Testimonials
Adacel Technologies
'I would gladly participate in any future events organised in the South American region as this one was extremely successful for us. Thank you Defence Export Unit for a job well done.'
'I would like to thank all key organising members of the Defence Export Unit for having provided an excellent framework for developing new opportunities in the South American region as well as showing they really cared and tried to make sure that all Team Australia participants left with a positive feeling towards future missions.'
Michael Asch, Business Development Manager, ADACEL TECHNOLOGIES
Broens Industries
'The Defence Export Unit support and involvement opens doors that would never be opened for individual companies.'
'Broens has recently participated in many Defence Exports activities under the banner of Team Australia, led by the Defence Exports Unit (DEU), and supported by Defence Attaches' and Austrade. This included missions and exhibitions into UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey and South America. In each case, the DEU provided management staff and a senior two-star military leader of delegation. In all cases, a number of industry participants participated, some offering complimentary products, and other with products that is unrelated to ours.
We found this collaborative approach to be very effective. The Defence support and involvement opens doors that would never be opened for individual companies. It was particularly refreshing to experience the genuine interest and assistance by Defence staff and leaders were, and their council and feed-back was very constructive. The team spirit, mateship and cooperation between industry participants were very positive, and created opportunities for collaborative work beyond the particular activities. Although Defence organisations across the world are cutting their budgets and reducing spending, we have already realised some contracts that have made our investment worthwhile, while other active enquiries remain in the pipe line.'
Medhat Wassef, Business Development Executive, BROENS INDUSTRIES
C-E Solutions
'We believe that having the DEU involved may also help further downstream in the sales cycle, by virtue of the simple fact DEU members are knowledgeable across the opportunity and offering.'
'Sometimes being a part of a delegation can be a double-edged sword for time as some meetings may not be directly suitable to your own offerings, however, the benefit of having other company representatives is that sometimes they can see opportunities and assist where possible. Having the 2 star Military Officer lends a certain credibility to what you are promoting - whilst they do not explicitly endorse products (unless they've been successfully used by ADF), their inclusion in conversation provides tacit endorsement. The 2 Star who led the mission was an excellent choice. His commercial background was very much appreciated and he performed an excellent job of "selling" companies' capability offerings if for some reason their representation was absent for some elements of the mission. He was also able to polish participants' value propositions into better understood, cogent business cases for audiences' subsequent engagement.
Also, one receives the VIP treatment as part of a DEU mission - there is a certain obligation on behalf of every host audience to lend this treatment to everyone just because you're with the 2 star. We believe that having the DEU involved helped further downstream in the sales cycle, by virtue of the simple fact DEU members are knowledgeable across the opportunity and offering. Finally, it is fantastic to encounter an organisation within Defence with a genuine concern and culture for seeing Australian Defence Industry success.'
Boris Novak, General Manager, C-E SOLUTIONS
Hardcat Pty Ltd
'Having a 2- star General and his assistant, who were both business savvy, was an obvious benefit in getting the right people from Defence organisations in front of the team.'
'Having dealt in the international market for the last 20 plus years and with over 800 clients in 60 countries outside of Australia, I am very aware of the importance of export. I am also aware of aware of the cost associated with expanding your client base outside the shores of Australia to survive in a global marketplace. Over the 20 years, many of our initial trips, in hindsight, could be considered a waste of time and resources due many reasons but mainly inexperience.
Having been fortunate enough to be part of the Team Australia Defence Trade Mission to the Middle East earlier this year, I had a bird's eye view of how an overseas trade mission should be run. It made me reflect upon my early forays into the international market and see why this was so different. The simple answer is that this Trade Mission was very hands on. From the very start it was run with military precision guiding the team through 3 countries and 3 to 4 meetings per day. I look forward to participating in any other events arranged by Team Australia.'
Dan Drum, Managing Director, HARDCAT PTY LTD
Moonraker
'If you are not taking advantage of what Team Australia has to offer you are missing out.'
'As an SME, mounting a significant stand at a major defence exhibition in the world is no minor undertaking if ones aim is for maximum exposure. Team Australia not only automatically gives you that exposure but provides access to and opens doors to, high level contacts leading to customers that may be impossible to reach easily on your own. The credibility that being part of the Team brings should not be underestimated.
Moonraker Australia has been a team member for over 15 years and our position and name in the world of defence communications shows consistently in our annual sales, particularly to the Primes. The most recent example of this was an introduction to the Chief of the Armed Forces in Poland at the DSA Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. We have just returned from Poland where we presented our products directly to engineers and project leaders of Polish Defence. If you are not taking advantage of what Team Australia has to offer, you are missing out.'
Chris Edwards, Managing Director, MOONRAKER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Varley Group
'Varley gained considerable insight into the Chilean defence market, business opportunities, issues and challenges.'
'Considering that this was the first exploratory mission to South America, the trip and events managed by the Defence Export Unit were very professionally organised and executed. Both the Defence Export Unit and Australian industry participants have now the opportunity to leverage from contacts made and insight information shared by the Chilean Defence to identify and work on potential business opportunities. Varley would like to thank the Defence Export Unit for the support to the Australian defence industry and for providing our company the opportunity to participate as part of Team Australia.'
Victor Ugarte, Manager Defence & Aerospace, VARLEY GROUP
Ytek Pty Ltd
'YTEK recently participated in the inaugural Defence Export Unit trade mission to Chile. We were fortunate enough to benefit from competent preparation and assistance by the Defence Export Unit to achieve our goals.'
'Significantly, some visits were made possible only by the Defence Export Unit's persistence and determination to work closely with industry in soliciting key meetings in Chile before departure. All in all this was a well organised venture into an unknown market, which kept a brisk pace throughout the visit, and that achieved appropriate business and cultural exchange outcomes with Chilean Defence. This will probably be the Defence Export Unit mission to Chile that will be commended as having been the beginning of many prospective and fruitful Defence trade missions into the continent.'
Richard Yanieri, Managing Director, YTEK PTY LTD