Toby Jones, Founder of TJC, speaks on the often misunderstood convergence between government and industry. The complexities and opportunities that arise when public and private sectors work together towards collective national security and defence.
The convergence between government and industry, though seemingly fraught with challenges, is underpinned by shared values and goals.
"We all want to sustain the impact and value of the work we do. So we're motivated by similar things. We need to be successful in the work we do, but we also have some very fundamental differences." Added Jones.
It's about the collective well-being of our economy, our citizens, and indeed our families and friends. Yet, this convergence is not without its hurdles, as Jones acknowledges the "fundamental differences" in accountability and operational dynamics between the sectors.
"We are starting to see a real convergence towards much more collaborative… much more collective work on shared problems, and that's to be really welcomed." Commented Jones.
Jones elaborated on the differences, particularly noting the government's need for accountability, transparency, and fairness. In contrast, businesses are often driven by innovation and competition, leading to a dynamic that can sometimes seem at odds with the public sector's more methodical approach.
Jones discusses the increasing collaboration – or rather, collective effort – between the sectors, acknowledging that itโs beyond mere collaboration. It's a shared endeavour to tackle fundamental societal issues such as national defence, security, and international cooperation.
Jones is of the belief that recognition of this necessity is fostering a more unified approach where industry and government can harness their strengths collectively. Jones pointed out the importance of commitments made during these dialogues, citing the value of continued conversation, mutual accountability, and transparent data as key drivers for sustained effort and success.
He cites an example from the UK, introducing the concept of ACE (Accelerated Capability Environment), a platform that epitomises successful public-private partnerships.
This concept is sponsored by the government but thriving on collaboration with the private sector, ACE has pulled through significant funding and assignments, driving real, impactful change.
โWe need to see that through. And you asked about my experience. Well, we're here in Canberra… to create practical spaces to bring together services, products, businesses, bring those together and team to deliver results and impact solutions for those big public service outcomes."
Jones draws from his extensive experience on both sides of the aisle, discussing the "democratic accountability" that governs public service operations and the inherent risks and challenges involved in decision-making within the public sector.
The public perception of inefficiency in government projects, often fuelled by costly failures that become meme-fodder online. Jones acknowledges these frustrations but suggests a path forward through entrepreneurial leadership within the public sector. By encouraging leaders to take calculated risks and embrace innovative models of collaboration, there's potential for more scalable and sustainable public sector success.
"Persistence. I mean, that's back to that point of how do we make sure that we don't put the weight back on again afterwards once we've done all this good work?" Pointed out Jones.
Jones is optimistic about the trajectory, advocating for better communication and the celebration of successes to inspire and guide future efforts. The importance of learning from past failures, but more importantly, magnifying what works well now. This is also a reminder that the challenges we face in national security and defence are not the sole responsibility of the public sector. They are shared challenges that require shared solutions, with each sector bringing its unique strengths to the table.
