Industry, investment and defence-procurement expertise to help guide DIN’s next phase of university-led defence innovation
Sydney, NSW
The Defence Innovation Network (DIN) has announced the appointment of Tetyana Wotton as Chair of the DIN Steering Committee, strengthening the Network’s industry, commercialisation and defence-procurement expertise at a time of growing momentum for NSW and ACT defence innovation.
Ms Wotton is a Partner at EY with a focus on Defence and National Security. She brings deep experience across commercial strategy, government contracting, procurement, probity and defence industry engagement. She is also one of the authors of EY Australia’s Defence Supply Chain Resilience Insights Report, which drew on insights from nearly 500 Defence industry participants and highlighted the importance of collaboration between government, Defence, industry, investors and research institutions.
Her appointment comes as DIN expands its role as a connector between universities, Defence, industry and private capital. DIN has recently established the DIN Venture Advisory Council (DIN-VAC), a new initiative designed to bring experienced venture and strategic investors closer to emerging defence and dual-use technologies from DIN’s university network. The Council is intended to help researchers and industry partners better understand commercial pathways, access capital and investor expectations before technologies reach the market.
DIN Director Associate Professor Marian-Andrei Rizoiu said Ms Wotton’s appointment reflects DIN’s focus on turning research excellence into real-world defence innovation outcomes.
Quote attributed to Associate Professor Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, DIN Director
“DIN exists to connect world-class university research with Defence and industry needs worldwide. Tetyana brings precisely the kind of commercial, procurement and industry insight that can help sharpen that connection. Her experience across defence supply chains, contracting and industry engagement will be invaluable as DIN moves from funding promising ideas to helping create pathways for adoption, scale and impact.”
Ms Wotton said DIN has an important role to play in helping Australia’s research base connect with the companies, investors and Defence stakeholders needed to turn ideas into capability.
Quote attributed to Tetyana Wotton
“My passion is connecting Defence and industry and helping good ideas become tangible outcomes. DIN has a unique platform because it brings together research depth, Defence priorities and a growing industry network. I look forward to working with the Steering Committee, member universities, NSW Government, DSTG and industry partners to help DIN continue building practical pathways from research to capability.”
A growing record of delivery
DIN’s recent activity demonstrates the value of coordinated university, government and industry collaboration:
- DIN-supported university and industry teams unveiled the Omnidirectional Wide-angle Locator (OWL) prototype at the International Astronautical Congress 2025 in Sydney, a space-domain-awareness demonstrator developed under DIN’s Strategic Investment Initiative with support from the NSW Government.
- DIN and Victoria’s Defence Science Institute jointly awarded nearly $1.2 million through the ADSUN Innovation Grant: Working Under Water to support three cutting-edge undersea projects involving academia and industry.
- DIN has opened a 2026 Strategic Investment Initiative call investing $1 million in next-generation prototypes in Electronic Warfare and Drone Navigation and Situational Awareness, with projects expected to produce working prototypes aligned with Defence & Allied priorities.
- DIN’s 2025–26 project register records 16 awarded projects across Pilot Projects, Strategic Investment Initiative, ADSUN and internship programs, with 12 industry partners, seven defence partners and recorded leveraged co-funding.
Ms Wotton’s appointment is expected to support DIN’s next phase: strengthening connections between low-TRL university research, higher-TRL prototype pathways, NSW defence industry needs and private-capital engagement.
About Tetyana Wotton
Tetyana Wotton is a Partner at EY focused on Defence and National Security. She has extensive consulting and commercial-law experience and has worked across defence, defence industry, large acquisitions and supply chain resilience. Her recent work includes EY Australia’s Defence Supply Chain Resilience Insights Report and facilitation of the Indo Pacific 2025 session “Resilient. Productive. Sovereign: Rethinking the Defence Supply Chain for National Advantage.”
About the Defence Innovation Network
The Defence Innovation Network is a university-led initiative supported by the NSW Government and Defence Science and Technology Group to enhance NSW and ACT defence industry capability through collaboration between government, Defence, industry and academic research institutions. DIN mobilises university expertise to support Defence priorities, build multidisciplinary teams, and help translate research into practical outcomes for Australia’s defence and national resilience.
