The Australian National University
I build and lead organisations that have to perform when the work is complex, technical and consequential. Across more than 28 years in Defence, industry and consulting, I have led operational teams, major programs, capability development, customer growth and organisational change across aviation, ISR, mission systems, training, engineering and national security. My experience spans the full operating system of a business: strategy, customers, delivery, workforce, engineering, logistics, risk, governance, safety, commercial decisions and international partnerships. I have led more than 100 people and held accountability for a $470M P-8A training capability, coordinated joint and multi-agency operations, developed complex Defence capability proposals, and managed regional sales and customer relationships across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. I am technically fluent enough to engage engineers and operators, commercially minded enough to understand customers, value and market opportunity, and practical enough to work comfortably in aviation, industrial, field and workshop environments. A primary production background shaped that practical style: understand the job, solve the real problem, use resources wisely and look after the people doing the work. My leadership style is inclusive and service-oriented. I set direction, create clarity, remove friction and hold people to a high standard without losing sight of the human side of performance. I bring the greatest value in general management, COO, business-unit and operations leadership roles where the challenge is to connect strategy, people, customers and delivery—particularly across defence technology, aerospace, industrial systems, infrastructure, transport and other high-consequence sectors
•Advise the Joint Warfare Directorate on future force design, mission requirements and capability priorities. • Lead cross-functional analysis of operational problems, mission dependencies and future capability needs. • Convert complex operational requirements into coherent force-design and investment considerations. • Engage senior operational, technical and policy stakeholders to establish common understanding and guide decisions. • Apply mission-engineering principles to identify capability gaps, integration risks and potential technology pathways.
Lead analysis, design and development of Joint ISREW training system to support HQ Joint Operations Command through Defence College of Intelligence.
Progressed through operational, technical, program and executive leadership roles across aviation, ISR, mission systems, capability development and joint operations. Enterprise operations leadership Directed joint and combined planning across aviation, maritime, ISR, logistics, communications and government partners. Converted strategic direction into executable priorities, managed enterprise risk and briefed senior enterprise executives at C-suite and Deputy Secretary level.. Command and general management Led an organisation of more than 100 personnel across operations, engineering, training, logistics, HR, contractors and international partners. Accountable for strategy, operational KPIs and delivery of a $470M P-8A training and capability system. Capability acquisition and program delivery Led requirements definition, business cases, stakeholder engagement, tender evaluation and executive approvals for complex aerospace and electronic-warfare capabilities. Worked in conjunction with Boeing, BAE Systems, CEA Technologies, Viasat and specialist technology partners. Technology and operational systems Built deep operator-level knowledge of GNSS and inertial navigation, acoustic warfare, ISR, mission computing, sensors, tactical datalinks, communications and secure networks. International engagement Worked with military, government and industry partners across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the wider APAC region. Leadership approach Known for inclusive, service-oriented leadership that creates clarity, builds trust, removes organisational friction and sustains accountability in high-pressure environments.
Held senior operations-executive appointments responsible for converting strategic priorities into coordinated organisational delivery across aviation, joint operations and technically complex environments. Directed operational planning and execution across aviation, maritime, ISR, logistics, communications, cyber and whole-of-government functions. Coordinated day-to-day organisational performance across operations, engineering, training, logistics, workforce and support teams. Translated executive direction into priorities, resource allocations, work plans, schedules and measurable outputs. Balanced personnel, capability, logistics, engineering constraints, legal obligations, international policy, timelines and operational risk. Monitored readiness, workforce capacity, performance and emerging risks, recommending corrective action and redirecting resources where required. Led multidisciplinary teams through high-tempo, high-consequence situations involving competing priorities and incomplete information. Prepared executive briefs, performance reporting and decision support for senior leaders, including senior enterprise executives at C-suite and Deputy Secretary level. Built alignment across Defence, government agencies and international partners with different priorities, authorities and operating cultures. Resolved cross-functional issues that could not be addressed within a single business area, maintaining organisational momentum and delivery confidence. Supported workforce planning, governance, organisational change and continuous performance improvement.
Led capability development and technology-integration activities across electronic warfare, air combat and tactical data-link systems, bridging operational users, engineering teams, acquisition stakeholders and industry partners. Translated operational problems and customer needs into structured requirements, capability options, business cases and executable delivery pathways. Managed multi-million-dollar capability proposals through Defence acquisition processes, including scope definition, cost, schedule, risk, governance and executive approval. Engaged major primes, technology companies and specialist suppliers to assess market capability, technical feasibility, integration risk and commercial value. Worked with CEA Technologies, Viasat and other vendors to shape electronic-warfare range, datalink and communications and mission-system solutions. Led operational evaluation of competing options, balancing performance, interoperability, affordability, schedule and through-life support. Coordinated operational, engineering, procurement, security, legal, financial and industry stakeholders throughout complex buying and decision-making processes. Managed the day-to-day integration and performance of multiple tactical data-link networks across the Australian operational environment. Resolved interoperability, configuration and stakeholder issues affecting mission-system performance and operational delivery. Prepared decision-ready recommendations and executive briefs on capability priorities, investment options, risk and implementation. Built trusted relationships across Defence and industry by communicating complex technology in clear operational and commercial terms