Geoff Haerewa
Defence Lead with extensive local government and Defence alliance experience
About Geoff
Geoff is the Defence Lead at IndigiBuilt, bringing extensive governance, commercial and regional leadership experience to the business. His career spans private enterprise, local government and strategic industry representation, with a strong focus on strengthening regional capability and Defence engagement.
Geoff served in the New Zealand Army Infantry during the 1980s, where he developed the discipline, leadership and operational awareness that continue to underpin his structured and accountable approach to project delivery and stakeholder engagement.
He has served as President of the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley since 2017 until 2024, providing governance oversight in a regulated public-sector environment and working closely with State and Federal agencies on infrastructure, community development and long-term regional planning. Geoff was a cruicial leader during the 2023 Fitzroy River Floods, where the Fitzroy River Bridge was completely destroyed. He coordinated support services and provided local leadership to deliver resources and capability where it was valued most. His efforts have been recognised by locals as instrumental to Fitzroy's rapid recovery.
Geoff also served on the North West Defence Alliance as Deputy Chair, supporting regional industry participation in Defence procurement and sovereign capability initiatives. As Vice President of the Derby Chamber of Commerce & Industry, he continues to advocate for regional business growth and industry alignment with major project opportunities.
With a background in business ownership and commercial operations, Geoff brings practical leadership, strong governance discipline and a clear understanding of regional operating environments. At IndigiBuilt, he leads Defence engagement and strategic partnerships, ensuring alignment with government expectations and structured, accountable delivery.
Geoff’s Experience
Geoff has extensive experience across governance, Defence engagement and regional commercial operations. His background includes leadership within local government, representation at Defence industry level, and long-term business ownership in regional Western Australia.
This experience informs a disciplined approach to governance, stakeholder engagement and strategic industry participation. Geoff understands the importance of probity, accountability and structured decision-making within government and Defence environments, while maintaining a practical, commercially grounded perspective.
He remains actively engaged across industry, government and community networks to strengthen regional capability and support sustainable project outcomes aligned with national priorities.