Dawn Aerospace is building spaceplanes and in-space propulsion systems from the South Island of New Zealand—but it didn’t start that way. In this keynote, Charlie North shares the journey from a humble backyard shed to global impact, reflecting on the deeper truths of manufacturing. It’s not about hype or heroics, but people, process, and purpose. This is a call to action for New Zealand industry: aim high, build well, and back ourselves.