April 2026 newsletter

Taking place from 27 April to 1 May, NT Defence Week provides a unique opportunity to connect with defence, government, and industry leaders shaping the future of defence in the Northern Territory. The program is now just two weeks away and has attracted strong interest.

The week features notable speakers, including senior Australian Defence Force leaders, government officials, defence executives, and industry decision‑makers from across Australia and overseas. With limited capacity remaining across several key events, this is the final opportunity to register and secure your place for 2026.

Visit the DefenceNT website to view full program.

Tuesday 28 April

Master Builders NT 2026 Defence Week Breakfast 7am to 9am

The Master Builders NT 2026 Defence Week Breakfast offers a high-value forum for anyone with an interest in Defence Infrastructure and the opportunities shaping the Northern Territory.

This exclusive breakfast brings you face‑to‑face with some of Australia’s most respected Defence leaders. Attendees will hear focused presentations from industry experts, followed by an interactive Q&A panel featuring:

• Lieutenant General (Ret’d) John Wissler
• Lieutenant General (Ret’d) John Frewen
• Rear Admiral(Ret’d) Allan Du Toit
• Dr Joyne Coyne

Representing the Northern Territory Defence Industry Council, the Defence Strategy Group, and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the panel will share firsthand perspectives on defence priorities, infrastructure pipelines, and how industry can align strategically in an evolving defence landscape.

With limited numbers, this event offers an opportunity to engage directly with senior defence decision‑makers, ask questions that matter to your business, and contribute to discussions that will influence the Territory’s future.

Register for: Master Builders NT | Defence Industry Breakfast

Wednesday 29 April

Forum 2: Contested Logistics – 1:30pm to 5pm

Don’t miss this timely discussion on one of Defence’s most critical operational challenges. This forum examines how contested logistics in the Indo‑Pacific is reshaping defence requirements and where new opportunities exist for Northern Territory.

Hear directly from Defence, US stakeholders, and regional experts on emerging capability needs, supply‑chain resilience, and pathways for industry engagement. Register now to position your organisation at the forefront of future logistics, sustainment, and infrastructure initiatives.

Register for Forum 2: Contested Logistics

Thursday 30 April

Charles Darwin University’s Innovation in the North Coffee Catch-up – 8am to 9:30am

Join this morning session to connect with Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) defence‑focused research and workforce capability.

The Coffee Catch-up offers a practical look at how CDU is supporting defence in the North and where new collaboration opportunities exist for industry. With limited places remaining, this is a valuable chance to engage directly and explore emerging capability needs aligned with Northern Capability, National Defence.

Register for Charles Darwin University's Innovation in the North Coffee Catch-up.

Larrakeyah Defence Precinct – Defence Industry Day – 1pm to 3pm

Step inside one of Northern Australia’s most strategically significant naval facilities.

This guided industry tour offers rare access to the Navy’s evolving maritime capability at HMAS Coonawarra, highlighting critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, and the sovereign capability being built to support future operations.

With defence and industry collaboration at the centre of Navy’s growth in the North, this is a valuable opportunity for businesses seeking to understand upcoming capability needs and where industry can play a role. Places are limited and registrations are still open.

Registrations for Larrakeyah Defence Precinct

DefenceNT leads industry delegations to AMDA Defence and industry trade shows to promote Northern Territory industry capability and capacity, as well as showcase current and future investment opportunities.

In 2026, the Chief Minister and Minister for Defence NT, Lia Finocchiaro MLA, will be leading the Northern Territory’s industry delegation to Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition in Perth between 6-8 October. DefenceNT is supporting the mission by conducting a competitive expression of interest process to select business, peak bodies and industry groups to form the industry delegation.

Working together with DefenceNT, the industry delegation will work to promote local capability to key Defence personnel, allied forces and industry stakeholders. This biennial exposition is your opportunity to connect with the global land defence community, showcasing the Northern Territory while exploring opportunities for growth and collaboration in the defence sector.

Applicants are required to review the submission guidelines in the prospectus prior to submitting an expression of interest.

Click the link below to access the prospectus: Land Forces 2026 Prospectus

Express your interest, go to: Have Your Say | Land Forces 2026  

Expression of interest closes COB, 8 May 2026.

Master Builders Northern Territory (MBNT) opened nominations for defence project submissions as part of its annual Excellence in Building & Construction (EBC) Awards.

The EBC Awards are the Northern Territory’s premier construction awards, recognising excellence across the building and construction industry. In their 30th year in 2026, the awards will be announced at their Awards Dinner on 15 August 2026.

