Three Australian companies have formed a partnership to deliver a 360-degree, zero-trust security model for sensitive logistics operations across the pharmaceutical and defence sectors. ORCA Opti, DNH Logistics and Aurora Materials announced the collaboration on 4 November during the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition.
The partnership combines cyber-secure data management, secure transport processes and advanced material-based authentication to support high-assurance supply chains. ORCA Opti will provide automated, AI-driven systems for managing compliance records and securing information related to the handling and transport of controlled pharmaceuticals and national security items. The platform will give authorised personnel visibility over individual consignments and broader operations while ensuring data remains protected.
Aurora Materials will integrate its fluorescent optical tagging technology, designed to provide tamper-evident authentication, improved traceability and enhanced protection for high-value or mission-critical assets. The combined system is intended to support compliance with the Protective Security Policy Framework, Defence Security Principles Framework and the Information Security Manual.
ORCA Opti Founder and Managing Director Kathryn Giudes (pictured) said she was excited to be partnering with DNH Logistics as they move into a new phase of their growth strategy. “This partnership will ensure that DNH Logistics meet regulatory requirements and compliance using AI to protect and validate medical, pharmaceutical and customer data in a logistics context,” she said.
DNH Logistics, an Australian and veteran-led provider of secure pharmaceutical transport and storage, is expanding into defence-focused logistics services. This shift requires meeting specialised cyber and physical security standards, including the ASD Essential Eight and Defence Industry Security Program controls. The partnership is intended to support the company in meeting those requirements while adding capabilities such as IoT-based monitoring, temperature-controlled tracking and secure handling of aggregated RFID data.
The companies said the joint solution moves beyond traditional tracking by integrating time-stamped compliance verification and defence-grade data protection throughout the logistics lifecycle. It also provides a pathway for DNH Logistics to apply its existing controlled-substances logistics model to defence supply chains.
Representatives from all three organisations said the collaboration establishes a new model for managing security and compliance across complex logistics environments, particularly where sensitive materials, high-value assets and regulatory requirements intersect.
