Michael Brown MP
Assistant Minister for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Economy, Defence and Space Industries
South Australia is partnering with the Australian affiliate of a US-based organisation to strengthen and sustain its AUKUS workforce, in a new agreement signed at the Indo Pacific Maritime Exposition in Sydney this week.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Malinauskas Labor Government and BlueForge Alliance Australia (BFAA) – an independent affiliate of BlueForge Alliance (BFA) United States – was signed by Assistant Minister for AI, Digital Economy, Defence and Space Industries Michael Brown.
Under the MoU, BFAA will endeavour to establish and maintain a presence in South Australia, collaborating with government, academic and industry partners to share and apply international learnings, expertise and knowledge transfer from its related United States organisation relating to identified and agreed elements of the AUKUS enterprise.
The Memorandum of Understanding signals the intention of both parties to work together to support the SSN-AUKUS program, benefiting Australia, the US and the UK. This will support the national endeavour, including around workforce, industry, technology, supply chain, knowledge transfer and awareness raising.
The newly established BFAA, officially launched on 3 November 2025, will be headed by a local Chief Executive Officer- designate, Sam Guthrie, with a local Board including Chief Executive Officer of BFA, Mr Rob Gorham.
BFA is a US Navy system integrator for its Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) and has had success on a range of fronts, including growing the US MIB’s capability and boosting workforce through campaigns and targeted training opportunities.
Quotes attributable to Michael Brown
This partnership with BFAA is another important step towards developing a highly skilled sovereign workforce and supporting a capable, innovative industry that can meet the demands of this transformative national endeavour.
BFAA will draw on the experience of its US counterpart and industry partners to deliver initiatives locally, at speed, while being transferrable and scalable.
This MoU adds to the significant body of work already underway by the South Australian Government in partnership with the Commonwealth, industry and academia to ensure we deliver for Defence.
Quotes attributable to BFAA
BlueForge Alliance Australia is honoured to establish this important partnership with South Australia to cooperatively develop and implement initiatives to support delivery of AUKUS Pillar 1 in the state, as part of the broader national endeavour.
BFAA, as a not-for-profit with an Australian-led team, is a strategic enabler for AUKUS, designed to partner across industry, government, and academia to uplift Australia’s sovereign submarine and maritime industrial base.
This MOU with South Australia will support the state’s AUKUS preparations across a range of critical aspects, including workforce development, supply chain resilience, and raising public awareness. Through this partnership, BFAA will bring knowledge and experience to help South Australia deliver on this critical national endeavour.
