Business Review Group’s Story
Business Review Group (BRG) is a 100% Australian and veteran-owned company founded in Canberra in 1999 by Tim Burns. They are a specialist workforce capability partner supporting Australian Defence, Government and Industry.
Tim began his career in the Royal Australian Navy as a teen, dedicating the next decade to serving Australia. Although he hung up the uniform, his dedication to service remained central to his purpose. Today, BRG continues that commitment by helping deliver cutting-edge capabilities to the Australian Defence Force.
Tim spoke to us about BRG’s journey, its relationship with Downer and the lessons the business has learned along the way.
How did your business start?
I founded BRG in Canberra in 1999, driven by a desire to protect and uplift the Commonwealth’s capability edge in an increasingly uncertain strategic environment.
Since then, BRG has evolved alongside changing government priorities while operating under strict requirements for security, independence and probity. Today, we connect talented professionals to complex projects and programs across Defence, Government and Industry.
Why is working in the Defence Industry important to your business?
The importance of working in Defence is embedded in my background as a veteran. At the age of 16, I began my career in the Royal Australian Navy, spending the next 10 years serving Australia.
Since then, my passion for Defence has not wavered. BRG is its continuation, motivated to deliver cutting-edge capabilities to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force.
Our team shares this passion, shaping our efforts to protect the warfighter and deliver future-focused outcomes. We believe being proudly Australian inspires a collective responsibility to defend our home, which underpins our work in Defence.
That commitment also comes with unique challenges. Supporting Defence and related security agencies requires organisations to adapt quickly to evolving priorities and operate under time-critical conditions with agility and strong stakeholder engagement.
How did you get started as a Defence supplier?
In 2010, BRG expanded from supporting Federal Government customers to include Defence. This accelerated the opportunities available to us and allowed our advisory services to move into technical areas.
We were privileged to partner with Team Downer MSP in 2018. Since then, our relationship has continued to grow as we work together in support of Defence, with Team Downer MSP now representing one of our largest and most valued customers.
Communication and trust are crucial to successful relationships between Primes and SMEs.Maintaining open communication strengthens trust, transparency and honesty, enabling SMEs like BRG to provide tailored services and support.
What has been the key to your growth and success?
A key driver of BRG’s growth and its position as a preferred SME to the Commonwealth has been diversification. As Defence capability requirements have evolved, our refusal to remain stagnant has allowed growth to thrive and we expanded into ICT, cybersecurity and specialist engineering.
As a 100% veteran-owned company, our firsthand understanding of military service also influences how we support Defence. We believe Australian SMEs are critical to ensuring Defence has access to the best talent and specialist expertise available. Through our unique networks and industry relationships, SMEs like ours provide deep reach-back that is integral to Australia’s Defence capability.
A core part of our work involves assisting former Australian Defence Force personnel in life after service. In doing this we’re creating value for our Defence customers by connecting them with talented people who bring unique operational experience, leadership and insight.
What has been the most important lesson learned along the way?
One of the most important lessons we have learned is to value the opportunities that come from failure! While this may sound clichéd, every opportunity holds value, particularly those without a payoff. With each setback, we have had the chance to reflect, refine and realign our approach.
It is often in these moments that we gain the greatest insight, deepening our understanding of our candidates, our clients and the way we advance as a trusted partner.
What advice would you give other SMEs looking to grow in Defence?
For SMEs looking to enter or establish themselves in the Defence industry, we advise approaching the sector from a holistic perspective. Defence is complex and requires equally complex service delivery.
SMEs need to invest time in understanding the interdependencies between the various Groups and Services that comprise the industry. This involves observing how they come together, like pieces of a puzzle, to deliver outcomes.
Most importantly, SMEs should back their own capability and purpose; do this and growth in the Defence industry will naturally follow.
Find out more about BRG.
