Silentium Defence has named Berni White, a former senior figure in Australia’s AUKUS submarine initiative, as Head of Future Business, APAC, positioning him to spearhead the company’s expansion efforts across the Asia-Pacific region. According to Silentium’s announcement, White will report directly to CEO James Palmer and lead business development and acquisition strategy across the region.

Before joining Silentium, White was with BAE Systems Australia, playing a significant role in shaping the AUKUS submarine program and managing the Electronic Warfare Sensors & Effectors division. His prior responsibilities included oversight of high-profile programs such as the Joint Strike Missile and the Wedgetail E-7 aircraft.

His military background is extensive: White served as Commander of the 16 Air Land Regiment, accumulated nearly 2,000 hours in drone combat operations, and represented Australia as its Military Attaché in Washington D.C.

Silentium’s CEO, James Palmer, described White’s appointment as a strategic move timed with growing regional demand for passive radar and situational awareness systems. He remarked that White’s deep experience in integrated air and missile defense architectures, radar, and unmanned systems will accelerate the company’s mission to scale globally while meeting the needs of defense and national security clients.

White himself expressed enthusiasm about joining Silentium, calling its passive radar technologies “disruptive” and saying he aims to help position the company as a leading capability provider in the APAC market.

Founded in 2017, Silentium Defence specializes in passive radar and advanced situational awareness systems. Its platforms are deployed in challenging operational environments to safeguard infrastructure, assets, and personnel.

With this recruitment, Silentium signals its intent to deepen its footprint across Asia-Pacific together with the rising need among regional partners for sensor systems that offer covert detection and surveillance advantages.