Regional Defence Networks

The Defence and Aerospace industry is one of NSW Government’s key priority sectors. NSW approaches the defence and aerospace industry from a whole-of-state perspective, fostering growth across its regions and precincts with an extensive reach of Defence, defence and aerospace industry and academia across the state.

To leverage the unprecedented Defence investment and maximise contracts being delivered in NSW, the RDN Program was launched in January 2022 providing key services to grow local defence supply chains, match NSW defence and aerospace businesses with Defence Prime contractors, increase the number of ‘defence ready’ businesses and strengthen sovereign defence and aerospace industry capabilities.

The RDN Program assists small to medium enterprises understand the compliance requirements and procurement processes specific to the defence industry. The RDN Program will enable existing businesses to strengthen their defence and aerospace capabilities; or support new businesses to transition from being defence interested to defence ready.

The RDN Program, through appointed Service Providers, currently delivers a suite of activities across four NSW focus regions:

• Western Sydney (including Greater Sydney)
  • Ai Group
    • James Scotland, General Manager Supply Chain Resilience
    • [email protected]
• Shoalhaven/Illawarra
  • Shoalhaven City Council on behalf of the Shoalhaven Defence & Industry Group (SD&IG)
    • Laurie Koster, Chair of SD&IG
    • [email protected]
• Hunter
  • HunterNet Cooperative
    • Tim Owen, Chair
    • [email protected]
• Riverina Murray
  • Business NSW in partnership with Defence Murray Riverina Alliance
    • Serena Hardwick, A/Regional Director at Business NSW
    • [email protected]

Successful delivery of the RDN Program will increase the value of Australian Government Department of Defence supply chain opportunities won by NSW small and medium businesses, which in turn increases investment and creates new jobs in NSW.