Teaming up to boost defence industry leadership

The opportunity to combine theoretical learning with hands-on experience was too good to miss for participants of the Defence Industry Leadership Program (DILP) during a visit to Surveillance and Response Group’s 92 Wing at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia.

CAPTION:Participants in the Defence Teaming Centre’s Defence Industry Leadership Course 2023 on the flightline at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet and Leading Aircraftwoman Jasna McFeeters. Photo by Corporal Brenton Kwaterski.

Run by the Defence Teaming Centre – an organisation established to connect and support Australian defence industry – the DILP is the only immersive defence leadership program of its kind in Australia.

For 13 years, the eight-month long DILP has been facilitating innovation, team work and mentoring in order to develop informed and collaborative leaders who can operate in dynamic environments and make timely decisions to ensure Defence projects remain on schedule and on budget.

Last month, Ventia (an estate maintenance and operations services provider in South Australia) collaborated with Air Force’s 92 Wing to host 28 DILP participants at the P-8A Poseidon aircraft maintenance facility; giving them direct exposure to a local capability and senior ADF leaders as part of their nationally accredited Diploma of Leadership and Management.

Ventia’s Justin Schermer said it is critical for organisations within Defence to drive initiatives that support growth and attract talent within the sector.

“Ventia is very proud to have close relationships with Defence and senior ADF leaders to facilitate such events,” Mr Schermer said.

“Showing support is a large part of what drives our people and the success of our teams.”

92 Wing Headquarters senior engineering officer and guest speaker to the group, Wing Commander Adam Bowler, said a skilled and integrated industry team is a cornerstone of the P-8A enterprise and generates capability outcomes for the wing.

“The opportunity to discuss our operating models and future plans with a talented group of industry leaders is a great chance to underscore that contemporary sustainment frameworks are dependent on highly collaborative, long-term relationships with industry partners,” Wing Commander Bowler said.

Raytheon Australia senior contracts specialist Ellen Mitten, a participant in this year’s course, said the DILP was a good opportunity to learn about the end user, their values and to improve their approach to defence industry.

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