Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation Mr Warren King today announced that the Defence and Industry (D+I) Conference will be held in Adelaide from 29 to 30 July 2014.
“The Conference will bring together Defence officials and representatives of Defence Industry from across the country and around the world,” Mr King said.
“The 2014 event will have a greater focus on ensuring that Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have the right access to key people from Defence and other Industry companies.
“We will be encouraging Industry to discuss all available work for SMEs, not just in the Defence sector, to ensure skills are maintained and local business opportunities are maximised.”
Mr King said to maximise affordability of the conference, a trade show will not be held in conjunction with the D+I Conference in 2014.
“This decision follows consultation with Industry, including both the Australian Industry Group’s Defence Council and the Australian Industry Defence Network (AIDN),’’ Mr King said.
“The main focus of the D+I Conference is to provide businesses the opportunity to discuss existing and upcoming acquisition and sustainment investment opportunities with other companies and with Defence officials.
“It is also an opportunity for Industry to present innovative ideas and concepts to the Defence community.
“Building and maintaining critical Defence Industry skills is a priority for both the Government and Defence, and participation in the Defence and Industry Conference has steadily grown since the first event was held in the 1990s.”
The acquisition and through-life support of Defence equipment provides ongoing opportunities for Australian Defence Industry now and into the future.
Defence analysis indicates that there are currently up to 26,000 Australians directly employed in Defence Industry jobs.
[mappress] Press Release, December 11, 2013; Image: Australian Govt