Defence security advisory firm De Stefano & Co has officially opened its second Australian office in Melbourne.
The expansion is expected to solidify its presence in Victoria and further support demand across the state’s growing defence, aerospace, cyber security and advanced manufacturing sectors.
De Stefano & Co supports government, prime defence contractors and industry organisations operating in defence, national security and other highly regulated sectors.
Located on Melbourne’s Bourke Street, the new premises places De Stefano & Co within close proximity to Defence, prime contractors and the defence and advanced manufacturing supply chain participants that it supports.
Furthermore, the establishment of the Melbourne office reinforces De Stefano & Co’s commitment to partnering with government, prime defence contractors and key industry bodies to support Australian industry, strengthen sovereign capability and help drive opportunities across Victoria’s defence, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.
“Congratulations to De Stefano & Co on the occasion of the opening of their new office in Melbourne,” Victorian Defence Industry Advocate Dr David Feeney said.
“Given Victoria’s central role in our nation’s defence industry, this is the place to be! Victoria’s new premier, Ben Carroll, has declared at the very outset of his premiership that he’s ‘a premier who backs AUKUS’ and that further developing defence industry here will be a priority for his government. Premier Carroll understands the opportunities – and he understands Victoria’s strengths.
“Victoria is home to the ADFs most significant training bases – HMAS Cerberus, RAAF Base East Sale and the Puckapunyal Military Area. Our regions are integrated into our defence industry too, with Thales in Bendigo, Hanwha in Geelong and NIOA in Benalla. The weapons systems of the future are being developed for the ADF here by companies such as Sypaq and AIM Defence.
“Home to some 24 per cent of the nation’s workforce, Victoria’s strength is its people, supported by Australia’s finest universities and a thriving TAFE sector. With Melbourne being Australia’s largest general cargo and container port and home to Australia’s largest manufacturing workforce, almost every defence activity in Australia today relies upon Victorian advanced manufacturing in some way.
“Every defence business needs a presence here, including De Stefano & Co.”
As outlined in the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the expansion comes at a pivotal time for Victoria’s burgeoning defence sector, the second largest in the country, responsible for generating $2.4 billion in gross value added (GVA) in 2024–25.
The state’s defence industry GVA also increased by 40.7 per cent from $1.67 billion in 2020–21 to $2.35 billion in 2024–25.
The timing of De Stefano & Co’s expansion also aligns with Premier Carroll’s call for Victoria to secure a greater share of AUKUS opportunities, leveraging the state’s strong defence, advanced manufacturing and research capabilities.
Looking ahead, De Stefano & Co is focused on the long-term growth of its Victorian operations, with the state expected to account for more than 30 per cent of its work in Defence security by mid-2027.
The news follows a period of significant growth and industry recognition for De Stefano & Co, including being named 2025 Cyber Business of the Year at the Australian Defence Industry Awards, 2026 Cyber Consulting Business of the Year - SME and 2026 Cyber Professional of the Year – Defence (Jeremy Watkinson, head of protective security services) at the Australian Cyber Awards.
“Opening an office in Melbourne marks a significant milestone in our ambition to become Australia’s ‘go-to’ in Defence security. In a relationship-driven industry, being close to clients and having boots on the ground matters. Establishing a permanent presence in Victoria allows us to better understand client pain points, strengthen partnerships and provide the high-touch support organisations need as they navigate the increasingly complex security requirements mandated by Defence and government agencies,” De Stefano & Co managing director Emilio De Stefano said.
“This expansion underscores our continued investment in building capability and attracting talent while strengthening our established client partnerships. Victoria’s defence, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors offer significant opportunities for growth and collaboration. We look forward to deepening our contribution to Australian industry, strengthening sovereign capability and supporting major national priorities, including AUKUS.
“We’re investing in Victoria with a long-term perspective. Our focus isn’t on immediate returns, but on building enduring relationships, growing sustainably, and contributing meaningfully to the state’s Defence and security ecosystem. We know Victoria is a powerhouse when it comes to land-based programs, aerospace and advanced manufacturing more broadly, but we’re also seeing the state play an increasingly important role in areas such as guided weapons and explosive ordnance, quantum and cyber.”
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