Michael joined ASPI in February 2018 as the Director of the Defence & Strategy program.

Michael has worked in policy, intelligence and project delivery in Defence, as well as in the Prime Minister’s department and the Department of Finance.

He was the defence policy person in the Australian Embassy in Washington, and has worked in two Commonwealth Ministers’ offices.

His role before joining ASPI was as the head of Defence’s Contestability function, providing critical but constructive analysis of the projects and programs in the Government’s integrated investment program for Defence.

Peter has worked at senior levels in the Australian Public Service on defence and national security. Career highlights include being Deputy Secretary for Strategy in the Defence Department (2009-12); Chief of Staff to the Minister for Defence (1996-98) and Senior Adviser for Strategic Policy to the Prime Minister (2002-03).

Since May 2012 Peter has expanded ASPI’s role from its original high-quality research on defence to include research on cyber security; policing and international law enforcement, border security, national resilience and counter terrorism studies. Now with around 40 staff and close working relations with Government, Parliament and industry, ASPI is Australia’s leading think-tank on national security.

Peter’s research interests include Australian and regional defence policies, military operations, crisis management, government decision making and future defence capabilities.

Peter led the ‘External Expert Panel’ appointed by Government in early 2014 to advise Ministers and the Defence Department on the Defence White Paper, released in February 2016. Peter is a member of the Australia-Germany Advisory Group, appointed by the Prime Minister and German Chancellor in 2015 to develop closer bilateral relations. He is a member of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations advising the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Peter has previously held a number Senior Executive Service positions in Defence including First Assistant Secretary International Policy Division, First Assistant Secretary Coordination and Public Affairs and Secretary of the Defence Audit and Risk Committee.

Peter was Director of Programs at ASPI between late 2003 and January 2006 and has taught postgraduate studies on terrorism at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

In the Defence Department, Peter has been the Deputy Director of the then titled Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (2002) and head of the Strategic Policy Branch (1998–1999). In late 1999 Peter was co-director of the East Timor Policy Unit, responsible for developing Australia’s policy approaches to the international peacekeeping operation in East Timor. Following that, as an acting First Assistant Secretary, Peter was closely involved in developing the 2000 Defence White Paper.

Peter studied at the London Business School in 2000–2001 as a Sloan Fellow and was awarded a Masters of Science (Management) with Distinction. He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from the Australian National University (1987) and a BA (Honours) in History from the University of Tasmania (1980–1984). He has been a Fulbright Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1985). Peter taught politics and international relations at the University of New South Wales/ADFA (1987–1990).

Peter was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day 2013 Honors list for outstanding public service through the development of Australia's strategic and defence policy, particularly in the areas of Australian Defence Force operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. In February 2016 Peter was awarded the French decoration of Knight in the National Order of Legion d’Honneur.

Penny Burtt is the Group CEO of Asialink, Australia's leading centre for the promotion of public understanding of the countries of Asia and of Australia's role in the region. She joined Asialink from global payments company Visa, where she served as Vice President, Government Affairs, Asia Pacific. Prior to Visa, Penny led External Relations and Client Service Risk for the Asia Pacific with McKinsey&Company. Penny is a former diplomat and represented Australia at a senior level in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and at the United Nations in Geneva and New York. She previously served as an Adviser to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

She has also served on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations in the region including the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), the U.S. National Center for APEC and the Singapore Committee of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). A passionate advocate of women’s leadership, Penny has served on the executive of BoardAgender, Singapore’s women’s board advocacy organization, has been a mentor and advisor with several women’s groups and is a frequent speaker on women’s leadership in Asia. Passionate about women’s leadership, Penny has been a strong advocate of women on Boards, a long term mentor and supporter with the Singapore Young Women’s Leadership Connection and has worked with a range of companies to enhance their diversity outcomes

Michał Baranowski is the director of GMF's Warsaw office, where he provides overall strategic direction and leadership for the organization’s work in Poland, the Baltic states, and the V4 countries. He writes and speaks extensively on NATO, transatlantic relations, and U.S. foreign policy, and is frequently quoted in outlets such as Associated Press, Financial Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Die Welt, Rzeczpospolita, Reuters, Axios, Le Soir, Washington Post and Foreign Affairs. He publishes in Polish, American, and European media and policy journals. He is a member of the Polish-German reflection group established by presidents of Poland and Germany. He holds a master's of European public affairs from Maastricht University, and has studied at Mercer University in the United States and the University of Oxford.

Dr Elizabeth Buchanan is a Research Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies. Her areas of expertise are Russian foreign energy strategy and Russia’s global polar strategy. Dr Buchanan completed a PhD on Russian Arctic strategy under Vladimir Putin and holds an Honours degree in Russian-Ukrainian natural gas relations. Dr Buchanan was recently a Maritime Fellow at the NATO Defense College. She has published widely on polar geopolitics most recently with Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs and The Lowy Institute. Dr Buchanan is a Non-Resident Fellow of the Institute of the North, Alaska, and is the Polar Analyst for The Moscow Times.  

