2019 WA Indo-Pacific Defence Conference

The Hon Kim Beazley AC

Governor of Western Australia

The Honourable Kim Beazley AC is the 33rd Governor of Western Australia. Prior to being installed as Governor on the 1st May 2018, Mr Beazley had dedicated almost three decades to a career in Federal Parliament, representing the WA seats of Brand and Swan. In 2009, Mr Beazley was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the Parliament of Australia through contributions to the development of government policies in relation to defence and international relations, and as an advocate for Indigenous people, and to the community.

The Hon Mark McGowan MLA

Premier of Western Australia

General Angus J. Campbell AO DSC

Chief of the Defence Force

General Angus Campbell joined the Australian Army in 1981, graduating from the Royal Military College - Duntroon in 1984. He has served in troop and squadron command appointments within the Special Air Service Regiment, in a range of staff appointments, in senior roles in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and as Major General and Deputy Chief of Army in the Australian Defence Force.

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. His full biography is available here

Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC

Minister for Defence

Senator the Hon Linda 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 Ministers, 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. Senator Reynolds is pursuing new defence and space industry opportunities for WA, innovation, gender equality and federation reform.

The Hon Richard Marles MP

Shadow Defence Minister and Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Richard Marles is currently the Shadow Minister for Defence, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Federal Member for Corio. Richard’s previous appointments include Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Minister of Trade, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, and Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Affairs.

The Hon Melissa Price MP

Minister for Defence Industry

Melissa was first elected to Parliament as the Member for Durack, the largest electorate in Australia, in 2013. During her first term, Melissa was appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture and Industry, Indigenous Affairs, and Infrastructure and Communications, and the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia. Melissa’s vast experience living and working in regional Australia proved a valuable insight during her time on both committees. 

In December 2017, she was elevated to her first outer ministerial appointment in the role of Assistant Minister for the Environment. She continued in this role until August 2018, when she was sworn in as Minister for the Environment in the Morrison Government. With the Coaltion returned to government at the 2019 Federal election, Melissa was sworn in as Minister for Defence Industry in May 2019.  

Matt Keogh MP

Shadow Minister for Defence Industry

Following the 2019 Federal Election Matt Keogh took on the Shadow Portfolio areas of Defence Industry and WA Resources, as well as assisting the Shadow Minister for Small & Family Business. He is also the Federal Member for Burt.

Matt was elected as the first member for the Federal Division of Burt in the south-eastern suburbs of Perth at the 2016 Federal Election. Matt grew up in the Kelmscott Hills, attended school in Armadale and has strong ties to the local community. Matt has worked closely with community organisations throughout his life in what is now known as the seat of Burt in Perth's south eastern suburbs. He continues to strive to “change the story” in the area.

Prior to taking on his portfolio responsibilities, Matt served on a wide range of committees including the House of Representatives standing committee on Economics, Agriculture and Water Resources and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services.

Rear Admiral Lee Goddard

Commander Maritime Border Command

Rear Admiral Lee Goddard has been fortunate to have experienced many 'careers within a career' during more than 30 years in the Navy.  Prior to assuming his current role as Commander, Maritime Border Command, he was seconded as Branch Head (International) within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in 2017, and Head of the Australian whole of government APEC PNG Taskforce in 2018.  
 
Throughout his career he has served at sea in RAN, Canadian, Malaysian and US Navy warships, and on operations in the Middle East and Border Protection. He has served as the Executive Officer onboard Australia’s national tall ship STS Young Endeavour and he has been posted overseas to Canada, Malaysia, Bahrain and the USA.
 
He commanded the Anzac Class frigate, HMAS Parramatta, from 2006 to 2008 and was then selected to attend the US Naval War College in Newport RI, where he joined the Naval Command College, graduating in June 2010 when he was awarded the War College’s International Leadership Prize. He was subsequently asked to remain at the War College as an International Fellow, teaching within the Department of Strategy and Policy at the Masters level.

