Ian Garnett

Defence Technology Innovator of the Year - Global, 2026

Ian Garnett is the Chief Executive Officer of Hirtenberger Defence Technology Ltd (HDT), a role he has held since 2011. He began his career in the New Zealand Army in 1992 as an artillery officer, serving in a range of command and staff appointments until his retirement in 2008. His military service included operational deployments with the United Nations in Sierra Leone and with NATO in Bosnia, as well as completion of the Joint Services Staff College in Australia in 2006. Following his military career, Ian joined MAS Zengrange Limited as Product Manager for fire control systems before transitioning to HDT. He holds a Master of Business (Executive) with Distinction from RMIT University, a Graduate Diploma in Military Management from the University of New South Wales, and a Bachelor of Defence Studies and Diploma of Defence and Strategic Studies from Massey and Waikato Universities respectively.