The event, which will coincide with this year’s Indo Pacific Conference in Sydney, is aimed at sharing insights into how sovereign SMEs can better perform, capitalise on work opportunities, and bolster resilience in the defence space.  

A number of senior defence industry stakeholders are set to take part in the SME Summit, including:

• Jim McDowell, CEO, Nova Systems;
• Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm, head of Maritime Systems, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group;
• Team Norsta representatives including Norship, Tropical Reef Shipyard and Secora; and
• Bec Humble, chief of strategy and corporate affairs, Nova Systems.

Topics to be covered by the speakers include the current state of play, partnering with CASG, and growing a small business to a mid-tier entity.

“Australian SMEs have the advantage of being innovative and incredibly nimble, with the ability to make fast decisions, a massive advantage when it comes to implementing new technology and capability,” Nova Systems CEO Jim McDowell said.

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“As a sovereign industry leader, bringing together a concentration of Australian defence capabilities creates opportunities for SMEs to grow and creates more choice for the defence client.”

McDowell noted the challenges associated with operating in the current environment.

“Post-pandemic, and with an increasingly uncertain global climate, it’s as important as ever that Australia builds sovereign capability and becomes more self-sufficient,” he said.

“A truly sovereign Australian enterprise’s profits that are generated from Australian defence projects to deliver capability to our forces stays in-country and is reinvested in future defence capability, contributing to the national economy and jobs for Australians – for the benefit of this generation and beyond.”

[Related: Nova Systems expands veteran employment offering]