Sage advice for defence contracts

Rockingham and Kwinana businesses were given insightful information on how they can win defence contracts at a well-attended social function last week.

The Rockingham and Kwinana Chamber of Commerce hosted their Business Leaders’ Breakfast at The Cruising Yacht Club of WA last Tuesday morning.

Hosted with the backing of the City of Rockingham, a host of speakers told the crowd about the tendering process of winning work at HMAS Stirling and other defence sites in the region.

Rear Admiral Jonathon Mead made the trip from Canberra to brief the business grouping and said that Stirling was critical in national thinking and only set to grow.

Other speakers included Stirling base support manager David Marshall, Broadspectrum site manager Phil Darling and Augility project manager Marnie O’Donnell.

RKCC chief executive Tony Solin said the breakfast was one of the best the organisation had hosted.

“Key speakers from defence and industry gave informative and insightful briefings to over 100 guests from the local business community, on the potential opportunities that are available in the upcoming round of defence spending at Stirling Naval Base,” he said.

“RKCC and other key stakeholders in the local business region were impressed by the level of co-operation and information that was provided by all parties from the defence sector.”

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said it was an exciting time to be associated with the navy.

“The City of Rockingham is ideally situated adjacent to the largest naval base in Australia, and it’s only going to get bigger as the number and tonnages of vessels stationed there increase,” he said.

“With our proximity to the base, and the Western Trade Coast and the shipbuilding facilities of Henderson, there’s no better place for businesses to invest in their defence-related activities than right here.”