(L to R) RKCC CEO Sue Hasey, Hon Minister Hannah Beazley BA MLA, Mayor Deb Hamblin (City of Rockingham), Hon Minister Paul Papalia, and Hon Magenta Marshall MLA (Member for Rockingham) (Photo by RKCC)
Rockingham, Perth – Defence Industry Forum 2024 was held in Rockingham organised by Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce (RKCC). Launched in 2020, the Defence Industry Forum 2024 event is held every year supported by the City of Rockingham to promote countless defence and related opportunities for the local businesses in Rockingham and its surrounding areas.
This much awaited forum, was introduced by Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce newly appointed CEO Sue Hasey, and opened by City of Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin, City of Rockingham focused on sovereign naval and maritime capabilities, challenges and opportunities in the West, AUKUS updates, Defence estate and infrastructure overviews, defence industry briefings, education and skills, help available from Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS), and case studies on local businesses.
Since the inception of AUKUS Trilateral Security Pact among Australia, the UK and the US in September 2021, Western Australia’s Rockingham has come under spotlight. The reason being its close proximity to HMAS Stirling which is located on Garden Island. The HMAS Stirling base provides various logistical and operational support to Royal Australian Navy (RAN) naval assets. The base is a part of RAN’s Fleet Base West.
From 2027, there will be an increased movement of one UK Astute-class and up to four US Virgina-class submarines through planned rotations. This will be known as Submarine Rotational Force – West (or SRF-West). These rotations will give Australia’s naval and submarine staff as well as those who will be involved in Australian submarine industrial base hands-on skills, knowledge to operate, maintain and sustain nuclear-powered submarines as Australia has embarked on constructing its own fleet of nuclear-powered boats termed as SSN-AUKUS. Their construction will be held in Adelaide, South Australia.
The 2027 year is just around the corner, and Rockingham is best placed to provide support and assistance to the Australian, the US and the UK sailors and their families for schooling, accommodation, healthcare, jobs, recreational and sports facilities. Due to the ongoing and future SRF-West activities, the City Council of Rockingham is supporting local businesses and its communities about the opportunities so they can participate in whole-of-nation endeavour to build Australia’s own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
The event hosted a range of speakers drawn from senior RAN leaders, leaders of industry, government officials, academics, strategic analysts, prime contractors and more.
Among the notable speakers were Deb Hamblin (Mayor, City of Rockingham, Captain Ken Burleigh (Commander HMAS Stirling), Hon Paul Papalia (WA’s Minister for Police, Corrective Services, Racing, Gaming, Defence and Veteran Issues), Hon Hannah Beazley (WA’s Minister for Local Government, Youth, Assisting Minister for Training and Workforce Development), US Consul General Siriana Nair, Richard Baker (AIDN President), Sue Hasey (CEO Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce), Magenta Marshall (Member of Rockingham), Simon Bell (Director Infrastructure, Defence West).
The speakers provided the current and forthcoming developments that will make Rockingham a busy place with various defence opportunities as well as future planned visits of industry, government and defence delegations coming from the US and UK.
Speakers from defence industry and local businesses who shared their successful business journeys on how to become part of defence supply chain were Dean Massolini (Service Delivery Manager, Thales), Matt Francis (EMOS Manager, Ventia – HMAS Stirling), Fred Behramkamdin (National Business Growth Manaher, Caterpillar, Energy Power Systems Australia), Kareena Waters (Founder, CEO & CGO, ONECARD), Saasha Callgham (Technical Manager, Oleology), Mason Deetman (Managing Director, Engine Protection Equipment), RSM Australia representatives, Prof Gordon Flake (CEO Perth Asia Centre), and Brenda Micale (GM Training Services – South Metropolitan TAFE).
Previously, HMAS Stirling received the US Annapolis in March 2024 and USS North Carolina in August 2023. The US Consul General Siriana Nair applauded the efforts of Australian and the US sailors exchanging their skillsets when after a series of port visits around Australia the USS Emory S Land submarine tender arrived at HMAS Stirling in August 2024. The visit is part of preparations for the SRF-West submarine activities. It will be the first time that Australian sailors will soon become part of Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (STMP) in a maintenance of US nuclear-powered submarines.
US Consul General Siriana Nair during the event (Photo by RKCC)
The current efforts being taken by AUKUS partners inside and outside Australia, and the direct involvement of Australian sailors and naval staff whether attending classes in nuclear schools in the US, participating in SRF-West, STMP and so on will make Australia’s own workforce AUKUS ready to manage 3 or up to 5 Virgina-Class submarines once procured from the US, and its own fleet of eight SSN-AUKUS boats post-2030.
WA Government Ministers Papalia, Beazley, and Marshall presented their thought leadership on defence opportunities for local businesses in Western Australia including Rockingham, workforce development, and the future outlook on AUKUS.
The final panel session – sponsored by Sandon WA hosted a relaxed panel of guests from Women in Defence (WiDA), WA State Govt, and Defence sharing insights and career mentoring particularly tailored to women making their mark in business, politics and defence.
RKCC CEO Sue Hasey, RAN Veteran Jim Matters, and Mayor Hamblin thanked speakers, organisers and participants for making the Defence Industry Forum 2024 event a success. The next event in the series is proposed to be held in April 2025.
