About Us
The NORSTA Story
NORSTA Maritime Pty Ltd, an Australian maritime company, consists of Norship Marine, Tropical Reef Shipyard and NORSTA Darwin. We provide maintenance and sustainment services for Defence and Commercial clients.
Through our key relationships with Nova Systems and SECORA Australaia, NORSTA has formed a skilled Australian-owned and controlled team that delivers scalable services.
Our Team
Local Focus
Local focus is important to NORSTA, as it enhances economic growth, promotes skill development and helps give back to local communities.
Diversity
NORSTA is dedicated to creating an inclusive and diverse team, with a 46% veteran workforce and 30% female representation.
Veterans
We are proud supporters of Veterans Employment and have taken steps to ensure we support Australian veterans as best as possible.
Our Board
Maurie McNarn AO
Independent Chair
Maurie McNarn AO
Maurie McNarn AOIndependent Chair
Maurie is an experienced Board Chair, Company Director and Senior Executive. Appointments have included Major General - Australian Army, Chief Operating Officer - The University of Queensland (UQ), Directorships on several Boards and ongoing consultancies with Sierra Consulting Group.
He is the Independent Chair of both NORSTA Maritime North-East and NORSTA Maritime North. He is an Independent Director of LYRO Robotics. He is a Strategic Advisor to a major international defence corporation. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors he has high level expertise in corporate governance, strategic experience in corporate planning, leadership, information technology, human resources, media and financial management. He has conducted several major organisational reviews, strategic business planning and leadership presentations for diverse organisations.
Boards have included UQ Holdings (commercial entities), Chair of Sarv (property), Uniseed Management (Venture Capital), Chair of iLab (start-ups), Queensland State Museum and Science Centre, UQ Health Care and the Board of the Australia Day Council. He has Chaired several board Finance, Audit and Risk Committees.
Maurie was the Australian National Commander for air, land and maritime forces in the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan for planning and conduct of the Iraq War 2002-2003. He was Director - Defence Intelligence Organisation, Director-General Joint Operations and Plans, Head of Training and Head of Personnel - Army. He led units from Troop Command to National Commander. He has also deployed to Lebanon, Syria and Israel. He has lived and worked extensively overseas.
As UQ COO, he oversaw commercial entities (including UQ's highly successful research commercialisation and technology transfer activities), an operating budget of $1.8bn, 18,500 staff and 52,000 students. Responsibilities included Finance (CFO direct report), IT (CIO), Human Resources, Legal, Strategic Planning, Construction, Property, Facilities, OH&S, Marketing, Investigations, Internal Audit and Risk. He advised on governance as University Secretary and Public Officer.
Academic qualifications include an MBA, MDefS, GradDip Telecommunications Systems, GradDip Management Studies and BA(Hons). He was an Adjunct Professor at UQ for 10 years and has previously been a Visiting Fellow at the Lowy Institute.
Darren Turner
Director
Darren Turner
Darren TurnerDirector
Non-Executive Director – NORSTA Maritime / NORSTA North
Darren Turner is a retired PwC Partner with over four decades in accounting, business and corporate advisory, assurance and risk management to industry organisations. Darren now provides his governance experience as Board and Committee member to private and public entities.
Darren holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Newcastle, is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and AICD Graduate. Darren maintains a trusted network across various business communities and has a passion to support business and community outcomes which significantly benefit our society.
Other current directorships and governance roles:
- Varley Group Pty Limited
- NSW Health Pathology
- Hunter Medical Research Institute
- Phoenix Health Fund
- McDonald Jones Homes Group
- Quarry Mining and Construction Equipment Pty Limited
- Newcastle Jockey Club Limited
Jeff Phillips
Director
Jeff Phillips
Jeff PhillipsDirector
Employing more than 1,100 people at multiple sites throughout Australia and overseas, Varley Group is a respected, successful leader in quality engineering and manufacturing, with a solid reputation and diverse portfolio.
Varley Groups Managing Director, Jeff Phillips, was born in Newcastle, Australia. He spent his formative years in Taree, a regional town on the NSW North Coast. Jeff left home to complete a traineeship with BHP Steel, from which he earned his degree in Electrical Engineering.
Jeff joined Varley Group as a Project Manager in 1993. He quickly demonstrated his leadership ability and was promoted to the role of Managing Director two years later in 1995. Jeff than began the journey to transform the Varley Group into an innovative technology leader in advanced manufacturing and systems. Jeff’s experience in the industry from the factory floor up is what has earned the respect of his employers, peers and customers alike.
Jeff’s leadership has seen Varley maintain strong growth year-on-year, whilst also developing new emerging and market leading products.
Varley has grown from a heavy industrial maintenance business of 60 employees to be the largest, privately owned Australian Defence company; the biggest provider of emergency response & specialized vehicles; a unique leader in commercialization of Clean Tech hardware; and is building a product-led Cybersecurity business.
