HOSTING THE 2026 DILP COHORT AT REDARC
On Tuesday, 28 April 2026, REDARC Defence & Space was proud to welcome the latest cohort of the Defence Industry Leadership Program (DILP) to our Lonsdale facility in South Australia for their third workshop of the year.
Facilitated by the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC), this comprehensive program is instrumental in cultivating the next generation of leaders within Australia’s defence industry. It provides them with the skills, networking opportunities, and industry exposure necessary to drive sovereign capability forward.
FOSTERING FUTURE DEFENCE LEADERS
At REDARC Defence & Space, we recognise that the future of sovereign capability relies not only on advanced technology and machinery but on the dedicated people driving the industry forward. Supporting the talented industry participants who make up the 2026 DILP cohort highlights our ongoing commitment to leadership development across the entire defence sector.
By opening our doors to these emerging leaders, we aim to share our experiences and foster a collaborative, knowledge-sharing environment that empowers participants to thrive and innovate in their respective careers.
REDARC'S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR PEOPLE
Our support for DILP extends well beyond hosting workshops; we are active, year-on-year participants. We are thrilled to have our very own Sean Connor taking part in the 2026 cohort.
Sean’s participation underscores our internal commitment to upskilling our team and ensuring our personnel are at the forefront of defence industry leadership and collaboration.
“I am privileged to join this program alongside such highly capable and motivated peers. This initiative offers critical context to evolve our leadership styles and strengthen industry knowledge required to support and deliver solutions for Australia’s ongoing sovereign defence capability.”
– Sean Connor, REDARC Defence & Space Electronics Engineer
Furthermore, the recent workshop provided an excellent opportunity for previous alumni to reconnect with the program. We were delighted to see Greg Foord and Salwa Ali, our 2025 DILP participants, along with Chris Wright, 2024 DILP participant, in attendance and featured engaging with the cohort in the site tour.
Chris, Greg and Salwa’s ongoing involvement exemplifies the enduring network, continuous learning, and lasting value that DILP truly provides to its graduates long after their program year concludes.
INSIDE THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FACILITY
The workshop agenda provided the cohort with an immersive, hands-on experience at our state-of-the-art facilities. Equipped with high-vis vests, participants embarked on a comprehensive and secure site tour, gaining firsthand exposure to our manufacturing, testing, and technology capabilities.
This behind-the-scenes look allowed the cohort to witness the robust, design-to-manufacture processes that underpin our mission-critical electronics and power solutions. From our surface mount technology (SMT) lines to our rigorous environmental testing laboratories, the tour demonstrated the high standards required to supply defence primes and deliver ruggedised equipment to the field.
INSIGHT FROM INDUSTRY VETERANS
Beyond the facility tour, the DILP cohort engaged in highly valuable presentation and Q&A sessions with REDARC leadership. Anthony Kittel, CEO of REDARC Electronics and Founder & Managing Director of REDARC Defence & Space, alongside David Murfett, Defence Engineering Manager, took to the floor.
They shared their deep insights, lessons learned, and real-world experiences in navigating the complexities of the defence supply chain, scaling a local business into a global player, leading by taking calculated risks and challenging others, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
The day was further enriched by focused reflection and planning sessions led by Skills Lab‘s Laura Mabikafola, ensuring the cohort could immediately process and apply their learnings to their own leadership journeys.
LOOKING AHEAD
We extend our sincere thanks to Rowena Le Quesne and the broader team at DTC for their ongoing partnership and unwavering dedication to industry advancement. We are incredibly proud to support the DILP participants and look forward to seeing how these talented individuals, including our own Sean Connor, will continue to shape the future of Australia’s defence landscape.
