Strengthening Connections: SMI meets with Australian Defence Industry support at Australia House
Collaboration between industries and nations is essential, not only for driving innovation, but in the case of AUKUS; bolstering national security. This was front and centre during a recent meeting at Australia House in London, where SMI’s CEO Jenny Shaw, and People and Culture Director, Catherine Jennings met with representative Carolyn Gallop, Trade & Investment Manager of the Western Australian Government ahead of the 12th SIA Conference in Canberra this November to better understand and prepare for expanding our work in the Australian Defence ecosystem.
The aim was to foster stronger knowledge exchange, explore cooperation opportunities, and create a roadmap for future collaboration between the UK and Australia in the defence sector – specifically in the upcoming SSN-AUKUS submarine design, manufacture, and maintenance.
Australia House is an historic symbol of diplomatic ties between the two nations, and as well as being Australia’s headquarters in the UK, served as the perfect venue for this meeting to demonstrate the real importance and potential impact that UK SMEs such as SMI can have on future defence innovation and collaboration.
Building Bridges Between the UK and Australian Defence Sectors
The AUKUS agreement between the UK, US and Australia embodies a shared vision of leveraging each nation’s strengths to support the evolving needs of their respective defence. For SMI, this presented an invaluable opportunity to showcase our innovative technologies & engineering expertise – focusing on our fit and forget polyethylene submarine cabling systems. The material choice that we use is actually a hugely useful one for the particular climate of the Pacific; where the maritime environment is saltier and warmer than our own waters – meaning it’s a much harsher place to exist. This is a niche and incredibly effective capability that we have used for several decades to support the Royal Australian Navy, as well as being able to share our knowledge and innovative mindset with the wider Australian defence industry.
For SMI, this is a promising opportunity to expand upon our presence in both Western Australia and Queensland, providing advanced solutions that can be manufactured on Australian soil and helping train and build critical skills in the Australian workforce.
Shared Priorities and Opportunities for Collaboration
As a part of the ongoing AUKUS discussions, the topics of the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies is critical. SMI continues to discuss and present our own capabilities in for defence forces around the world – here seeking ways to align with the ADF’s current and future needs.
Australia’s growing focus on sovereign capabilities through the cooperation of AUKUS means that the involvement of international partners like SMI are seen as crucial to fill critical gaps, accelerate innovation, and provide technical solutions that complement Australian resources.
The Role of SMEs in Defence Collaboration
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the recognition of the important role that SMEs play in both the UK and Australian defence ecosystems. SMEs like SMI bring agility, innovation, and specialised expertise to the table, often operating as pioneers in niche sectors of technology such as our fit and forget polyethylene cabling. By partnering with larger defence primes or governments, SMEs can accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies while contributing to a more diverse and capable supply chain.