Anthony (Tony) Routledge

Managing Director, AVI

National Finalist in EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Australia

In 1989, Tony Routledge founded AVI, a company that that is now responsible for developing and building the specialised communications systems that power large-scale robots, autonomous vehicles and networked battle systems across the globe. These products are designed for use in harsh, remote and critical environments, including military, mining, security and space applications.

Under Tony's leadership, AVI has built its reputation on a commitment to zero-fail operational performance. The company is distinguished by the quality of its clients; despite being small, AVI has pulled off the achievement of becoming a trusted supplier to the Australian and US militaries, particularly in the sensitive sector of military special forces.

AVI's international footprint and revenue have expanded due to the growing global demand for high-reliability autonomous networking solutions. The company's collaboration with Curtin University on the Binar Cubesat spacecraft project demonstrates its commitment to global issues and potential new markets. AVI is also working alongside SKAO on the world’s largest space telescope project.

AVI's diversification across government, military, mining and space industries provides a unique competitive advantage. With 50% of the company's sales being exports, AVI continues to apply its successes across new industries and international markets. Its agile product line and in-house engineering and manufacturing capabilities contribute to its resilience to business cycles and help maintain a notable market position.

Tony’s personal motto is “bad news early”. Tony believes that there are always inevitable business risks on the horizon, but with good organisational communication channels, you can be quick to respond to shifting landscapes and exercise risk mitigation practices.

AVI's exponential success can be attributed to capital reinvestment strategies, a specialist team of experts, and Tony’s focus on addressing the future needs of customers and potential market sectors.

Tony is committed to the continuous expansion of AVI’s in-house capabilities, building a sovereign end-to end supply chain with complete traceability of all components, reducing Australia’s dependency on international suppliers and imports. Tony’s ongoing vision is to showcase a competitive Australian capability as a key contender to a global market.