JLL secures long-term Defence estate management contract

Property services firm appointed to manage $900m annual national infrastructure program

JLL has been selected by the Department of Defence to provide National Program Services for the Defence Estate Works Program, marking a significant evolution in the company’s 11-year relationship with the Australian Department of Defence.

The appointment, part of Defence’s Base Services Transformation program, builds on JLL’s extensive experience project managing the delivery of 1,510 projects valued at approximately $3.8 billion across Defence establishments nationwide since 2014.

Under the initial six-year contract, JLL will manage and coordinate Defence’s extensive portfolio of estate projects, while providing strategic advice on risk management, investment prioritisation, and project development to deliver a safe, secure, compliant and operationally effective network of bases and assets. To support these functions, JLL will leverage integrated digital platforms to provide decision advantage in shaping future Estate Works program outcomes.

“This contract represents an important evolution in how Defence’s estate works are delivered,” said Alan McKay, Managing Director of Project Development Services ANZ at JLL. “After more than a decade working closely with Defence, we understand the critical role infrastructure plays in supporting capability. Our focus is on ensuring value from day one, improving speed to outcomes, and helping ensure the Australian Department of Defence has safe and fit-for-purpose estate to live, work, train and operate from.”

Defence’s estate portfolio includes bases, training areas, and operational facilities across all states and territories, presenting complex challenges due to geographic scale, security considerations, and the specialised nature of military infrastructure.

“Our national presence allows us to combine centralised expertise with local delivery,” said Geoff Camp, Defence Vertical Lead for Work Dynamics at JLL. “We’ve established teams across Australia structured to reflect Defence’s unique operational requirements at each location.”

As part of its Defence Industry Participation Plan, JLL is committed to influencing and executing Defence investments in ways that benefit regional communities, including SMEs and Indigenous enterprises. Since 2020, JLL has supported over $200 million in Defence investment with 105 Indigenous businesses across its national operations.

The company also operates a Veterans Engagement Program, creating meaningful employment pathways for ex-Defence personnel and their families, harnessing their unique insights to enhance service delivery. The contract comes as Defence continues implementing recommendations from the 2023 Defence Strategic Review, which reinforced the critical role of well-managed estate and infrastructure in supporting national defence posture and operational readiness.