Elizabeth has been a Visiting Scholar with The Brookings Institution and has work experience in the global oil sector. She is a co-managing Editor of Security Challenges – Australia’s sole academic journal for the study of future security challenges. In 2018, she was an Australian Institute of International Affairs Early Career Research Awardee and in 2019 Dr Buchanan was listed as a ‘Young Woman to Watch in International Affairs’.

Senator Reynolds was elected to the Australian Senate in 2014 and is a passionate representative for her state of Western Australia. She has more than 20 years’ experience at the national political level working for Members of Parliament and the Liberal Party of Australia. Senator Reynolds served for 29 years in the Australian Army as a Reserve Officer in a wide range of part and full time appointments. She also has corporate experience.

Key career appointments include: Chief of Staff to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Project Director with Raytheon Australia, Deputy Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia, Commanding Officer of a Combat Service Support Battalion and Adjutant General of Army, the Chief of Army’s key governance advisor. Senator Reynolds was the first woman in the Australian Army Reserves to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross. She has completed a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies).

On March 2 2019, Senator Reynolds was sworn in as Minister for Defence Industry, Emergency Management and North Queensland Recovery in the Morrison Coalition Government. This follows her appointment as Assistant Minister for Home Affairs on August 28, 2018.

Before her Ministerial appointment, Senator Reynolds was a member of nine Parliamentary committees and chaired the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, and the Defence Sub-Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade.

Senator Reynolds is co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Defence, Friends of Australian Books and Writers, Friends of Disability and the Australia-Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Groups. She is a passionate advocate for WA Industry including defence, space and rare earths sectors. Senator Reynolds is also a supporter of innovation, gender equality and federation reform. She is proud to work closely with both the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Perth USAsia Centre.

Peter Varghese began as Chancellor of The University of Queensland on 11 July 2016. Prior to this appointment, Mr Varghese’s extensive career in public service and diplomacy spanned 38 years and included senior positions in foreign affairs, trade policy and intelligence. Most recently, he served as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2012-2016). Previous senior appointments included High Commissioner to India (2009-2012), High Commissioner to Malaysia (2000-2002), Director-General of the Office of National Assessments (2004-2009), and Senior Advisor (International) to the Prime Minister of Australia (2003-2004). Mr Varghese was the author of a comprehensive India Economic Strategy to 2035 commissioned by the Australian Prime Minister and submitted in July 2018.

Mr Varghese was educated at The University of Queensland, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and a University Medal in history in 1978. He was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in 2010 and received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from The University of Queensland in 2013.

Mr Varghese sits on the boards of AMP Pty Limited and North Queensland Airports. He is also on the international governing board of the Rajaratnum School of International Studies in Singapore and the governing board of Nalanda University in India.

With 40 years of experience writing and researching about China, Willy Lam is a recognized expert on areas including the Chinese Communist Party, elite politics, foreign policy, the People’s Liberation Army, as well as the country’s economic and political reform. Dr Lam is an Adjunct Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Centre for China Studies, History Department and the Master’s Program in Global Political Economy). He is also a Senior Fellow at Jamestown Foundation, a foreign-policy think tank in Washington D.C.

The veteran Sinologist has published seven books on China. They include:

Routledge Handbook of the Chinese Communist Party (as editor) (Routledge, London, 2017); Chinese Politics in the Era of Xi Jinping (Routledge, London, 2015);

Chinese Politics in the Hu Jintao Era (M.E. Sharpe, New York, 2006);

An Unvarnished Portrait of Hu Jintao (in Japanese) (Shogagukan Press, Tokyo, 2002);

The Era of Jiang Zemin (Prentice Hall, Singapore & New York, 1999); and

China after Deng Xiaoping (John Wiley & Sons, Singapore & New York, 1995).

His new book The Struggle for China’s Future (Routledge) will be published in late 2019.

Dr Jennifer S. Hunt is a lecturer in the National Security College, ANU and a Research Associate at the US Studies Centre, University of Sydney, specialising in the national security of critical systems including energy and cyber.

Dr. Hunt has published on comparative national security policy in the US, Australia, and the Arab Gulf. She has provided expert commentary on ABC’s Q&A, The Project, BBC, and the History Channel.

Bec is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations in the Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy at La Trobe University in Melbourne. Her current research interests include maritime disputes in the Indo-Pacific and Australian foreign policy.

Bec is a non-resident research fellow at Perth US-Asia Centre and in 2019, was awarded an Asia Studies Visiting Fellowship at the East-West Center in Washington DC to conduct a research project titled ‘Defending the rules-based maritime order’.

Bec received her PhD in politics from Monash University in 2013. She has published two monographs and numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. In 2018, her article on the Timor Sea maritime dispute was awarded the prestigious Boyer Prize by the Australian Institute of International Affairs for best article published in the Australian Journal of International Affairs in 2017.

