The Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, used a powerful address to nearly 900 people from across Australia’s defence industry to thank the nation for its ongoing support and warned against complacency in the face of increasing global uncertainty.
(L-R): Head of Air Force Capability Air Vice Marshal Wendy Blyth, AM, Head of Land Capability Major General Richard Vagg, DSC, Chief of Personnel Lieutenant General Natasha Fox AO, CSC, His Excellency the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Momentum Markets government relations manager Steve Kuper, Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley, CSC, Defence Connect editor Liam Garman and director - Commercial Growth William Magee.
Defence Connect was proud to host His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, during the fifth annual Australian Defence Industry Awards.
Nearly 900 members of the defence industry who attended the ceremony heard from ambassador Myroshnychenko about the importance of the strong relationship between Australia and Ukraine, who stressed the importance of moving away from “just in time supply chains” towards "just in case supply chains”.
The ambassador was joined by senior Defence leaders including Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley, CSC; Chief of Personnel Lieutenant General Natasha Fox AO, CSC; Head of Land Capability Major General Richard Vagg, DSC; and Head of Air Force Capability Air Vice Marshal Wendy Blyth, AM.
During the event, ambassador Myroshnychenko thanked Australia’s defence industry for its ongoing and enduring support for the Ukrainian people and their efforts to resist the Russian invasion.
Ambassador Myroshnychenko highlighted a number of key Australian innovations that have helped Ukraine turn the tables against a much larger, more powerful foe, including the famous Thales Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle (PMV) and SYPAQ’s cardboard drones which have proven to be pivotal in helping Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
Ambassador Myroshnychenko confirmed on 29 August that cardboard drones had been used against a “legitimate target” Russian airfield.
The Australian defence industry has been providing materiel support to Ukraine as it fights against Russia’s invasion, with the war raging on for over 18 months.
Australia has supplied 120 of the domestically built Bushmaster PMVs as part of approximately $890 million in overall assistance provided to Ukraine.
Commenting on ambassador Myroshnychenko’s appearance at this year’s awards, Momentum Markets’ government relations manager, Steve Kuper, said: “It was an honour to host ambassador Myroshnychenko at the Australian Defence Industry Awards. His address hammered home the reality of how important a sovereign defence industry is for our national security.
“The personal toll it has taken on the Ukrainian people was felt deeply by the audience who were deeply moved, with not a dry eye in the house by the ambassador’s stories of sacrifice and heroism in the face of such unmitigated barbarity,” Kuper said.
“Ambassador Myroshnychenko was joined by a strong representation from a number of high-profile diplomatic missions, including the United States, Italy, European Union, and New Zealand. This highlights the prestige with which the Australian Defence Industry Awards is held,” Kuper added.
The Australian Defence Industry Awards has become the most anticipated awards program of the year. It provides national recognition to the top businesses and professionals in the defence industry, from primes, small-to-medium enterprises (SME), academic institutions and associations to high-performing individuals such as defence executives, Indigenous and female leaders, students, scientists, technicians, and academics.
It has become a desirable accolade for individuals and businesses seeking to forge their role in the defence industry and contribute to its transformation by embracing capability building.
Defence Connect would like to thank all of its partners for their invaluable support, including principal partner KBR, platinum partner JLL, gold partners Investment NSW and Ventia, gold and dessert partner Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium, supporting partners Analytical Progression, Babcock, Industry Capability Network, Killara Services, Luerssen Australia, Sitzler, and UNSW Canberra, dessert partner Willyama Services, research partner Agile Market Intelligence, coin and charity partner Bravery Trust, and charity partners Legacy, Invictus Australia, and Soldier On.