In 2012, Jeff was the first and largest investor into Tritium, a Brisbane-based global leader in electric vehicle fast charging technology. For ten years, Jeff guided the growth of Tritium from start-up to US IPO. He chaired the sub-committee for the first Australian company to publicly-list, via de-SPAC on the NASDAQ in Jan 2022. With this record of accomplishment, a new Cleantech Fund was established to take other emerging Australian technologies global.
Jeff is acutely aware of the responsibility of operating one of Australia’s oldest firms established in 1886. He utilizes the legacy of Varley’s rich history to build effective commercial processes to ensure Varley Group continues for another 100 years.
Andrew Harrison
Director
Andrew Harrison
Andrew HarrisonDirector
Coming soon.
Marino Angelini
Director
Marino Angelini
Marino AngeliniDirector
Coming soon.
Our CEO
Dan Smith
Group CEO - NORSTA
Group CEO - NORSTA
Dr. Dan Smith, Group CEO of NORSTA Maritime, is a seasoned leader with a distinguished background as a top-tier management consultant, interim executive, and multi-deployment Afghanistan veteran. With over two decades of experience, Dan has led large-scale transformations and delivered exceptional results for organisations across defence, government, and professional services, managing assets and investments exceeding $1 billion.
Dan’s career highlights his ability to solve complex challenges through strategic vision and operational excellence. As a trusted advisor and interim executive, he has driven enterprise-wide transformations, aligning organisational capabilities with future needs, achieving cost optimisation, and fostering sustainable growth. His work has spanned industries, where he has guided national programs, strengthened operational frameworks, and delivered enduring value for clients.
Prior to his executive career, Dan served with distinction in the Australian Army, completing multiple deployments to Afghanistan. His leadership in high-pressure environments, managing critical assets, and overseeing multi-site operations shaped his disciplined approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
Dan’s academic credentials include a Doctorate of Business, an MBA, and a Bachelor of Business, equipping him with both academic rigor and real-world expertise. At NORSTA Maritime, Dan is committed to empowering teams, driving innovation, and strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities while creating opportunities that promote regional economic growth and resilience.
Our Program Managers
Georgia Davey
Program Manager - NORSTA Darwin
Georgia Davey
Georgia DaveyProgram Manager - NORSTA Darwin
Georgia is the inaugural Program Manager for the Regional Maintenance Provider (RMP) North providing maritime sustainment to naval vessels home ported in Darwin. Georgia has been a resident of the top end for around seventeen years and is an advocate for Northern Australian industry. Specialising in projects and program management in the aviation, logistics, estate, explosives, and now maritime disciplines particularly for the Australian Defence Forces.
A highly qualified and experienced Program/Project Manager, Georgia specialises in the Defence, Construction, Maritime, and Aviation industries. She has a proven track record in leadership roles within project, consulting, and operational teams, leveraging her agile and adaptable skill set in stakeholder and contractor management, people development, and issue resolution. Georgia is passionate about fostering collaborative teams and building high-performance partnerships to achieve objectives.
With a Masters of Project Management, Bachelor of Science (aviation) and qualifications in engineering and explosives, Georgia has a diverse portfolio of previous works across a wide range of disciplines and has been recognised by industry both individually and at a project level for much of her collaborative and high-performing partnerships that have achieved success. Her diverse experience and commitment to excellence make her a valuable asset in the Defence industry.
Blake Wilson
Program Manager - NORSTA Cairns
Program Manager - NORSTA
Blake Wilson, General Manager of NORSTA, is a dynamic leader with over 20 years of experience driving transformative growth in energy, health, consulting, and national intelligence and defence-related sectors. Renowned for his expertise in business strategy and disruptive innovation, Blake delivers sustainable, high-impact solutions that create lasting value for organisations and communities.
Blake’s career spans senior executive roles and entrepreneurial ventures, including Founding SunStak Energy Solutions, a leader in renewable energy, The Installation Company, a national service provision organisation, and Gradatim, a consultancy empowering organisations to achieve operational excellence. As CEO of International Health Medical Services, he led a workforce of over 600 staff and managed critical medical services across Australia, the Pacific, the US and Europe, overseeing budgets exceeding $1.2 billion. His leadership as CEO of Wounds Australia and the National Health Co-op scaled healthcare organisations to national prominence, showcasing his ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver results.
A graduate of the University of Canberra Business School and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Blake blends academic rigour with practical expertise. His commitment to social impact shines through his mentorship in the Mill House Social Enterprise Accelerator Program and Canberra Innovation Network, fostering the next generation of innovators.
At NORSTA, Blake drives sustainable growth and operational excellence, strengthening Australian-owned defence capabilities while championing regional economic development. His strategic vision and collaborative approach establish him as a trusted leader, dedicated to building a resilient, innovative future for NORSTA and its stakeholders.