Bec contributes regularly to public debates about politics and foreign policy, writing for policy forums such as Broad Agenda, Lowy Interpreter, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and Australian Strategic Policy Initiative, and is a commissioning editor for the Australian Institute of International Affairs’ publication Australian Outlook. She has provided expert comment for global and Australian media organisations including the ABC, The Age and Reuters, and in 2017, she was invited to testify as an expert witness in Australian federal parliament.

Bec is an advocate for the greater visibility of women in Australian foreign policy and security debates. She tweets at @becstrating.

Dr Huong Le Thu is a senior analyst at ASPI, Defence and Strategy Program.

Prior to joining ASPI she worked at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs (ANU), Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Singapore), and Institute of International Relations (Taiwan). Her research interests include multilateral security in Asia, foreign policy in post-socialist countries, as well as identity politics.

She has held short-term research fellowships in Seoul (private think-tank), Kuala Lumpur (University of Malaya) and Jakarta (the ASEAN Secretariat). She is an alumna of the DKI Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, and a recipient of the U.S. State Department Fellowship for East Asian Security and IISS ShangriLa Dialogue Southeast Asian Fellow.

Dr Le Thu’s academic publications have appeared in The Pacific Review, Asia-Europe Journal, Oxford University Press among others; her policy analyses have featured: TheInternational Institute for Strategic Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, The Brookings Institution, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, East West Center, Royal United Services Institute, Nikkei Asian Review, South China Morning Post, Sydney Morning Herald etc.

Peter Warren Singer is Strategist at New America. He has been named by the Smithsonian as one of the nation’s 100 leading innovators, by Defense News as one of the 100 most influential people in defense issues, by Foreign Policy to their Top 100 Global Thinkers List, as an official “Mad Scientist” for the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, and by Onalytica social media data analysis as one of the ten most influential voices in the world on cybersecurity and 25th most influential in the field of robotics. Peter’s award winning books include Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry, Children at War, Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century; and Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to Know and Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War, a technothriller crossed with nonfiction research, which has been endorsed by people who range from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to the co-inventor of the Internet to the writer of HBO Game of Thrones. His latest book is LikeWar (Oct 2018, HMH), which explores how social media has changed war and politics, and war and politics has changed social media. It was named an Amazon book of the year, a NY Times “new and notable,” and reviewed by Booklistas “LikeWar should be required reading for everyone living in a democracy and all who aspire to.”

His past work include serving at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Harvard University, an editor at Popular Science magazine, and as the founding director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence at Brookings, where he was the youngest person named senior fellow in its 100 year history. 

Elsa B. Kania is an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Her research focuses on Chinese military innovation in emerging technologies in support of the Artificial Intelligence and Global Security Initiative at CNAS, where she also acts as a member of the research team for the new Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and National Security. Her analytic interests include Chinese military modernization, information warfare, and defense science and technology. She has been invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC). Elsa is an independent analyst, consultant, and co-founder of the China Cyber and Intelligence Studies Institute. She was a 2018 Fulbright Specialist and is a Non-Resident Fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s International Cyber Policy Centre. Elsa works in support of the China Aerospace Studies Institute through its Associates Program, and she is a policy advisor for the non-profit Technology for Global Security. Elsa has also been named an official “Mad Scientist” by the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command.

Elsa is a PhD student in Harvard University's Department of Government, and she is a graduate of Harvard College (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). Her thesis on the evolution of the PLA’s strategic thinking on information warfare was awarded the James Gordon Bennett Prize. Her prior professional experience includes time with the Department of Defense, the Long Term Strategy Group, FireEye, Inc., and the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy. While at Harvard, she has worked as a research assistant at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. Elsa was a Boren Scholar in Beijing, China, and she has professional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.

Dr Andrew Davies joined ASPI in 2006 and was the inaugural Director of Defence and Strategy. He is now a Senior Fellow with the Institute and lectures on defence acquisition and intelligence at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the ANU. He has written extensively on ADF capability and force structuring issues, including platform options for air and maritime combat, industry issues, and decision-making in the Department of Defence. He has an ongoing interest in the future submarine and Joint Strike Fighter projects, and his work on both has made an important contribution to the public understanding of those projects here and abroad.

Before joining ASPI, Andrew was a post doctoral fellow in physics at Melbourne University and the ANU. He then spent twelve years in the Department of Defence in the areas of capability analysis and intelligence.

Dr Todd Mansell is Chief Science Strategy and Program Division.

He is a career scientist, a leader within Australia's Department of Defence and an Adjunct Professor with the University of South Australia.

As Chief of Science Strategy and Program Division he is responsible for ensuring DST has the S&T capability required to meet Defence's current and future needs.

