A deeper insight on local manufacturing

June 23, 2022

GMC this week kicked off a comprehensive study into the opportunities, challenges, and future growth and direction for manufacturing in the Geelong region.

The GMC “Manufacturing Insights 2022” work will examine how local manufacturers are emerging from the pandemic, progress towards digital transformation and will examine adoption and barriers to sustainable initiatives.

More than 100 businesses will be surveyed as part of the study, while a further 30 manufacturers will take part in one-on-one interviews.

The aim is to gain a detailed understanding of industry needs and opportunities in the region to assist advocacy efforts, and to better design and target potential future support for the sector.

Consultants, Bremer + Co, with support from the GMC team, will conduct the project over the coming weeks, with John Dean leading the study.

John worked in the Commonwealth Department of Industry and its predecessors for twenty years, holding five SES appointments.  He also had experience in the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Trade Commission. From 2007 he was the inaugural General Manager of the $55m pa Enterprise Connect initiative, designing the program and creating its 12 specialist Innovation Centres around Australia.  He built up and led the Enterprise Connect team of 200 staff, who worked with more than 2500 manufacturing, mining tech, clean energy, defence and creative industries firms, in its first two years.

A final report is expected to be presented in early September 2022.