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We often measure military capability by high-profile hardware: joint strike fighters, advanced naval vessels and cutting-edge weaponry. Yet the foundation of Australian defence is more grounded. It lives in the Defence estate – the complex network of bases, training grounds and facilities where the men and women of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) live, work, and prepare.
Under the National Program Services (NPS) contract – part of Defence’s broader Base Services Contract (BSC) reform – JLL is bolstering defence capability as enterprise programme manager, leveraging data across $1 billion in annual capital works, 70 bases and 700 properties for a holistic view of the estate.
Bridging commercial expertise and military reality
Delivering this portfolio-wide, data-driven model requires a deep understanding of the ADF's unique operational environment. JLL’s NPS team comprises more than 40 professionals with decades of collective experience on the Defence estate. Supported by JLL’s national Veterans Engagement Program, the team includes several ADF veterans, combining commercial property expertise with first-hand military insight to ensure every decision is guided by real-world operational readiness.
"A successful estate strategy does not end when construction finishes," says Geoff Camp, head of Defence at JLL. "We must account for the complete life of a property, integrating accurate valuations, smart leasing and daily usage on base. Coordinating these elements under a single team ensures every decision aligns directly with what the ADF needs to remain mission-ready."
A multi-disciplinary approach to sovereign capability
To achieve this, JLL embeds specialised property lifecycle services into the core NPS programme. Complex valuations of unique military facilities provide Defence with a precise, transparent record of its multi-billion-dollar portfolio, supporting smarter investment decisions.
Simultaneously, JLL's lease management, consulting and relocation teams help Defence quickly pivot its physical footprint in response to strategic shifts. This approach keeps the estate agile. Combining these disciplines into a single, coordinated partnership gives Defence access to global commercial best practices tailored to sovereign requirements.
Translating property into operational readiness
This strategic evolution is built on a ten-year foundation. Since 2014, JLL has supported Defence’s Estate Works Program through Project Delivery Services (PDS), managing over 1,500 projects worth roughly $3.8 bn. This pedigree provides deep geographical reach, from metropolitan barracks to remote northern outposts, demonstrating how physical infrastructure translates directly into tactical capability.
Consider JLL’s delivery of a specialised sniper training tower in the Northern Territory. On paper, it was a construction project. In reality, it was a critical boost to military readiness, allowing the ADF to train specialists locally under realistic conditions.
"Having worn the uniform, many on our team understand how much a facility's condition affects a unit's readiness," says Camp. "With the sniper tower, we delivered an essential training capability. Our job is to bridge the gap between commercial property systems and the ADF's operational tempo."
Looking ahead
The focus is now on building a Defence estate that is resilient, adaptable and ready to scale. As the Security and Estate Group (SEG) signals an appetite for faster delivery, calculated risk-taking and digital innovation, the value of a data-led enterprise partner becomes clear. By moving past the traditional client-contractor relationship, JLL ensures Australia's military infrastructure remains highly responsive to emerging national security demands.