In 2017, Dr Mansell was seconded to Innovation and Science Australia (ISA) where he led the Taskforce responsible for producing the nation's 2030 Innovation, Science and Research Strategic Plan titled Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation.

Other roles that Dr Mansell has held during his 29 year career within defence include First Assistant Secretary – Strategic Policy and Intelligence Initiatives in Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group and Chief of Joint and Operations Analysis Division (JOAD) (2013-2016) where he led the scientific analysis supporting the Defence White Paper 2016 and shaped the development of the new Defence Innovation System.

He was also Chief of Air Operations Division from 2011-2013 (where he was responsible for S&T support to major programs including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, E/F-18G Growler, and ADF helicopter programs), and Research Leader responsible for the S&T in support of Australia's submarine (Collins Class and Future Submarine Project) and warship programs.

Fergus Hanson is the Head of the International Cyber Policy Centre.

He is the author of Internet Wars and has published widely on a range of cyber and foreign policy topics.

He was a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution and a Professional Fulbright Scholar based at Georgetown University working on the uptake of new technologies by the US government.

He has worked for the UN, as a Program Director at the Lowy Institute and served as a diplomat at the Australian Embassy in The Hague.

He has been a Fellow at Cambridge University’s Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Pacific Forum.

Gary Dawson joined Thales Australia as Vice President Strategy in March 2017 after a career spanning media, politics, corporate affairs and CEO of one of Australia’s leading industry associations.  This is his second stint at Thales having previously worked as VP Communications from 2008-2012.

As VP Strategy Gary has responsibility for the over-arching business strategy of Thales in Australia along with Communications and External Affairs, working closely with the business units and functions.

With an Economics Degree from the Australian National University he brings to the role policy and strategy experience at the highest level across both public and private sectors including five years as a Senior Advisor to former Prime Minister John Howard, from 1999-2004. Prior to re-joining Thales Australia Gary was CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, representing Australia’s $120bn value-adding food sector, from 2012-2017.

Mr. Josiah R. “Josh” Collens, Jr., has been with MITRE for the past 30 years. He currently serves as the Director for AF International Programs for MITRE’s Department of Defense (DoD) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), the National Security Engineering Center (NSEC). In this position he oversees all Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales projects. Josh also serves as Co-Portfolio Director for the AF Air Operations Portfolio.  He oversees such programs as the Air and Space Operations Center, AWACS and Joint STARS.

Josh is a multi-discipline systems engineer with over 37 years of Command and Control (C2) experience, ranging from Space systems to Special Operations. He holds a B.A. in mathematics from The Citadel (The Military College of South Carolina) and an M.S. in computer information systems from Boston University. Josh served as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1986. He separated from active duty in the Air Force at the rank of Captain.

Marcus is a Senior Analyst focusing on Defence economics and military capability.

Previously he was a senior public servant in the Department of Defence, responsible for ensuring that the government was provided with the best possible advice and recommendations on major capital investments such as the Joint Strike Fighter, Future Frigate and Future Submarine. He also developed and administered Defence’s capital investment program.

Marcus has also worked in Australia’s intelligence community as a terrorism analyst.

Before joining the public service, Marcus had a career as an academic historian in the United States.

General Angus Campbell joined the Australian Army in 1981, graduating from the Royal Military College - Duntroon in 1984. He was assigned to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and initially served as a platoon commander in the 3rd Battalion (Parachute), The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR).

He then served in troop and squadron command appointments within the Special Air Service Regiment. In 2001 he was appointed the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR). While in command, the battalion group deployed to East Timor, as a component of the United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor.

General Campbell has also served in a range of staff appointments including as Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Army, as a strategic policy officer in Army Headquarters, an instructor at the Australian Command and Staff College and as Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force.

In late 2005, he joined the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as a First Assistant Secretary to head the Office of National Security and was subsequently promoted to Deputy Secretary and appointed to the position of Deputy National Security Adviser. In these roles he was responsible for the preparation of advice to the Prime Minister on national security matters and coordinating the development of whole-of-government national security policy.

Upon his return to the Australian Defence Force in early 2010 he was appointed to the rank of Major General and led the Military Strategic Commitments staff in Defence headquarters until January 2011, when he assumed command of Australian forces deployed in the Middle East Area of Operations. He subsequently served as Deputy Chief of Army from February 2012 to September 2013, when he was promoted to Lieutenant General to command the Joint Agency Task Force responsible for the implementation of Operation Sovereign Borders.

On 16 May 2015, he was appointed Chief of the Australian Army. General Campbell was subsequently promoted and appointed to command of the Australian Defence Force on 7 July 2018.

General Campbell holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from Cambridge University and he is a graduate of the Australian Army Command and Staff College.

Vice Admiral David Johnston RAN was born in 1962 and entered the Royal Australian Naval College as a junior entry Cadet Midshipman in 1978. He graduated from the College in 1982 as a seaman officer, later specialising as a Principal Warfare Officer. He was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force on 7 July 2018.

