WELCOME TO AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE EXPOSITION

On behalf of the City of Greater Geelong, I am pleased to be able to welcome you to the 2023 Australian International Airshow & Aerospace and Defence Exposition (AVALON 2023).

This spectacular showcase of aerial precision and might is a highlight of our region’s exciting major events calendar.

The Council is pleased to be an ongoing supporter of the airshow, which returns for its 15th event at Avalon Airport.

The 2019 edition contributed an estimated $28.9 million to Greater Geelong’s economy, attracting more than 200,000 people over three days.

After a four-year wait due to the impacts of the pandemic, it is very exciting that the eyes of the aviation world will again be on Avalon.

If you’re visiting our region for the airshow, I hope you’ll find the time to experience some of the many other attractions on offer.

Whether it’s our bays, our beaches, our natural landscapes, our food and wine producers, or our globally recognised City of Design attractions, there is so much to see and do in our region.

For some ideas and further information, I recommend you visit www.tourismgeelongbellarine.com.au

May you and your family have a great weekend.

Mayor Trent Sullivan

City of Greater Geelong

As Convenor of the 2023 Australian International Airshow & Aerospace and Defence Exposition (AVALON 2023), it is my pleasure to welcome you to the event where the Australian aviation, aerospace and space communities highlight and advance their contribution to the nation’s defence, economy and daily life.

AVALON 2023 is where more than 750 participating companies from more than 30 nations will engage on specialist industry days, developing the technologies and services that underpin capability for the Australian Defence Force and the Australian aviation industry.

Australia’s aviation industry, which directly employed more than 90,000 people and contributed more than $20 billion per year to the Australian economy before COVID, is charting its path to recovery after the pandemic.

In parallel, the nation’s growing space industry is demonstrating its niche skills and developing new capability, as Australia implements a national strategy to triple the sector’s annual contribution to GDP to $12 billion and create an additional 20,000 jobs by 2030.

Specifically designed to encourage engagement, AVALON 2023 hosts the conferences, industry connections and networking that stimulate the exchange of information and ideas in these and other fields, in the national interest.

As an event of national significance, AVALON 2023 maintains its leading position in the industry’s global calendar with the substantial support of the Government of Victoria and the Australian Department of Defence, primarily through the Royal Australian Air Force, and the City of Greater Geelong.

I trust that whether your visit to the 2023 Australian International Airshow & Aerospace and Defence Exposition is about enjoyment, industry or education, your time here will be fruitful and enjoyable.

Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, AO RAAF (Rtd)

Convenor, 2023 Australian International Airshow & Aerospace and Defence Exposition