Brigadier (retired) Ian Langford, one of the Australian army’s most respected and distinguished leaders, joins UBH as the company continues to rapidly expand.

UBH Group, a leading Sovereign Information Domain (SID) company, has appointed one of Australia’s foremost cyber and national security experts as a strategic advisor, in a move aimed at capitalising on increasing demand for its services.

The SID refers to the vast and diverse array of data generated and managed by government agencies, research institutions and other entities within the country. The market for services in Australia in this area is growing rapidly as the country increases its focus on digital sovereignty and cyber security.

Brigadier (retired) Ian Langford is one of the country’s most respected and decorated army leaders who received three Distinguished Services Crosses before concluding his career as Head of Land Capability. He has a PhD in philosophy, attended Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, recently graduated from Australian Institute of Company Directors and has taken Associate Professorship with UNSW.

His appointment comes at a critical time for the sector which is experiencing significant disruption from technological advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, high speed weapons and quantum computing as well as a focus on supply chains, capacity and workforce optimisation to accelerate delivery of military platforms and equipment.

Langford said he was looking forward to guiding the company as it continued to unlock the latent and emerging capabilities of strategic importance across the Information Domain.

“For me, joining UBH at this time is like being on the frontlines of a digital battlefield, defending critical information and protecting the sovereignty of nations,” he said.

“The key in battle is to be quicker than your adversary and it applies in this sector too. Organisations like UBH are a critical part of how Australia will achieve its strategic defence objectives in the years to come. I’m thrilled to be joining a team that is at the forefront of cutting edge technology and strategy to counter evolving cyber threats.”

Growth trajectory

UBH Group is a veteran owned and sovereign Australian company at the forefront of providing innovative solutions to Government and Defence in the rapidly evolving information domain sector.

Since its inception in 2020 the company has grown rapidly with a team of 31 information domain professionals recruited extensively with extensive Defence force backgrounds.

UBH saw a 37% increase in revenue over from FY22 to 23 and a 100% increase in orders during the period. It also doubled its staffing numbers in that time.

UBH Group founder and CEO Jeff Batten said Langford would be instrumental in helping the company continue to meet the evolving needs of its clients and maintain its position as an industry leader.

“The majority of our employees are veterans from Army, Navy, and Airforce backgrounds and are provided flexible working arrangements that enable them to contribute meaningfully as part of the Total Workforce System,” he said.

“We are thrilled to formally welcome Ian as a strategic advisor at UBH. His reputation and insight into the issues Australia will face in the modern Defence environment is an invaluable asset.”

Untapped potential

The increasing adoption of digital technologies across various industries, together with the rise in cyber threats has driven demand for SID services over the last decade, making it a lucrative market for players in the space.

Australia’s SID services market was estimated to be worth around $5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $7 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period.

The Government’s increased focus on digital sovereignty is a key contributing factor to this growth with both Coalition and Labor governments taking increasing proactive measures to safeguard the nation’s critical information and infrastructure including the development of the Australian Cyber Security Strategy. Part of these measures has included increased investments in SID services to enhance its capabilities in areas such as threat intelligence, data protection and secure communications.

Batten said UBH had been able to capitalise on the sector’s robust growth and was aiming to become the sovereign SME of choice for the Information Domain by 2026.

“We are confident that in Ian we have found someone to guide and challenge our teams to build on the current growth and value UBH Group delivers to its Defence, Intelligence and Government clients in their endeavour to unlock Australia’s technological advantage,” he said.

“Together we are forging a stronger defence against cyber adversaries and ensuring the integrity, confidentiality and availability of sovereign information, enabling nations to thrive in the digital age.”

This article was developed in collaboration with UBH Group, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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