His operational naval tours include serving as Commanding Officer of HMAS Adelaide (FFG 01) and HMAS Newcastle (FFG 06). In these commands he conducted border security patrols and deployed on Operation QUICKSTEP to Fiji in 2006.

His staff appointments include Command and Control specialist staff positions in Australian Defence Headquarters, Operations Manager at Sailors' Career Management and later as Director Joint Plans in Strategic Operations Division, where he developed strategic military response options for consideration by Government.

In July 2007 on promotion to Commodore, he joined Fleet Headquarters as Commodore Flotillas where he was responsible for planning maritime operations and the operational training of Navy's ships, submarines and diving teams.

In November 2008 he assumed the role of J3 (Director General Operations) at Headquarters Joint Operations Command. This role encompassed the operational level execution of all Australian Defence Force operations both overseas and within Australia.

In October 2010, he deployed to Operation SLIPPER in the Middle East Area of Operations as the Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633. He supported the Commander JTF in providing national command oversight of all Australian Defence Force elements conducting maritime, land and air operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and adjacent maritime areas. He was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for this role.

Promoted to Rear Admiral he assumed the role of Deputy Chief Joint Operations Command in June 2011. While performing this role he commanded the Defence Joint Task Force that supported the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2011 and the visit by the President of the United States of America later in that year.

Vice Admiral Johnston was appointed Commander Border Protection Command in December 2011 and held this responsibility until December 2013. As commander of this multi-agency organisation he was responsible for the civil maritime security of Australia's maritime domain using resources from both the Australian Defence Force and the then Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

On promotion to Vice Admiral in April 2014, he was appointed Chief of Joint Operations in May 2014. As CJOPS his role was to plan, control and command ADF military campaigns, operations, joint exercises and other activities in order to meet Australia's national objectives.

Vice Admiral Johnston holds a Master of Science in Operations Research from the USN Postgraduate School in Monterey, California and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from Deakin University. He participated in the inaugural Australian Security Executive Development Program in 2009. In 2012 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (Military Division) and in 2018 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division). He is married and has two children.

Nicole is an internationally recognised advisor in the areas of military information operations and social media warfare. A regular speaker to and trainer for NATO, Nicoe is trusted by Governments around the world and the communities they serve in providing advice in the areas of preventing violent extremism, counter terrorism and digital diplomacy.

Nicole is currently a Doctoral student at the University of Southern Queensland where she is researching the path to radicalisation through a behavioural economics - or decision science - lens.

With a background spanning over a decade in Federal and State Government in the Border Protection, Defence, Emergency Services and Intelligence portfolios, Nicole worked in several operational roles for the then Australian Customs and Border Protection Service before being promoted into corporate strategic communications and Ministerial liaison roles.

Nicole's first book 'Social Media Rules of Engagement' was published by Wiley in 2015.

Nicole is an adjunct lecturer at Charles Sturt University in the school of Graduate Policing.

Brigadier Beaumont is currently appointed Director General Information Warfare within Information Warfare Division/Joint Capabilities Group and is also Head of Corps, Australian Intelligence Corps.

Brigadier Beaumont has spent the bulk of his career in intelligence appointments. Formative appointments have been S2 HQ 1st Brigade, CO 1st Intelligence Battalion, J25 HQJOC, DA Seoul and his current appointment. Brigadier Beaumont has served as S2 HQ Sector West, UNTAET, East Timor (2001-02), Chief of Operations, Iraq Survey Group (2004) and Deputy CJ2 HQ ISAF, Kabul, 2013.

Danielle is the Deputy Head of ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre.

She has worked in international relations, across government and non-government, since 2006. She has published and led projects on a range of global issues with a focus on how cyberspace and digital technologies are impacting Australia's place in the world. She is also a PhD scholar at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at ANU and in 2016 was a Google Policy Fellow attached to the Harvard University incubated Digital Asia Hub in Hong Kong.

She is a former Analyst and team leader in the Open Source Centre at the Office of National Assessments and in 2009-12 she also worked as a Research Associate in the Lowy Institute’s Melanesia program where she undertook a secondment to AusAID, working with the Asia strategy, research and communication teams. Prior to joining the Lowy Institute, Danielle worked for two years as Editorial Coordinator for the Sydney bureau of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest newspaper. She has a Masters degree in International Security from Sydney University and a Bachelor degree in Business from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Jamie Wylly leads Defence and Intelligence solutions in the Government Industry and is responsible for developing global strategy to grow Microsoft’s Defence and Intelligence business.

Jamie is a former US Navy fighter pilot and has been leading defence sales, both in the US and globally, since joining Microsoft in 2004. By bringing together defence market trends and partner solutions, Jamie ensures that Microsoft is a leader in the defence market for the world’s largest militaries and defence organizations, including NATO. Jamie is helping Microsoft and our partners deliver the right solutions and cloud services to enable defence customers to meet their requirements for improved national security.

