Hunter Defence is a collaborative task force focused on demonstrating the capability of established Hunter defence industry suppliers to government and primes, as well as upskilling local SMEs to become ‘Defence ready’
Hunter Defence represents over 100 companies in the Hunter region competing for prime and supply chain contracts. It prepares them for these opportunities and helps them articulate their value proposition and capabilities to government and major defence industry players.
The Hunter Defence Task Force within Hunter Defence is a collaborative taskforce focused on demonstrating the capability of established Hunter defence industry suppliers to CASG, ODIS and primes and upskilling local SMEs to become ‘defence ready’.
This work involves understanding regional defence capabilities and capacities, aligning them with opportunities, encouraging SMEs to form advanced capability groups, and synergising broader product offerings via closer collaboration.
Hunter Defence will be the nation’s lead industry agency for defence opportunities, driving the Hunter to be the most successful defence region in Australia.

Hunter Defence represents a diverse group of industry stakeholders in the region, including manufacturing and supply firms, industry networks, specialist consultants, advisors and government.
Hunter Defence operations and activity is supported and facilitated through the Hunter Defence Task Force, chaired by Tim Owen, a former Air Force Commander and 32-year services veteran with significant expertise in the Australian Defence Force contracting process and experience working with defence primes.
Hunter Defence is a single point of contact for all Hunter region defence stakeholders, advocating for, and streamlining their interaction across Government and the major primes. We capture valuable investment opportunities in the aerospace, maritime, land, and cyber domains.
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
- NSW Government
- HunterNet
- RDA Hunter
- Business Hunter
- Commitee for the Hunter
- Australian Industry Group
- Australian Industry Defence Network
- Industry Capability Network NSW
- Astra Aerolab / Newcastle Airport
- Master Builders Newcastle
- University of Newcastle
- TAFE NSW
- Goal Group
- McLean Consultants
Supported by - The Measured Marketer
HOW WILL WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Hunter Defence provides a strong and unified voice promoting Hunter Defence capability to the NSW and Australian Government. We aim to increase Hunter participation in the defence industry by harnessing the expertise, insight and connections within the group to identify opportunities for the region.
Winning Defence contracts is a competitive business that requires not only capability, but deep industry insight and high visibility with primes, defence stakeholders and government at all levels. Hunter Defence will seek to align local industry capabilities and capacities with coming opportunities and demonstrate the region’s supply chain capability.
We will also encourage more SMEs to acquire advanced defence capability by facilitating education, training and advice.
MEET the Hunter Defence Taskforce
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