DNH Logistics, ORCA Opti and Aurora Materials Partner on Zero-Trust Supply Chain Model for Defence and Pharmaceutical Sectors – Managing the transportation logistics of sensitive items such as pharmaceuticals and defence items needs an extra layer of security. Because even the most minor tampering of these sensitive products can put the interests of national security and safety at considerable risk. That’s where three Australian companies have come together to tackle this increasingly complex ecosystem.
Australian specialist AI security and compliance provider ORCA Opti, together with pharmaceutical transport logistics experts DNH Logistics and Aurora Materials, creators of a next-generation secure tagging technology, have partnered to deliver a 360-degree, zero-trust solution for sensitive pharmaceutical and defence logistics operations.
How the trio of tech solutions come together to optimise supply chain security
Under the partnership, ORCA Opti will provide DNH Logistics with automation for cyber information storage of secure records covering transportation and handling of TGA scheduled drugs and national security items. The system will enable authorised personnel to monitor operations for specific trips and across entire operations while ensuring digitised information remains secure.
Aurora Materials will further secure shipments with their next-generation fluorescent tagging technologies designed to provide unmatched security, authentication and tracking solutions to safeguard high value and mission critical assets.
The partnership will go beyond standard logistics tracking to monitor consignments against compliance metrics with time-stamped evidence and defence-grade data protection at every step. Each interaction aligns with Protected Security Policy Framework (PSPF), Defence Security Principles Framework (DSPF) and Information Security Manual (ISM) controls.
DNH Logistics, an Australian and veteran led company, provides logistics services including receipt of pharmaceuticals up to Schedule 8 from manufacturers, secure transport, temperature-controlled storage, and positive controls for drug handling.
The partnership was unveiled at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, where DNH Logistics is in attendance to highlight its expansion into security-led Defence logistics.
This new phase of the company requires it to meet specialised security controls including the ASD’s Essential Eight and Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) requirements.
DNH Logistics also required support in technical outcomes related to information and data security and policy requirements, an area outside their core expertise. The partnership will provide a model for meeting DISP controls while delivering enhanced supply chain monitoring, including Internet of Things capabilities with sensors for temperature control and secure management of aggregated data for radio-frequency identification (RFID) product tracing supported by the fluorescent tagging solution.
From medicines to defence: fuelling the new frontier of secure logistics
The system integration provides end-to-end support for DNH Logistics’ expanded operations, allowing the company to transfer its proven model from controlled medical substances into defence applications.
Justin Roderick, Director, DNH Logistics said he and his team had been very impressed by what ORCA Opti and Aurora Materials were able to provide and was looking forward to building secure solutions for the defence medical logistics sector together.
“Achieving DISP is a significant milestone for any small enterprise. Doing the heavy lifting on your own, especially navigating the requirements to meet the Essential Eight at Maturity Level 2, can be overwhelming. Partnering with ORCA Opti has made this journey easier while Aurora Materials has helped us with a more robust security offering,” he said.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ORCA Opti to harness AI in a secure environment, automating compliance wherever possible. This allows our team to stay focused on operational outcomes, with the assurance that our compliance obligations are being met and managed effectively.”
ORCA Opti Founder and Managing Director Kathryn Giudes 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.
“Embedding compliance and safety controls will also assist potential customers in achieving compliance faster, enabling DNH Logistics to distribute products more efficiently. Adding in Aurora’s fluorescent tagging material and tracking creates a seamless solution that effortlessly spans physical and digital security.”
“In the work we are setting a new model for how compliance and security are managed in complex logistics chains across pharma, defence and other regulated sectors.”
Dr Jason Holland, Co-Founder and CEO of Aurora Materials said his company was excited to be working alongside DNH Logistics and Orca Opti as it advances the security-led logistics model.
“Our collaboration focuses on integrating Aurora’s non-replicable tagging technology into DNH Logistics’ secure warehousing, transport and logistics systems,” he said.
“By embedding our unique optical tagging capability, we enable DNH Logistics to verify authenticity, chain of custody, and provide tamper-evident assurance across every stage of its operations.
“Through this network of like-minded security partners, we aim to solve the critical challenges of secure logistics even in complex and contested environments. Overall, this partnership represents a major step forward towards creating the next generation of supply chain verification and asset assurance. Together, we’re helping DNH Logistics establish a sovereign, verifiable standard for supply chain integrity, where mission-critical supplies can be trusted.”
DNH Logistics, which has recently rebranded from DNH Medical, has a strong background in medical and pharmaceutical storage and distribution.
Now, as DNH Logistics, the company will concentrate on custody-led assurance and security-led logistics, with a vision to provide a zero-trust approach to logistics operations. The company was founded in response to the needs of its sister company, Provocatus, which focuses on healthcare for veterans and first responders.
About Orca Opti
ORCA Opti is a holistic business operating system that improves business health by automating and aligning the routines that keep organisations running: guided workflows aligned with standard operating procedures, incident and task logging, evidence capture, risk register updates, and board-ready reporting. Using plain-English prompts and guardrails, ORCA helps any team member execute correctly the first time. No forms, no copy-paste, no missed steps.
About DNH Logistics
DNH Logistics is a veteran-led Australian company specialising in security-led movement and storage of regulated and high-value goods. Born in pharma, built for defence, government and advanced manufacturing. We keep possession visible, approvals enforced and evidence ready.
About Aurora Materials
Aurora Materials develops next‑generation fluorescent tagging technologies that deliver unmatched security, authentication, and traceability for high‑value and mission‑critical assets. Its proprietary SCLE™ nanocomposites generate unique, non-replicable optical signatures. Durable across extreme environments and seamlessly integrated into coatings and components, enabling secure identification and transparent supply chains for defence, aerospace, and other high‑reliability industries.