Dr. Malcolm Davis joined ASPI as a Senior Analyst in Defence Strategy and Capability in January 2016.

Prior to this he was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in China-Western Relations with the Faculty of Society and Design at Bond University from March 2012 to January 2016, and he currently retains an Honorary Assistant Professor position in the Faculty. He has worked with the Department of Defence, both in Navy Headquarters in the Strategy and Force Structure area, and with Strategic Policy Division in the Strategic Policy Guidance and Strategic External Relations and Education sections from November 2007 to March 2012. Prior to this appointment he was a Lecturer in Defence Studies with Kings College London at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, in Shrivenham, UK, from June 2000 to October 2007. He holds a PhD in Strategic Studies from the University of Hull as well as two Masters degrees in Strategic Studies, including from the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre. His main research focus is on defence strategy and capability development, military technology, and the future of warfare.

Gen. John M. “Mike” Murray is the Commander, Army Futures Command. He is responsible for building a team to streamline the Army’s modernization enterprise under a single command. His command will enhance efficiency and effectiveness in delivering the technology necessary to maintain the Army’s competitive advantage.

Mike is from Kenton, Ohio, and was commissioned as an Infantry officer in the U.S. Army upon graduation from the Ohio State University in 1982. Prior to taking command at AFC, he integrated Army funding, fielding, and equipping actions to meet current and future military force requirements. He has a history of leading in Texas, having commanded a Brigade Combat Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom within one of the most decorated combat divisions of the U.S. Army, which happens to be from Fort Hood. As a commander, he has offered support for global efforts such as U.S. Forces Afghanistan and Seventh Army in Germany.

Michael joined ASPI in February 2018 as the Director of the Defence & Strategy program.

Michael has worked in policy, intelligence and project delivery in Defence, as well as in the Prime Minister’s department and the Department of Finance.

He was the defence policy person in the Australian Embassy in Washington, and has worked in two Commonwealth Ministers’ offices.

His role before joining ASPI was as the head of Defence’s Contestability function, providing critical but constructive analysis of the projects and programs in the Government’s integrated investment program for Defence.

Dr Sheridan Kearnan commenced in the role as First Assistant Secretary Defence Industry Policy on 22 January 2018. Dr Kearnan’s responsibilities include the Defence Capability and Innovation Branch, which manages a consolidated innovation program and the associated portfolio of innovation investments; the Defence Export Controls Branch, responsible for managing Australia's export control of military and dual-use goods and technologies; and the Defence Industry Branch, which is accountable and responsible for Defence industry policy.

Prior to this, Dr Kearnan was Deputy Director of Australia's Defence Intelligence Organisation (2017); Minister Counsellor Defence Policy at the Embassy of Australia in Washington D.C. (2014-2016) and Assistant Secretary Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the International Policy Division of the Australian Department of Defence (2010-2012). Before her appointment as Assistant Secretary, Dr Kearnan was Adviser to the former Minister of Defence, Senator John Faulkner. Between January 2008 and June 2009, she was Director Afghanistan in International Policy Division.

Dr Kearnan's previous appointments also include Director ASEAN in International Policy Division (2005-2007), Director Strategic Assessments in Strategic Policy Division (2004-2005), and Senior Executive Assistant for Deputy Secretary Strategic Policy (2003). Dr Kearnan has also worked on Papua New Guinea and the Pacific in a number of areas of Defence.

Before entering government service in 1999, Dr Kearnan completed a PhD in International Relations and a Masters of Social Science (Asian Government) at the University of Queensland. Dr Kearnan also attended the 2013 course of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.

Katherine joined the ADM team in 2006 as a staff writer and was appointed editor in Canberra at the beginning of 2008. She took on the expanded role of Managing Editor of Yaffa Media’s ADM Group at the beginning of 2018 upon the retirement of ADM’s founder and publisher Judy Hinz.

While she has a background in business journalism and economics, she has also completed a Masters of Strategy and Policy at the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, graduating in 2010. She was a member of the Defence Industry Study Course (DISC) in 2017.

Katherine is also a board member of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation, a strategic think tank on Air Power and Defence issues and has served as a committee member of the Submarine Institute of Australia. She is a founding member of the Defence and National Security Media Association, a group of Australia’s leading Defence and National Security journalists.

