Allan Dundas is the founder, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of DEWC Services Pty Ltd, a rapidly growing Australian defence capability company based in South Australia with 100 staff. DEWC is recognised as a Veteran Friendly Employer via the Veteran Employment Commitment.
Allan is an accomplished company director, business leader, engineer and proud Australian Defence Force Veteran. His time in the RAAF fundamentally shaped both the establishment of DEWC Services and how he leads the business. Under Mr Dundas’ leadership, DEWC Services is actively contributing to Australia’s sovereign capability in emerging critical technologies.
Military service provided firsthand insight into the challenges faced by frontline Defence personnel and the importance of delivering reliable capability to help them succeed and return home safely. These experiences inspired Allan to establish DEWC Services in 2011 with a clear purpose: to support Defence and contribute meaningfully to Australia’s sovereign capability.
That purpose continues to shape how DEWC operates today. Seeing how individual contributions influence mission outcomes reinforced my belief that professional mastery, accountability and a strong sense of purpose, regardless of position, contribute to mission success. That perspective continues to shape DEWC’s vision, values and culture.
His leadership philosophy is that true leadership is enabling others to succeed. At DEWC, this means investing in people, fostering professional mastery and creating an environment where highly specialised technical experts can thrive and deliver the best outcomes for Defence.
Understanding the importance of mission readiness, teamwork and long-term capability development, he reinforced a servant-leadership model that empowers technical experts, prioritises permanent employment and invests in long-term development. This approach enabled DEWC to scale sustainably while maintaining workforce engagement, technical excellence and trusted client relationships, contributing to Great Place To Work certification for six consecutive years.
Through graduate programs, internships and recruitment from adjacent industries, DEWC has recruited, trained and deployed over 50 early-career professionals since 2021. Veterans and reservists mentor this workforce, passing on operational knowledge, technical expertise and purpose developed through military service.
He believes that service does not end with the uniform, but can continue through business leadership, mentoring and development of people who support Australia’s national interests.