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SPOTLIGHT: Setting up SMEs for success, with Downer Defence’s Ed Groch and Ranjan Rajagopal

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Ed Groch - Indigenous Engagement Manager, and Ranjan Rajagopal - General Manager Commercial at Downer Defence, join host Liam Garman to unpack Downer Defence’s SME incubation model and the hard lessons learned that have helped shape it.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Ed Groch - Indigenous Engagement Manager, and Ranjan Rajagopal - General Manager Commercial at Downer Defence, join host Liam Garman to unpack Downer Defence’s SME incubation model and the hard lessons learned that have helped shape it.


This episode dives deep into the unique challenges that Indigenous businesses face entering defence industry, and provides some insights on the barriers that face all SMEs. From their own experiences and lessons learned, Ed and Ranjan discuss the challenges, the learnings and the continual refinements that have been instrumental in achieving some great successes for Downer Defence’s SME supply chain. Addressing the phases that defence industry SMEs encounter throughout their business growth cycle, the trio then discuss how other primes and defence businesses can employ the SME incubation model to support the sustainable growth of Australia’s defence ecosystem.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: PODCAST: Tariffs, peace (maybe) in Ukraine and a shifting global power struggle
Episode 10: PODCAST: No escaping it, China is trying to coerce us, with Mike Pezzullo
Episode 9: SPOTLIGHT: The role of test and evaluation in securing AI’s role in defence and national security, with Graeme Bick, Ray Bright and Chris White
Episode 8: CONTESTED GROUND: Alliance abandonment and realpolitik in global affairs
Episode 7: PODCAST: A taste of things to come, with shadow minister for defence Andrew Hastie
Episode 6: PODCAST: Getting our naval force structure right, with Jennifer Parker
Episode 5: CONTESTED GROUND: The expanding world of state-sponsored cyber warfare
Episode 4: SPOTLIGHT: Training – key to the National Defence Strategy, with CAE’s James Digges
Episode 3: PODCAST: Unpacking the impacts of a disruptive new US Defense secretary
Episode 2: PODCAST: Threats, theatre and tariffs in Trump’s world, with the Defence Connect team

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