Neale is Director of Business Development for Lockheed Martin, leading a team based in Canberra and Wellington. He commenced this role in January 2017 and is responsible for Lockheed Martin’s diverse portfolio including combat systems for ships and submarines, rotary wing aircraft, training and simulation, C4ISR and major radar systems.
Neale has been involved in a broad range of technologies including Australia’s Combat System Integrator for the Future Submarine Program, Over-The-Horizon-Radar, Australian Defence Force Pilot Training System, MH-60R naval combat helicopter and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs.
Neale joined Lockheed Martin in 1998 and has been involved in new business in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Korea. During 2005-2009 he was responsible for Corporate International Business Development Australia involved in aerospace, guided weapons, intelligence, unmanned air vehicles, training and maritime systems.
In 2003, Neale was the business development leader to provide electronic warfare capability in the UK. He has been involved in establishing teams between Lockheed Martin and major international partners in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom in support of major defence capabilities across sea, land and aerospace domains.
A graduate from United States Air Force Institute of Technology, he has a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with majors in electro-optic systems and digital signal processing.
Neale served in the Royal Australian Air Force in operational squadrons in the modification and maintenance of F/A-18, C-130, F-111, CH-47 and UH-1H aircraft. He also served in the Headquarters of the Australian Defence Force as sponsor of operational requirements for electronic warfare systems. He was a member of the Australian Contingent to the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai desert.

Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Deeble was born in Sydney in 1957 and completed Sydney Technical High School in 1975.

He graduated from Sydney University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in pre- and applied- mathematics, and subsequently joined the RAAF in 1979.

After graduation from the School of Air Navigation he was posted to fly Canberra aircraft and then F-111s where he undertook strike, reconnaissance and instructional roles at 1 and 6 Squadrons. In 1990 he was seconded to the F-111 Avionics Update Program and was responsible for the oversight and development of F-111 operational software. Chris then returned to F-111 operations and undertook executive roles at  1 Squadron and then 82 Wing Headquarters. During his career in the RAAF Chris accumulated 2500 operational flying hours.  

As a result of his project work and operational efforts, he was admitted as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 1999 Australia Day Honours.

He was then appointed to executive roles in Air Force Headquarters and the Capability Development Group, culminating in him being promoted to Director General Aerospace Development (DGAD). He was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for his work as DGAD in the 2007 Australia Day Honours.  

In June 2006 Chris was promoted to AVM and posted to Defence Materiel Organisation as Program Manager, Airborne Early Warning & Control and in June 2010 he also accepted responsibility for the Collins Class Submarine. In 2013 he undertook a short appointment as Program Manager - Multi Role Tanker Transport to assist achieving final acceptance. His extensive program management experience continued when in March 2014 he was appointed Program Manager of the Joint Strike Fighter Program.  As a result of his significant work on some of Defence’s largest acquisition and sustainment programs, AVM Deeble was admitted as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2016 Queens Birthday Honours.  

On retirement from the RAAF in early 2016, AVM Deeble (Retired) was appointed into the role of OneSKY Program Executive in Airservices Australia, which had responsibility for the successful delivery of the OneSKY Program, delivering the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System for Australia.

Chris has joined Northrop Grumman Australia as the Chief Executive effective from 2 April 2019. 
 

Peter has worked at senior levels in the Australian Public Service on defence and national security. Career highlights include being Deputy Secretary for Strategy in the Defence Department (2009-12); Chief of Staff to the Minister for Defence (1996-98) and Senior Adviser for Strategic Policy to the Prime Minister (2002-03).

Since May 2012 Peter has expanded ASPI’s role from its original high-quality research on defence to include research on cyber security; policing and international law enforcement, border security, national resilience and counter terrorism studies. Now with around 40 staff and close working relations with Government, Parliament and industry, ASPI is Australia’s leading think-tank on national security.

Peter’s research interests include Australian and regional defence policies, military operations, crisis management, government decision making and future defence capabilities.

Peter led the ‘External Expert Panel’ appointed by Government in early 2014 to advise Ministers and the Defence Department on the Defence White Paper, released in February 2016. Peter is a member of the Australia-Germany Advisory Group, appointed by the Prime Minister and German Chancellor in 2015 to develop closer bilateral relations. He is a member of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations advising the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Peter has previously held a number Senior Executive Service positions in Defence including First Assistant Secretary International Policy Division, First Assistant Secretary Coordination and Public Affairs and Secretary of the Defence Audit and Risk Committee.

Peter was Director of Programs at ASPI between late 2003 and January 2006 and has taught postgraduate studies on terrorism at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

In the Defence Department, Peter has been the Deputy Director of the then titled Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (2002) and head of the Strategic Policy Branch (1998–1999). In late 1999 Peter was co-director of the East Timor Policy Unit, responsible for developing Australia’s policy approaches to the international peacekeeping operation in East Timor. Following that, as an acting First Assistant Secretary, Peter was closely involved in developing the 2000 Defence White Paper.

Peter studied at the London Business School in 2000–2001 as a Sloan Fellow and was awarded a Masters of Science (Management) with Distinction. He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from the Australian National University (1987) and a BA (Honours) in History from the University of Tasmania (1980–1984). He has been a Fulbright Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1985). Peter taught politics and international relations at the University of New South Wales/ADFA (1987–1990).