In recognition of the importance of strengthening local industry capability and the defence construction sector, DefenceNT is proud to be a Silver Sponsor for the 2026 EBC Awards.

For more information & submission: Master Builders NT EBC Awards 2026

The Engineers Australia Excellence Awards celebrate the people and projects shaping the future of engineering across Australia. From transformative infrastructure to innovative solutions delivering real community impact, these awards recognise excellence in action.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 awards, celebrating excellence across the profession. You can nominate yourself, a colleague, or a project team.

For more information & submission: 2026 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards

In March, DefenceNT attended Consult Australia’s CollabX 2026 in Canberra, a national forum bringing together Defence estate leaders, industry, and infrastructure experts to shape the future of Australia’s defence infrastructure. The event highlighted collaboration opportunities to deliver resilient, future‑ready defence estates, with a strong focus on northern Australia.

DefenceNT outlined a system-based approach to delivering defence infrastructure in northern Australia. In his speech, General Manager, Jimmy Kiploks emphasised operating in the north must be viewed as an integrated system rather than a series of projects, highlighting the importance of early engagement and local collaboration. Using the MQ-4C Triton upgrades at RAAF Base Tindal as a case study, the presentation showed how aligning workforce planning, seasonal sequencing, and early technical integration enabled delivery ahead of schedule and within budget.

The presentation further highlighted the Northern Territory Government’s coordination framework as a key friction remover to achieve better outcomes and build lasting regional businesses. This is a conversation that is likely to continue to continue at NT Defence Week in a couple of weeks.

This section showcases upcoming Defence-focused events and seminars delivered by industry associations, media, and partner organisations. It is intended to support business engagement and knowledge sharing across the defence sector. Readers are encouraged to follow the links provided for full event details, registration information, and updates.

• Australian Defence Magazine (ADM):  ADM events
• AMDA Foundation Limited: AMDA Foundation Limited events
• Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN): AIDN events
• Consult Australia: Consult Australia events
• Industry Capability Network (ICN): ICN upcoming events
• Master Builders Northern Territory (MBNT): MBNT events
• Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce (Chamber NT): Chamber NT event list
• Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network (NTIBN): NTIBN events
• Engineers Australia: Events

• It’s in our hands: US military presence in Australia makes us stronger
• For critical minerals, Darwin’s the place to be
• Speed without shortcuts: minerals permitting can be a competitive advantage
• Get serious about fuel security. We can’t rely on the US anymore
• For northern logistics, communication is key
• Fixing the architecture: governance reform for northern Australia's universities

AusTender

Free to use and where you can find Australian Government opportunities, annual procurement plans and contracts award announcements. For more information visit the AusTender website.

BenchOn

Where you can access opportunities with government agencies and Primes through BenchOn Industry Portals. To find out more visit the BenchOn website.

Gateway by ICN

Where you can find Australia and New Zealand’s largest network of suppliers and projects. For more information visit the Gateway by ICN website.

SAM.gov

The official US government system for contracting opportunities and contract award reports. To learn more go to the SAM.gov website.

National fitness facility access program for ADF, APS and Contractors – DPG/71878

Defence intends to identify providers capable of offering national fitness facility access to Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Australian Public Service (APS), Defence Contractors and their families. The objective is to establish a preferred provider arrangement allowing eligible personnel to engage in physical health and wellbeing activities, with frameworks supporting voluntary individual memberships for personnel and their immediate families.

Closing date: 21 April 2026

More information AusTender

Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator Emerging and Disruptive Technologies

The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) invites suppliers to respond to the EDT Request for Proposal (RFP) ASCA EDT P2ISR. The RFP seeks innovative R&D solutions for Persistent and Pervasive Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance, supporting breakthrough capabilities for Defence through collaboration with industry and research partners.

Closing date: 18 May 2026

More information AusTender

The grants and programs finder is the Australian Government’s central website for all grant and funding products available throughout Australia. To find out more, go to the Australian Government's Business website.

Defence Industry grants

Defence provides a range of grants to support industry. These grants assist Australian small and medium enterprises in expanding to meet Defence capability needs and join global Defence industry supply chains. Current information on available grant programs can be located at the Defence website.

Industry Growth Program offers

The program provides an advisory service for start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) undertaking innovative commercialisation and/or growth projects that are within the priority areas of the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund and help build Australia’s manufacturing capability
for the future. For more information visit the Industry Growth Program website.

Australian Submarine Agency

Over the next 30 years, the Australian Government will invest $30 billion into Australia’s Industrial Base for industry, infrastructure and workforce development in support of AUKUS.For more information on grants and funding go to the Australian Submarine Agency website.