AUSTRALIAN+NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE DIRECTORY 2026 www.defence.directory THE NATION BUILD 22 STRENGTH IN UNITY – WHY AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE INDUSTRY MUST COLLABORATE BETTER Australia’s national security and economic resilience are increasingly tied to the strength of its defence industry. With the evolving demands of the AUKUS agreement and growing global instability, now more than ever, there is a pressing need for stronger collaboration between Australian defence industry associations, the federal government, and their international counterparts— particularly those in the AUKUS partnership. The biggest winners from such collaboration? Australia’s small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of innovation and advanced manufacturing in this country. Despite the ambition to develop a world-class sovereign defence capability, many SMEs still struggle to access reliable information, understand complex procurement pathways, or find opportunities to join defence supply chains. Fragmentation among industry associations and a lack of coordinated guidance only deepens this disconnect. More cohesive collaboration would not only streamline communication but would also offer consistent support to SMEs, ensuring they understand how to position themselves to win defence work and scale up to meet future demands. By working more closely with the federal government and with each other, Australian defence industry associations can better translate national priorities into actionable strategies for industry. They can pool resources, share best practices, and provide clearer messaging on capability needs and funding programs. This united front would also enhance Australia’s credibility within the AUKUS framework, enabling our SMEs to tap into trilateral supply chains and new markets in the United States and United Kingdom. Moreover, closer cooperation with AUKUS-aligned associations could unlock opportunities for joint ventures, technology transfers, and cross-border training and skills development. Such collaboration is essential for SMEs to stay competitive in a globalised defence landscape that increasingly values integrated, interoperable, and scalable solutions. The opportunity cost of inaction is high. Without greater coordination, Australia risks missing out on the full economic and strategic potential of its defence industry—particularly for SMEs that are most in need of guidance and access. Conversely, a more collaborative approach can empower these businesses to innovate, grow, and become key contributors to national defence and regional security. It’s time for industry leaders and government alike to break down silos, foster genuine partnerships, and build a more connected and capable defence ecosystem—starting with support for those who need it most. The future of our national security and industrial base depends on it. The purpose of an industry association is to represent and serve the collective interests of companies and organizations within a specific industry. The Australian Defence Alliance (ADA) is a Not-for-Profit organisation, focused on enabling members do better business in Defence. We focus on advocacy, support, networking, information and training. When ADA speaks for our members, our voice is heard. With our unique access, we provide industry insights direct to the Primes, Defence and government officials and their Ministers in Melbourne and Canberra (often one-on-one) sharing their insights with our members. We run regular, focussed industry briefings on specific projects and topics and publish regular e-News updates. The market demand is massive, and therefore so is the need for Australian companies to understand the opportunities, and what it takes to exploit them. ADA enables SMEs by providing regular industry updates including Federal and State grant and loan information which helps SMEs achieve that. And our advocacy on behalf of the SMEs is effective. We will continue to advocate for our members for a sovereign defence industrial base, more targeted and detailed sovereign industrial capabilities and reforms to defence procurement to support the development of Australian defence industry. We advocate for defence industry policy to increasingly emphasise sovereignty. ADA works with the Defence Export Office and Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) to help its members identify and pursue international opportunities. Cash and time-poor SMEs haven’t got the resources to do all this: to travel domestically and internationally, gather project intelligence, identify potential customers and industry partners and then understand whom to pitch to. ADA helps bridge that gap as well as advising on things like exports and security clearances, accreditations and regulations and even on preparing tenders. We can do all this because we’ve accumulated the in-depth defence market knowledge. So, from sharing the latest information on projects, events and policies to helping members build the right network of contacts within the eco-system, everything we do is focussed on supporting members to gain better access to opportunities. Want to start doing business in the Defence industry or with Defence? The Australian Defence Alliance (ADA) will guide you through where and how to start doing better business in Defence! Sean Farrell CEO Australian Defence Alliance
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