Peter was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day 2013 Honors list for outstanding public service through the development of Australia's strategic and defence policy, particularly in the areas of Australian Defence Force operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. In February 2016 Peter was awarded the French decoration of Knight in the National Order of Legion d’Honneur.

Dr Andrew Davies joined ASPI in 2006 and was the inaugural Director of Defence and Strategy. He is now a Senior Fellow with the Institute and lectures on defence acquisition and intelligence at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the ANU. He has written extensively on ADF capability and force structuring issues, including platform options for air and maritime combat, industry issues, and decision-making in the Department of Defence. He has an ongoing interest in the future submarine and Joint Strike Fighter projects, and his work on both has made an important contribution to the public understanding of those projects here and abroad.

Before joining ASPI, Andrew was a post doctoral fellow in physics at Melbourne University and the ANU. He then spent twelve years in the Department of Defence in the areas of capability analysis and intelligence.

Kate was appointed Head of Defence and Industry Policy at the Australian Industry Group in August 2017.  The Australian Industry Group Defence Council is the principal voice for Australian defence industry.

Kate joined the Department of Defence in 1997 as a graduate in contracting.

Kate has extensive experience with Defence capability development having worked as Director, Chief of Staff, and Assistant Secretary within Capability Development Group, Capability Investment and Resource Division.  This experience has equipped Kate with the knowledge and skills to manage the development of major capital equipment acquisition submissions for the Government.

In June 2010 Kate commenced her first SES role as the Assistant Secretary Investment Analysis.  As the Assistant Secretary Investment Analysis, Kate was responsible for overseeing and directing the activities of the Investment Analysis staff in the contestability function and preparation of Ministerial and Cabinet submissions for the acquisition of new major capital equipment.

In April 2014 Kate was appointed as Assistant Secretary White Paper Enterprise Management to develop industry related Defence policy including Shipbuilding and the Defence Industry Policy Statement.

Having acted in the position of First Assistant Secretary Defence Industry Policy Division from 19 November 2015 Kate was formally appointed to the position on 01 March 2016.  Kate was responsible for the effective implementation of the Government’s approach to Defence Industry policy.

Kate has a Bachelor of Laws (1st Class Honours) and Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University.

Michael joined ASPI in February 2018 as the Director of the Defence & Strategy program.

Michael has worked in policy, intelligence and project delivery in Defence, as well as in the Prime Minister’s department and the Department of Finance.

He was the defence policy person in the Australian Embassy in Washington, and has worked in two Commonwealth Ministers’ offices.

His role before joining ASPI was as the head of Defence’s Contestability function, providing critical but constructive analysis of the projects and programs in the Government’s integrated investment program for Defence.

Peter has worked at senior levels in the Australian Public Service on defence and national security. Career highlights include being Deputy Secretary for Strategy in the Defence Department (2009-12); Chief of Staff to the Minister for Defence (1996-98) and Senior Adviser for Strategic Policy to the Prime Minister (2002-03).

Since May 2012 Peter has expanded ASPI’s role from its original high-quality research on defence to include research on cyber security; policing and international law enforcement, border security, national resilience and counter terrorism studies. Now with around 40 staff and close working relations with Government, Parliament and industry, ASPI is Australia’s leading think-tank on national security.

Peter’s research interests include Australian and regional defence policies, military operations, crisis management, government decision making and future defence capabilities.

Peter led the ‘External Expert Panel’ appointed by Government in early 2014 to advise Ministers and the Defence Department on the Defence White Paper, released in February 2016. Peter is a member of the Australia-Germany Advisory Group, appointed by the Prime Minister and German Chancellor in 2015 to develop closer bilateral relations. He is a member of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations advising the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Peter has previously held a number Senior Executive Service positions in Defence including First Assistant Secretary International Policy Division, First Assistant Secretary Coordination and Public Affairs and Secretary of the Defence Audit and Risk Committee.

Peter was Director of Programs at ASPI between late 2003 and January 2006 and has taught postgraduate studies on terrorism at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

In the Defence Department, Peter has been the Deputy Director of the then titled Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (2002) and head of the Strategic Policy Branch (1998–1999). In late 1999 Peter was co-director of the East Timor Policy Unit, responsible for developing Australia’s policy approaches to the international peacekeeping operation in East Timor. Following that, as an acting First Assistant Secretary, Peter was closely involved in developing the 2000 Defence White Paper.

Peter studied at the London Business School in 2000–2001 as a Sloan Fellow and was awarded a Masters of Science (Management) with Distinction. He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from the Australian National University (1987) and a BA (Honours) in History from the University of Tasmania (1980–1984). He has been a Fulbright Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1985). Peter taught politics and international relations at the University of New South Wales/ADFA (1987–1990).

Peter was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day 2013 Honors list for outstanding public service through the development of Australia's strategic and defence policy, particularly in the areas of Australian Defence Force operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. In February 2016 Peter was awarded the French decoration of Knight in the National Order of Legion d’Honneur.