The Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast takes listeners inside the ideas, technologies and people shaping Australian manufacturing today.
Drawing on the authority of one of the industry's most established voices, the podcast goes beyond the headlines to explore the equipment, innovations and trends driving the sector forward. Each episode features informed conversations with industry leaders, manufacturers and experts, offering practical insights for senior decision-makers and operational leaders alike.
Whether it's aerospace, defence, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, or more, the The Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast shines a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities defining modern manufacturing – and the role Australia plays in its future.
Building Sovereign Manufacturing – Christopher Rule, GME – MM Podcast #6
Australia's sovereign manufacturing capability has become central to the nation's defence future, but what does it take for local manufacturers to compete on the global stage?
In this episode of the Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast, editor Jack Lloyd speaks with Christopher Rule, general manager – defence, security and resilience at GME, about the company's 65-year manufacturing journey and why it continues to build the majority of its products in Australia.
The conversation explores the importance of sovereign capability, advanced electronics manufacturing, RF communications, AUKUS opportunities, compliance as a competitive advantage, and how Australian manufacturers can position themselves to win work in increasingly complex defence supply chains.
Rule also shares his views on government policy, supporting medium-sized manufacturers, and why Australia's engineering expertise gives the industry confidence for the decade ahead.
1 Jul 2026
Building a global pharmaceutical manufacturer in Australia – Alan Oppenheim, Ego Pharmaceuticals #5
In this episode of the Manufacturers' Monthly podcast, Alan Oppenheim AM, managing director of Ego Pharmaceuticals, discusses the company's journey from a family-owned Melbourne business founded in 1953 to one of Australia's leading pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Fresh from being recognised as Leader of the Year at the 2026 Endeavour Awards, Oppenheim reflects on Ego's more than 70-year manufacturing legacy, the company's $156 million investment in Australian operations, and why local manufacturing remains central to its long-term strategy.
The conversation also explores the new Zorzi Innovation Centre, advanced manufacturing and automation, quality and regulatory compliance, sustainability through the Green Core project, workforce development, and the future of Australian manufacturing in an increasingly competitive global market.
27 May 2026
Building Australia's Counter-Drone Capability – Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast #4
In this episode of the Manufacturers' Monthly podcast, DroneShield chief operating officer Michael Powell discusses the rapid growth of Australia's counter-drone sector and what it takes to scale advanced defence manufacturing locally.
Powell shares insights into DroneShield's expanding manufacturing and R&D operations in Alexandria, the company's approach to quality assurance and production at scale, and why sovereign manufacturing capability is becoming increasingly important in today's defence landscape.
The conversation also explores manufacturing design principles, local supply chains, workforce capability, automation, and the broader future of Australian defence manufacturing over the next decade.
In this episode of the Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast, Dr Camile Farah, CEO and managing director of Optiscan Imaging, discusses how the company is advancing real-time digital microscopic imaging and positioning itself as a global leader in medtech innovation.
Farah explains how Optiscan's miniaturised, pen-sized devices enable instant, high-resolution imaging of living tissue at the cellular level — transforming diagnostics, surgical decision-making and pathology workflows. By reducing reliance on traditional biopsy and slide-based processes, the technology is helping clinicians make faster, more accurate decisions at the point of care.
The conversation also explores Optiscan's Melbourne-based manufacturing capability, its growing international footprint, and the broader rise of Australian medtech manufacturing on the global stage.
In this episode of the Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast, host Jack Lloyd speaks with Bernie Quinn, CEO and engineering director of Premcar, about Australia's automotive past — and what it means for the future of local manufacturing.
Quinn reflects on the rise of Australia's car industry, the impact of the end of mass vehicle manufacturing, and the engineering capability that still exists across the country.
Drawing on Premcar's work in advanced vehicle development, he explains why Australia still has the technical expertise, precision engineering skills and innovation capacity to play a significant role in global automotive programs.
The conversation also explores the importance of rebuilding a national manufacturing mindset. Quinn discusses sovereign capability, skills retention and why long-term thinking is essential if Australia is to remain competitive in advanced manufacturing sectors.
From the legacy of local vehicle production to the opportunities emerging in modern automotive engineering, this episode looks at how industry knowledge, design capability and engineering excellence can help position Australia as a serious manufacturing nation once again.
3 Feb 2026
Australian Space Capability – Dr Matthew Tetlow, Inovor Technologies – Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast #1
In the debut episode of Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast, Manufacturers' Monthly editor Jack Lloyd speaks with Dr Matthew Tetlow, CEO of satellite manufacturer Inovor Technologies, about how advanced manufacturing is underpinning Australia's growing role in the global space sector.
From sovereign capability to scaling complex space hardware locally, the conversation explores why Australia is better positioned than many realise – and what needs to happen next to turn ambition into sustained industrial capability.
This episode marks the first instalment Manufacturers' Monthly Podcast, a new podcast examining the people, technologies and ideas shaping Australian manufacturing.
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