Our February Partner Breakfast, presented in partnership with Thales Australia, was a great opportunity to bring our partner community together and hear directly from one of Bendigo’s key industry leaders.

Rhett, Site Manager at Thales Bendigo, shared insights from leading one of the region’s largest manufacturing operations. He spoke about the responsibility that comes with operating a major site in a regional city and the role businesses like Thales play in supporting the long-term strength of our local economy.

A strong theme throughout the morning was connection. Connection to place. Connection to people. Connection to purpose. Rhett reflected on how a renewed focus on community engagement has shaped culture at the Bendigo site, influenced workforce engagement and strengthened relationships across the region.

He spoke candidly about the leadership decisions behind that shift and why investing locally is not just the right thing to do, but an important part of building a resilient and sustainable manufacturing sector in regional Victoria.

For those in the room, it was a thoughtful and practical conversation. One that reinforced the value of strong partnerships and open dialogue across our business community.

Thank you to Red Energy Arena for hosting the breakfast and to Tom Bailey Photography for capturing the morning.