Nova Systems refreshed and poised for growth

Nova Systems is capitalising on decades of defence industry experience and rapid global growth by drawing its four businesses under one banner.

Jude Rushmere, General Manager Nova Systems New Zealand, said the global restructure positions the leading engineering services and technology solutions company for growth.

Nova Systems, Geoplex, GVH Aerospace and two10degrees are now operating as one enterprise under the Nova Systems name as the company looks to compete with larger defence players and grow its workforce globally by about 500 people over the next five years.

“We are creating new scope for our company in vying for new nation-building projects along with those we are currently undertaking, such as supporting the New Zealand Government in programme management of the innovative Airspace Integration Trials Programme,” Rushmere said.

“This project involves working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to support the development of Advanced Aviation, an important relationship we are committed to building in this region.”

Nova Systems has supported defence and government in New Zealand since 2008 after initially transferring test and evaluation expertise in the aerospace domain.

The local company was established in 2014 when Nova Systems made a significant expansion into maritime services.

Now with offices in Wellington and Auckland, the New Zealand

Jude Rushmere, Nova Systems New Zealand General Manager company has grown and expanded its client base.

As part of the changes, Jude Rushmere has now stepped into the role as General Manager in New Zealand, while Geoff Comber, who has been General Manager since the business was fully established in 2017, will focus on growth as Business Manager.

“This is the next step in the company’s evolution with scope to employ more New Zealanders, to win new contracts across sectors and to support investment and grow in this country,” Rushmere said.

“One of our great strengths is our ability to utilise decades of knowledge gained working on highly complex projects. Nova Systems continues to broaden its scope from aerospace to maritime, land, cyber and space across defence and non-defence clients.”

Nova Systems has significant reach through its global network with a workforce approaching 1,100 employees.

The company has more than 350 supply chain relationships and now operates from strategically located offices based in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, and Norway.

Rushmere said Nova Systems has a strong track record working on some of the most complex national defence projects and in knowledgesharing with clients in these regions.

In New Zealand, Nova Systems works on a diverse range of projects across multiple domains including: • The New Zealand Army’s

Directorate of Land Engineering providing business analysis and change management advice along with specialist system engineering services for design control, configuration management, technical data management and system integration.

Geoff Comber, Nova Systems New Zealand Business Manager

Nova Systems’ work includes supporting major maritime projects with Test and Evaluation, Integrated Logistics and Engineering Assurance services for the Royal New Zealand Navy. This includes remote work while HMNZS AOTEAROA was on her inaugural Antarctic Replenishment Operation.

• Introducing the New Zealand

Defence Force’s Information

Domain into service. • Supporting the Introduction of the Royal New Zealand Air

Force’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft into service. • Supporting the major maritime projects, with Test and

Evaluation, Integrated Logistics and Engineering Assurance services for the Royal New

Zealand Navy’s Dive Hydro

Vessel and Maritime Sustainment

Capability. The latter also includes remote work while

HMNZS AOTEAROA was on her inaugural Antarctic

Replenishment Operation. • Our Safety Assurance services have recently expanded with an earlier Independent Safety Case

Assurance Review (ISCAR) for

AOTEAROA leading to the award of the recent Offshore

Patrol Vessel (OPV) Safety Case

Review. • The company is privileged to have been appointed as a supplier to the New Zealand

Ministry of Defence’s Technical and Support Service Panel and to various Defence Force and

Government panels. The business has been recognised with several nominations for Minister of

Defence Awards of Excellence.

“Our team is also providing advisory and specialist systems engineering services to our defence clients for capabilities such as Tactical Data Links, C4ISR, and Electronic Warfare,” Rushmere said.

Through the Nova Systems’ Design Office, Nova Systems has licences and regulatory approvals to modify special mission aircraft in sectors such as emergency services around the globe.

Nova Systems is also recognising new opportunities in the New Zealand and Australian space sectors, having launched a Space Precinct in South Australia providing ground segment services to global satellite owners and operators.

“Our company is already supporting Australian and international space agencies with launch safety,” Rushmere said.

Global projects range from the Norwegian Defence NH90 maritime helicopter programme to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s mission simulation Gladiator capability and the State of Qatar for the introduction of Hawk Mk167 trainer aircraft and Typhoon aircraft.

“New Zealand needs to be interoperable with our allies and one of our selling points is we know what’s happening in Australia, we have experience working with other Five Eyes partners and we know how we can enhance capability through cooperation and knowledge sharing,” Rushmere said.

“There is a strength in working toward greater efficiencies with our closest ally Australia and that is supported by Nova Systems on both sides of the Tasman.”

Outside of defence, Nova Systems is supporting the Government’s Next Generation Critical Communications programme of work through the provision of qualified radio spectrum engineers working out of Australia.

Rushmere said Nova Systems is also bringing the brightest minds and advanced technology solutions together to support solving the complex challenge of delivering national security advisory services in New Zealand.