LAND FORCES 2021 was a great success and the numbers prove it. From the start, it was clear that the event would be enthusiastically supported by industry and it was – absolutely.
LAND FORCES 2021 attracted 12,766 attendances from industry, government and defence over its three days, with 718 companies participating and 26 conferences, symposia and seminars. Had our Victorian colleagues been able to join us, the total attendance would very likely have broken records.
Feedback from the very first day showed that the Australian defence industry was excited to be back to face-to-face engagement and renewing business relationships in person following the constraints of COVID-19. There was a sense of dynamism and activity on the exhibition floor for all three days, and strong attendance at the extensive array of conferences.
AMDA Foundation is grateful for the support of the Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, and Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, for their personal commitment to the event and their extensive engagement with industry in the exhibition halls. Indeed, the strength of support from the Department of Defence was evident and the participation by all State and Territory Governments demonstrated the national importance of Australia’s defence industry. We are especially appreciative of the support of the Queensland Government as the event’s principal sponsor.
Although protesters attempted to interrupt the event, they failed to prevent it from going ahead as planned and from being an important platform in advancing Australia’s industrial and defence capability. The protesters’ noisy antics and offensive conduct failed to deter industry from conducting one of the largest single industry engagement events anywhere in the world since the onset of the COVID pandemic. This is hardly surprising, as resilience is the hallmark of Australia's defence industry.
LAND FORCES 2021 fulfilled its goal of being a platform for engagement in the national interest, and planning is already underway for the next event. The strength of the Australian defence industry is crucial to the security of the nation.
Ian Honnery
CEO, AMDA Foundation.
