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Three Australian companies have teamed up to strengthen supply chains, logistics, and combat against pharmaceutical, drug and defence adversaries. ORCA Opti, DNH Logistics, and Aurora Materials announced their partnership, using AI and tech solutions to combat these challenges.
Addressing Australia’s strengthening of drug regulation to combat the rise of illegal drug use and crimes in Australia, as well as the continued investment into defence and national security capabilities, the AI system created through this collaboration hopes to tighten the security surrounding critical defence and pharmaceutical infrastructures.
“Through this network of like-minded security partners, we aim to solve the critical challenges of secure logistics even in complex and contested environments,” said Dr Jason Holland, co-founder and CEO of Aurora Materials.
The partnership will see ORCA Opti supplying DNH Logistics with an automation system to secure cyber information storage of the records of transportation and handling of TGA drugs and national security assets. This system will see authorised personnel being able to digitally monitor logistics operations.
Aurora Materials will secure the shipment of these items through their fluorescent tagging technology that provides enhanced technical security, authentication and tracking solutions to critical assets.
ORCA Opti founder Kathryn Giudes emphasised the value of the partnership, saying: “Embedding compliance and safety controls will also assist potential customers in achieving compliance faster, enabling DNH Logistics to distribute products more efficiently. Adding in Aurora’s fluorescent tagging material and tracking creates a seamless solution that effortlessly spans physical and digital security.”
Each step of the process will see an assurance that all parties are aligning with national frameworks that sensitive data is being used correctly and is protected through time-stamped evidence of movement and defence grade data protection.
Aligning with the Protective Security Policy Framework, Defence Security Principles Framework and Information Security Manual controls, Giudes said: “This partnership will ensure that DNH Logistics meet regulatory requirements and compliance using AI to protect and validate medical, pharmaceutical and customer data in a logistics context.”
DNH’s experience of distribution of medical substances will see the tech system providing support as they transfer their medical model to defence application transference; the company is required to meet specialised security controls, such as the Essential Eight and Defence Industry Security Program (DISP).
The partnership will provide the baseline for meeting DISP controls while enhancing supply chain monitoring, including internet of things capabilities with sensors for management of data for radiofrequency identification product tracing, which is supported by Aurora’s fluorescent tagging solution.
“Achieving DISP is a significant milestone for any small enterprise … partnering with ORCA Opti has made this journey easier while Aurora Materials has helped us with a more robust security offering,” said Justin Roderick, DNH director.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ORCA Opti to harness AI in a secure environment, automating compliance wherever possible. This allows our team to stay focused on operational outcomes, with the assurance that our compliance obligations are being met and managed effectively.”
Holland said Aurora is excited to work alongside DNH and ORCA in leading secure logistics models.
“By embedding our unique optical tagging capability, we enable DNH Logistics to verify authenticity, chain of custody, and provide tamper-evident assurance across every stage of its operations.”
“Overall, this partnership represents a major step forward towards creating the next generation of supply chain verification and asset assurance,” Holland added.