Admiral Mike Rogers (Ret)

Former Commander, US Cyber Command

Mike Rogers retired from the U.S. Navy in 2018 after nearly 37 years of naval service rising to the rank of four-star admiral. He culminated his career with a four-year tour as Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director, National Security Agency – creating the DoD’s newest combatant command and running the U.S. government’s largest intelligence organization. In those roles he worked with the leadership of the U.S. government, the DoD and the U.S. Intelligence community as well as their international counterparts in the conduct of cyber and intelligence activity across the globe. He also assisted in the development of national and international policy with respect to cyber, intelligence and technology – including extensive work with corporate leadership in the Finance, IT, Telecommunications and Technology sectors.

Admiral Rogers is currently supporting companies in the private sector, serving as a member of various Boards or acting as a Senior Advisor. He also speaks globally to various business and academic groups and is working internationally in the cyber and national security arenas. He is a Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Managements’ Public Private Initiative and a member of the advisory board of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue and NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. He is also a member of the United States Naval Institute Board of Directors.

Terry Durant

Managing Director, South Metro TAFE

Terry Durant is the Managing Director of South Metropolitan TAFE. Terry is passionate about the value and role of quality training and education in equipping individuals with skills for employment or further education.
In 2016, Terry led the amalgamation of two major training colleges under the Training Sector Reform Project. Her leadership during this time guided the newly formed South Metropolitan TAFE college towards a transformative period of driving strategic change, strengthening industry partnerships and evolving an outcomes focused staff culture.

Prior to her time in the VET sector, Terry worked across the public and private sector, in senior positions within banking, superannuation and taxation. Terry holds a Master of Business Administration from Curtin University and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
 

Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie AO, RAN (Rtd)

Dr Lynn Kuok

Associate Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies

Dr Kuok has held fellowships at Brookings Institution, Harvard Law School, the Harvard Kennedy School, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore. She has served as editor-in-chief of the Cambridge Review of International Affairs and the Singapore Law Review, both peer-reviewed journals. She is an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore and has worked as a senior news producer at a television news station.

Dr Kuok speaks regularly at international conferences and leading universities. Her analysis has featured in Foreign Affairs and The Wall Street Journal, amongst others. She has been interviewed by and quoted in various broadcast and print media, including the BBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera and The New York Times.

She has taken part in the World Economic Forum, Global Future Council on International Security; the IISS Southeast Asian Young Leaders’ Programme; Munich Young Leader, Munich Security Conference; and has been awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship for doctoral studies.

Kris Constantinides

Joel Nevin

Director, Blacktree Technology
 

Kate Longhurst

Director, DFAT Western Australia State Office
 

Chris Deeble AO CSC

Chief Executive Australia, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Chris Deeble is chief executive of Northrop Grumman Australia. He supports the company's current programmes, develops strategies for growth and identifies new business opportunities in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Deeble has extensive acquisition and sustainment program experience, as well as a deep understanding of organisational strategy and operational excellence.

Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, Deeble worked for Airservices Australia as the program executive for OneSKY, responsible for delivering the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System for Australia.

Deeble served for 37 years in the Australian Defence Force, most notably as an Air Vice-Marshal. He oversaw multiple programs such as the Joint Strike Fighter, Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control, Multi Role Tanker Transport and the Navy Collins Class Submarine. His performance in leading these complex programs was recognised in 2016 with the Officer of the Order of Australia award.

Rear Admiral Raydon W Gates AO CSM (Ret)

Michele Clement

Director, Defence Science Centre

Michele Clement is currently establishing the Western Australian Defence Science Centre (DSC WA) on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. The DSC WA aims to build strong collaborations across Defence, universities and industry, facilitating defence-relevant research and technology connections that supports defence and national security outcomes. It will support the commercialisation of defence-related research outcomes and cultivate an internationally engaged and competitive local defence industry.

Tony Routledge

Managing Director, AVI

Tony Routledge is the Managing Director of specialised communication systems company AVI. With a 30-year company history, Tony has positioned AVI to deliver end-to-end solutions that include advanced design, manufacture and support of communications and security systems for discerning global customers and difficult environments – including combat zones, critical media and shielded systems for Governments.

The company’s Perth-based Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility technology is deployed in machines, aircraft, military and mining vehicles. AVI’s electronic systems are trusted to deliver critical data to the world’s largest autonomous machines in zero-fail environments.

Gemma Whiting

Government Relations Manager, Austal

Darryl Hockey

Deputy Chairman, Henderson Alliance

Darryl Hockey is Deputy Chairman and spokesperson for the Henderson Alliance, a progressive industry group which develops and promote the capabilities of small businesses in WA’s defence industries.  They have also collaborated to establish a national body known as the Australian Defence Alliance, with over one thousand members.

