OVERVIEW
Forming a strategy on defence engagement inevitably compels smaller businesses to seriously consider who they collaborate with in order to get their products and services into defence. How this is done can vary greatly – particularly in who is targeted.
Having a sound understanding of how to frame the offer of product in harmony with the target collaborator(s) own offerings and understanding how processes can vary greatly in how this is achieved is crucial to improving the odds for a successful collaboration, as is the importance of people to people relationships.
This virtual workshop will shine a light on some key insights to making an intended collaboration succeed. It also delivers practical know-how, and exemplar case studies from industry professionals that have ‘walked the walk’ and relevant legal content appropriate to collaboration will be reinforced.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Those entering the market and wanting to know more about it.
KEY DETAILS

Mode
Virtual

SEMINAR STRUCTURE
- Virtual workshops x 4
- Podcasts x 1

Duration
4 weeks

WHAT TOPICS WILL BE COVERED?
- Why do we collaborate?
- The power (or non-power) of the NDA
- Why do it?
- Real considerations
- Capability fit
- Charter
- Values
- Professional network influence
- The fundamentals of ongoing negotiations
- Sub-contracting basics
- NDA
- Teaming Agreement
- Tendering
- Contract
- Deliverables
- IP Protection
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
- A clear understanding of the purpose and motivation for collaboration
- Understanding that collaboration must be part of your business strategy, not because it sounds nice to do
- The three elements of the ‘ongoing’ negotiation in any kind of collaboration
- The importance of the seemingly unimportant NDA
- A rule-of-thumb legal sequence in executing a successful collaboration that looks after your interests
- What certified collaborations look like
SEMINAR MODULE OUTLINES
TIMING
On Demand
LEARNING MODULE
- Introduction to seminar and facilitator
- Description of seminar bundle incl learning outcomes
FORMAT
Podcast
EST. TIME TO COMPLETE
30mins
TIMING
Week 1
LEARNING MODULE
- Developing a relationship management plan
- Strategic
- Awareness, Knowledge, Internal Assessment
- Engagement
- Partner selection, Working together, value creation
- Management
- Staying together, exit strategy
- Strategic
FORMAT
Virtual Workshop
EST. TIME TO COMPLETE
30min, plus 30mins optional chat room participation
TIMING
Week 2
LEARNING MODULE
- Case study on Real-world Defence Collaborations and lessons learned
FORMAT
Virtual Workshop
EST. TIME TO COMPLETE
30mins, plus 30mins optional chat room participation
TIMING
Week 3
LEARNING MODULE
When does collaboration make sense
- Subcontracting
- Teaming Agreements
- Strategic Partnerships
- JVs
FORMAT
Virtual Workshop
EST. TIME TO COMPLETE
30mins, plus 30mins optional chat room participation
TIMING
Week 4
LEARNING MODULE
Competitive Collaboration
- Branding approaches and risks
- IP and Business Intelligence when collaborating
- Collaborative Networking
- Responsiveness coordination
- Time-to-Market
- Leverage advantages
- Scalability advantages
- Capital and Cash Flow risk spreading
- Insurances and Liability coverage impacts
FORMAT
Virtual Workshop
EST. TIME TO COMPLETE
30mins, plus 30mins optional chat room participation
TOTAL COURSE DURATION
4.5 hours instruction
FACILITATORS
Bret began a career in the Canadian Air Force as an aeronautical engineer flight testing military aircraft and systems. He progressed to working with the US Air Force flight testing F-16 systems and subsequently moved to Australia in 2004 to help a start-up Defence consulting business, Nova Systems, grow into its significant position today.
Bret has dedicated his career to the defence, aerospace and engineering sectors. Bret is recognised as a proactive leader, has held several executive roles, run operations across APAC including the establishment of a new business in the Asia market.
Bret is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Goal Group which is a professional services business focused on the Defence and security sector. Goal Group operates Australia’s largest and unique “Complementary SME Model” helping Defence optimise capability and assets.
Dianne Gibert is the founder of Certex International, which is licensed with JAS-ANZ to issue certifications in quality, safety, and environmental management. Certex was established 10 years ago and is one of the few fully Australian-owned certification bodies. As a boutique business, Certex specialises in SMEs, supporting them to realise the power of management system controls so their businesses can grow and prosper.
In 2019 Certex completed the first Australian certification in the Collaboration standard, 44001:2018, for DMTC.
Dianne has a background in banking and finance, then after achieving an MBA with Melbourne Business School, was a management consultant for 10 years. She specialises in compliance, not only against certification standards but also in the key statutory areas of employment screening and engagement, safety and privacy. She has presented at a number of Australian and international conferences on these topics.
COURSE SCHEDULE
EOI cut-off: 11 April
Successful applicants notified: 12 - 19 April
Course joining instructions issued: 19 April
Course timing: 3 – 24 May – weekly 2-hour workshops on a Tuesday / Time 10am - 12pm.

The Defence Ready Seminar Series is being delivered thanks to funding and collaboration with the Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) and, for each seminar, forty (40) funded places are being made available to SMEs.
The Defence Department has set very clear guidance around the criteria for access to one of the forty funded places within each of the thirteen courses, and priority will be given to Hunter and regional-NSW based SMEs, building capability to potentially partner on Defence projects in the future.
With the full seminar series rolling out over the next twelve-months, Hunter Defence will be scheduling ongoing communications as each course gets close to commencing. If your organisation has been successful in achieving a funded place in one of these courses, Hunter Defence will let you know three (3) weeks before your selected seminars(s) of interest are due to start.

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