About Geelong Manufacturing Council

Today

Geelong Manufacturing Council represents manufacturers, large and small, who collectively employ more than 9,000 people locally and 35,000 people nationally. Join us and be part of a vibrant and growing community.

Besides our innovative and competitive manufacturers, GMC members also comprise supporters of the sector such as Deakin University, The Gordon TAFE, Gforce and the City of Greater Geelong, as well as many service providers who are vital contributors to the sector.

We offer connection, knowledge sharing among peers, tailored training, and advocacy. Our programs grow skills and capabilities, stimulate innovation, product and market diversification and enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We advocate on behalf of members to create a positive manufacturing environment, to support the pursuit of excellence across manufacturing and to attract talent and investment.

Our vision

A vibrant Geelong manufacturing sector now and into the future.

Achieved through:

Knowledge sharing
Advocacy
Networking

Our history

The foundations of the Geelong Manufacturing Council date back 148 years to the Manufacturers and Exhibitors Association.

In 1985, the Australian Chamber of Manufacturers (ACM) was formed and a Geelong division created. When the ACM merged with the Metal Trades Industry Association Australia (MTIA) in 1998, under what became the Ai Group, a group in Geelong decided to form the Geelong Manufacturing Council.

Brian Backwell had chaired the Manufacturing Industry Taskforce earlier in 1997, and Mike O’Brien was secretary.

Chairs of the GMC over the past 25 years have been founding chair, Brian Backwell, followed by David Sinclair, Bruce Jesson, Patrick McCaffrey, David Sykes, Jamie Baensch and Lyn George OAM. In July 2023, Thys Heyns became GMC Chair.