He has worked in senior executive roles in mining and resources, major infrastructure and engineering projects, public policy, agribusiness, international trade, media and communications, government relations and regulatory affairs – as well as defence industry business development.  He has also worked as a senior adviser to state and federal Cabinet Ministers.

Darryl holds a Masters in International Business from Monash University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  He is a past WA Citizen of the Year for Community Service and a recipient of the Centenary Medal and Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal.

Major General Seo Young Lee (Ret.)

Retired Major General, Korean Military

Major General (Ret.) Seo Young Lee is an Adjunct Professor of the National Defense University. He serves as the Policy Advisory Committee Member and the Pol-Mil Advisor for JCS, and a Board Member of Council on Korea and U.S. Security Studies. MG Lee was a Visiting Researcher of RAND Corporation in 2015, a member of the Policy Advisory Committee for the Ministry of National Defense, and a Visiting Professor of the National Defense University from 2015 to 2017. He served as the Defense Attaché to the United States from 2011 to 2013. MG Lee was the Chief of Plans Division, C-5, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command. He was the JCS Senior Liaison Officer to Multi-National Force–Iraq. MG Lee graduated from the Korea Military Academy and the U.S. Joint Forces Staff College, received a M.A. from Yonsei University, and M.S.M. from Troy University.

Lieutenant General Agus Widjojo (Ret.)

Retired Lieutenant General, Indonesian Armed Forces

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Agus Widjojo, graduated from the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy in 1970. He holds degrees from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC), U.S. National Defense University and George Washington University. After retirement from active duty in 2003, he served as Chief of Staff to the Commanding General, and Deputy Speaker in the National Consultative Assembly, representing the Military and National Police Faction.  He has served as Deputy in the Presidential Delivery Unit for Program Management and Reform (UKP-PPR) and as Commissioner of the Commission of Truth and Friendship Indonesia-Timor Leste. He is currently Governor of the National Resilience Institute of Republic of Indonesia (Lemhannas RI) and a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta.

Professor Colleen Hayward AM

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Equity and Indigenous, Edith Cowan University

Colleen Hayward is a senior Noongar woman with extensive family links throughout the south-west of WA. She comes from a teaching family with her father having been the first Aboriginal teacher, and Principal, in WA.
For more than 30 years, Colleen has provided significant input to policies and programs on a wide range of issues, reflecting the needs of minority groups at community, state and national levels. She has an extensive background in a range of areas including health, education, training, employment, housing, child protection and law & justice as well as significant experience in policy and management. In 2012, Colleen was inducted into the Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame and was recognised as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

 

Todd Alder

CEO and Managing Director, Orbital UAV

Todd Alder is Managing Director and CEO of Orbital UAV. Since his appointment in August 2017, Todd has focused the Company’s strategy to deliver superiority in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) propulsion systems and flight critical components. Orbital UAV supplies its integrated propulsion systems and associated technologies to a global customer base, including Insitu Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, and Textron Systems – both world leaders in the supply of tactical defence UAVs.
Todd is a qualified CPA and holds a Bachelor of Economics and Accounting Degree from Flinders University in South Australia, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance through Chartered Secretaries Australia.

Professor Stephen Smith

Director, Perth USAsia Centre and Board Chair, UWA Public Policy Institute

Professor Smith was Federal Member for Perth for the Australian Labor Party from March 1993 until September 2013. In a distinguished career spanning 20 years in the Australian Federal Parliament, Professor Smith served as the Minister for Defence, and prior to that, as Minister for Foreign Affairs. 

Professor Robert Somerville AM

Wing Commander, Royal Australian Airforce Cadets

Robert Somerville is a Martu man from Jigalong in the Murchison-Gascoyne region of Western Australia. His family owned and ran one of Australia’s first Aboriginal owned cattle stations, Beyondie. A part of his Grandmother’s story is portrayed in the book and later movie the “Rabbit Proof Fence”.
 
Robert is a Wing Commander with the Royal Australian Air Force’s National cadet program that comprises of over 8,000 young people between the ages of 13 and 20 all of whom have a passion for aviation and defence. Robert is a qualified pilot and parachutist.
 

