At the 2024 Capability Symposium, the ADF stated clearly their intention to prioritise the enablement of ‘Speed to Capability’ as a key priority of the Defence Strategic Review.
With this lens on acquisition and sustainment, Defence industry will have a sharper focus to manage large programs, budgets, and timeframes in order to meet the ADF’s commitment to efficiency and risk reduction. This will be the case with upcoming Guided Weapons, Hypersonic Weapons, and other key projects in the Air Force domain.
Managing risk proves a winning strategy
Systematiq’s Managing Director, Brydon Johnson, stated that they help clients unfamiliar with Defence project acquisition or delivery by managing risks and stakeholder relationships.
Their model aids clients in executing complex projects across Land, Sea, and Air. Systematiq’s expertise in project lifecycle management and CASG requirements enables them to identify issues early and ensure successful project outcomes.
One of Systematiq’s first projects was to assist Chemring Australia to deliver into the LAND 500 project. Chemring are a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of airborne countermeasures. The contract, valued at up to $18 million, saw Army’s obsolete inventory of Electronic Surveillance systems replaced by Chemring’s system.
Although Chemring had a small project team in the UK where the systems were manufactured, they required localised support in Australia to guide the delivery of the ASDEFCON Statement of Work (SOW).
Systematiq provided Project Management Organisation (PMO) services to Chemring in Australia to coordinate their Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and ensure successful delivery.
Steve Dartnell, Chemring Australia’s then General Manager of Force Protection, remarked: “Chemring Australia’s core business is manufacturing, and Land 500 was our first major capital acquisition project win. We lacked the expertise to deliver a complex Defence project, so we sought a partner for that capability.”
“Systematiq was a perfect fit, offering personnel who understood Defence’s acquisition processes. Their professional support was crucial in delivering the Resolve System on time and within budget.”
Project Management expertise
Ben Burrows, Systematiq’s Head of Projects and Capability, and ex-CASG Program Director, emphasizes, “With the new focus on speed to capability, projects face closer scrutiny. Managing these projects is challenging due to the complexities between government offices and suppliers unfamiliar with Commonwealth processes.”
“Our team uses a rigorous PMO approach with industry-standard systems and tools to ensure quality through reporting dashboards, project health checks, and strong stakeholder management.”
Continuous capability development
Systematiq has developed engineering management plans that embed them in projects for several years, providing tender specialists, pricing, scheduling, systems engineering, and logistics expertise.
“Partnering with our clients results in the best outcomes, allowing us to manage project risk effectively by mitigating scope creep, ensuring compliance, and meeting service requirements,” says Brydon Johnson.
By matching the ADF’s approach to outcomes-based KPIs, Systematiq is a sound choice for project management capability. Speak to one of the team at Avalon 2025 or contact them through their website.
