Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) has increased its commitment to the Geelong Manufacturing Council (GMC) and the wider manufacturing ecosystem with a new three-year partnership.
HDA has agreed to contribute to the GMC at Major Sponsor level, joining fellow GMC significant member status holders Deakin University, Viva Energy and The Gordon.
GMC CEO Jennifer Conley says HDA is linking Australian capabilities into global supply chains. Its close work with the broader Geelong and regional manufacturing sector develops vital international connections — helping address a key challenge for Australian industry.
“So many of our small and medium sized enterprises are world class but they don’t necessarily have the reputations needed to penetrate international markets. Working alongside HDA will give many of them that leg up,” she said.
HDA was last year selected as the preferred partner for Land 8116, a $1 billion project which will see the Australian government acquire self-propelled artillery to be manufactured at a new, state-of-theart manufacturing and R&D facility in Geelong now under construction near the Avalon Airport precinct. The facility is scheduled to be completed in Q3 2024.
A subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, one of the largest and influential defence corporations in South Korea, HDA will serve as an Australian industrial and SME base that creates opportunities for both Australian and Korean companies in their respective supply chains.
”The GMC is the leading industry advocacy body in the Geelong region and we are pleased to be working with the team,” HDA Managing Director Richard Cho said. “Our CEO Mr Jaeil Son attended the GMC’s 25th Anniversary dinner at the Avalon Air Show recently and was impressed by the calibre of the community on display to him and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence The Hon Richard Marles Member for Corio.”
As part of the partnership, GMC and HDA are co-hosting a Korean Business Mission from 14 May to 19 May for GMC members to connect with opportunities in South Korea. The mission is subsidised by the GMC through its support from Austrade.
For further information or to express interest in participating in the mission, please contact [email protected] or call 0406 857 856.
Main image: Hanwha and GMC executives pictured together at the 25th Anniversary event during Avalon Air Show, from left Tim Pickford, Jennifer Conley, Richard Cho, Lyn George, Jaeil Son, Katherine Zeising and Russell Kim.