Ian Irving

Chief Executive, Naval Shipbuilding Institute

Ian has more than 30 years’ experience at senior executive levels within the Australian defence and aerospace industry, and in 2019 was appointed as the Chief Executive of the Naval Shipbuilding Institute, responsible for the delivery of Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding College.
 

Ambassador (Fmr) Mark Lippert

Vice President, International Government Affairs, Boeing 

The Honorable Mark William Lippert is vice president at Boeing International, based in Washington, D.C. Lippert joined Boeing in 2017. Prior to joining Boeing, he had a distinguished career in the United States government that included serving as United States ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea (2014-2017), chief of staff to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (2013-2014) and as assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs (2012-2013)

Matt Moran

Executive Director, Defence West

Matt is the inaugural Executive Director of Defence West, a Walkley Award winner and an Australian Army Afghanistan veteran. Matt has extensive knowledge of Defence, having experience as a senior adviser to the Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Defence. He worked on Defence’s most complex and expensive projects over the last few years.

Matt was also a media adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.  He deployed to Afghanistan as a public affairs officer in 2009 and East Timor in 2007.  In a previous life, he was a journalist with the ABC and Network Ten.

Admiral Robin Dhowan (Ret.)

Former Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy

Admiral RK Dhowan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA. The Admiral has commanded three frontline warships of the Western Fleet and was the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

He has served as the Indian Naval Advisor at the High Commission of India, London, Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Western Naval Command, Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff before being promoted as the 22^nd Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy on 17 Apr 14. He retired from the role on 31 May 16 and took over as the fifth Chairman of the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi

Admiral Scott Swift (Ret.)

Former Commander, US Pacific Fleet

Adm. Swift served in the U.S. Navy for more than 40 years, rising from his commission through the Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate program to become a Navy light attack and strike fighter pilot.  He commanded at all levels including F/A-18 weapons school, aircraft carrier-based squadrons, Carrier Air Wing, Carrier Strike Group and the U.S. Seventh Fleet forward deployed to Japan, finally completing his uniformed career as the 35th Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet in 2018. During his years of service, he participated in combat Operations Praying Mantis, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and received a master’s degree from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.

He is a graduate of San Diego State University and the U.S. Naval War College.

Selected as the MIT Center for International Studies Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow, Admiral Swift continues to explore opportunities to serve where his interests, abilities, experience and national need align.

Lieutenant Colonel Jasmin Diab

Base Commander, Campbell Barracks, Australian Army; Vice-President of Women in Nuclear Australia; Australian Representative on the Women in Nuclear Global Committee

Jasmin joined the Australian Army in 2001. After graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College Duntroon, she was allocated to the Royal Australian Engineers as a Combat Engineer. Jasmin has spent the majority of her career providing operational and training support in countering chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.  
 
Jasmin is a big advocate for thinking differently and is a co-founder of the Defence Entrepreneurs Forum Australia (DEF Aus) which encourages bottom up conceptual innovation through pitching ideas to Defence senior leadership. She is also the Vice-President of Women in Nuclear Australia and the Australian representative on the Women in Nuclear Global board. 

Dr Jeffrey Wilson

Research Director, Perth USAsia Centre.​

Dr Jeffrey Wilson is the Research Director at the Perth USAsia Centre. He provides leadership and strategic direction in developing the Centre’s research program across its publications, policy and dialogue activities.
 
Dr Wilson specialises in the regional economic integration of the Indo-Pacific. He has particular expertise in the politics of trade agreements, regional economic institutions, and Australia’s economic ties with Asia. He has been featured in local and international media outlets, contributed to a range of track two dialogues between Australia and key regional partners, and supported policy development through consultancy, publication and advisory work.

Vice Admiral Yoji Koda (Ret.)

Former Commander-In-Chief of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force

Vice Admiral Koda is a Japanese naval officer, academic, writer and a fellow at the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University focusing on the direction of the US-Japan alliance in the coming decades and Chinese naval and military expansion. He is the former Commander-in-Chief of the Self Defence Fleet and has served on several Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force ships including the Yudachi (DD-108), the Shirayuki (DD-123), and the Sawayuki (DD-125). He has a career in maritime defence spanning over 30 years.