PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Strategic Advisor Accenture Australia Defence and member Accenture Global Defence Council, Senior Executive, Canberra 2022 - present

• Advise on the Australian and global defence environment.

• The voice of the Defence client.

• Develop growth strategies.

Commander Joint Task Force 633 Australian Defence Force (ADF), Senior Executive

(Rear Admiral), Middle East Region 2020 - 2021

• Led 800 ADF and defence civilian members across ten countries in Afghanistan and the Middle East to deliver Government directed operational outcomes.

• Responsible for the operations, governance and risk management of Australian forces.

• Conducted international diplomacy with senior international military and government officials.

Head Information Communications Technology Operations Australian Department of Defence, Senior Executive (Rear Admiral) Canberra, 2018 - 2020

• Responsible for all ICT operations and sustainment with an annual budget of $1 billion.

• Led a team of 500 ADF, 1,000 APS and 2,500 contractors.

Director General Maritime Operations Royal Australian Navy, Senior Executive (Commodore) Bungendore, 2016 - 2017

• Accountable for the planning, execution and operational control of Navy’s raise, train and sustain activities for all the fleet platforms.

• Primary maritime advisor to the Chief of Joint Operations and Commander of several Joint Task Forces.

Commodore Training Royal Australian Navy, Senior Executive (Commodore) Sydney 2014 - 2016

• Responsible for all of Navy’s individual (schoolhouse) training for 2,500 trainees annually, and collective (at sea) training for all fleet assets, with an annual budget of $55 million excluding at sea costs.

• Modernised the training pipeline increasing throughput and efficiency through improved contracting and commercial arrangements, better governance, and the introduction of technology.

• Introduced synthetic (simulation) training to replace some components of at sea training for ships and submarines.

• Led the production on the first Navy Training Force Plan that supported the execution of the Navy Campaign Plan.

Amphibious and Afloat Support Group Capability Manager Royal Australian Navy, Executive Level (Captain) Sydney, 2011 – 2013

• Planned and led the recovery of amphibious and afloat support capability following the release of the Rizzo Report and was a key player in the introduction of seaworthiness for Navy.

• From no amphibious and afloat support ships operational on assuming this position, all were operational by 2013.

Early Military Career 1983 - 2011

Early career was almost all seagoing in frigates and destroyers, later specialising as a Principal Warfare Officer sub specialised in communications. Commissioned and commanded the Mine Hunter Coastal HMAS Diamantina (2001-2002) during which time the ship was awarded the Kelly Shield for efficiency. Commanded the Amphibious Landing Ship HMAS Tobruk (2005-2007) during which time Tobruk  participated in Operations PERINGATAN (Nias Island Sea King Crash Commemoration), ASTUTE (Maintenance of Peace and Stability in East Timor), CATALYST (Security and Stability in Iraq) and SLIPPER (International Campaign against Terrorism).

Has held a wide variety of leadership, operational, and staff roles.

EDUCATION

• Strategic Finance for Leaders, Harvard College of Australia 2016

• Master of Arts (International Relations), Salve Regina University, Newport Rhode Island, USA 2010

• Diploma, United States Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island, USA 2009

• Bachelor of Laws, Queensland University of Technology 2002

OTHER ACCREDITATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2023

• Risk Management, Aerosafe Risk Management, 2013

• Member Golden Key National Honour Society for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, Queensland University of Technology, 2002

AWARDS

• Member of the Order of Australia 2014, for exceptional performance of duty as Director Information, Communication and Technology Capability Coordination in the Chief Information Officer Group, and as Amphibious and Afloat Support Group Capability Manager.

• Conspicuous Service Cross 2022, for outstanding devotion to duty as the Commander Joint Task Force 633 on Operations OKRA (the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the international Coalition against Daesh in Iraq and Syria), HIGHROAD (the ADF commitment to Afghanistan) and ACCORDION (the ADF overarching support mission to all operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East region from within the Gulf States) from November 2020 to August 2021.