Carly Bakes, Industry Engagement Officer, Birdon

We maintain and operate under Australian control; we keep decision authority here and focus heavily on building skills and capability locally. This approach guarantees a reliable supply chain with Australian interests at the forefront.

Birdon’s Industry Engagement Manager, Carly Bakes provides an insight into her role at Birdon and how the company supports Australian SMEs in their journey to supply and support Defence programs globally.

How did you start down this career path?

My journey into the defence industry was driven by a strong desire to protect my country and its people.

My career has been marked by a commitment to service and leadership. Starting as a Logistics and Supply Chain Professional in the Royal Australian Navy, my eight-year tenure included various leadership roles, contributing to asset sustainment, fleet governance, and global operations.

My journey continued in the defence industry, where I held managerial positions at Safran and then Navantia, culminating in my current role as Industry Engagement Manager at Birdon, where I oversee the Australian Industry Capability strategy.

I have experienced profound satisfaction and pride in my service. My choice to remain in the industry is fuelled by the impact I have already made and a steadfast desire to continue contributing.

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What inspires you in your role/industry? Why?

I am inspired by the leadership at Birdon and our commitment to aligning our strategies with government initiatives. Understanding policy deeply and proactively collaborating is a challenge that motivates me, as it allows us to find synergies between our objectives and those of our governmental partners. This ensures our efforts are impactful and sustainable, contributing not just to our company but to broader societal goals, which is incredibly fulfilling.

The opportunity to work with many capable Australian companies prepared to engage with the Defence industry is also inspiring. Despite the complexity and challenges, the rewards are substantial. As an authentic sovereign organisation, with an Australian based leadership team, we make critical decisions affecting our customers and stakeholders in Australia. We maintain Australian control, focusing on building local skills and capability, ensuring a reliable supply chain with Australian interests at heart.

What's your approach to customer service that separates you from the rest?

Customer service is one of Birdon Group's four core values and our vision is to 'Create certainty for our customers by engineering and delivering the right maritime solutions'.

Our approach delivers solutions precisely tailored to the specific needs of our customers by understanding the deeper motivations behind each project to provide a service that is genuinely "right for the customer." We go beyond just meeting the specifications to ensure the maritime solutions provided are safe, offer value for money, and are customised to the customer's unique requirements and driving forces, not just a one-size-fits-all solution.

How do you innovate and stay ahead of industry trends?

We innovate by working across all stages of the asset life cycle, from design to disposal, and sharing learnings across diverse industries. Our global presence allows us to bring product improvements back to Australia, like the new propulsion system that we discovered when prototyping the Bridge Erection Boats (BEBs) for the U.S Army and then retrofitted into the Australian Bridge Erection Propulsion Boats (BEPBs) that we had designed and built for the Australian Army. The Australian Defence Force benefits from these enhancements, which often flow back to Research and Development, effectively funded externally.

We also stay ahead by engaging with customers and stakeholders for feedback, crucial for continuous improvement and aligning with industry trends.

Prototyping, like our Vessel Zero project, is vital, allowing us to demonstrate functionality and feasibility, and feed practical insights back into design. This process not only improves outcomes but also enables us to build at scale and expand our footprint.

What is the toughest challenge you've faced in your role? How did you overcome it?

The toughest challenge I've faced in my role is balancing the preference for Australian suppliers with the need to keep costs competitive. It's a delicate act to support the capability growth of the industry while ensuring commercial viability. I've navigated this by seeking out synergies across non-defence areas of the business, which allows us to create successful opportunities with our partners and suppliers. This approach has helped us maintain a strong, competitive edge while fostering the local industry.

What are some of your goals for the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, my goals are to help Birdon to continue supporting Australian SMEs in their journey to supply and support Defence programs globally, and to support Birdon as they continue to demonstrate their commitment to Australian defence capability.

As Birdon continues to export Australian capability worldwide, we want to maintain our commitment to Australian Industry Capability growth, and develop sustainable capability advancements to meet the current and future Defence requirements.

As a leader in AIC, I envision setting a standard for what excellence in AIC looks like, showcasing the potential and quality of Australian innovation on a global stage.

About Birdon

Established in 1977, Birdon is a proudly Australian-owned business with an operational footprint that includes Australia, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Birdon creates certainty for its customers by engineering and delivering the right whole-of-life solutions across many sectors key to Australia’s security and prosperity.

Birdon continues to prove itself by supplying end-to-end solutions for defence and commercial projects and exporting that capability worldwide, delivering high-profile and high-value programs for military, government and commercial customers.

Birdon is successfully delivering on major projects for the Australian Navy, Australian Army, U.S. Army, US Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy.