Our Speakers

JOHN BLAXLAND

John Blaxland is Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies, Director of the ANU Southeast Asia Institute and, since March 2017, Acting Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at ANU, overseeing its three-degree programs. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales. In addition, he is a member of the ANU Academic Board as well as the Australian Army Journal editorial board and an occasional commentator in the media. He is a US Department of Defense Minerva Research Initiative grant recipient.

John holds a PhD in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, an MA in History from ANU and a BA (Hons 1) from UNSW. He is a graduate of the Royal Thai Army Command & Staff College (dux, foreign students) and the Royal Military College, Duntroon (Blamey Scholar). He has extensive experience in the intelligence community including as the principal intelligence staff officer for the Australian brigade in East Timor in September 1999, as an intelligence exchange officer in Washington DC, as Director Joint Intelligence Operations (J2), at Headquarters Joint Operations Command (2006/7) and as a lead author of the three-volume history of ASIO. In addition, he was Australia’s Defence Attaché to Thailand and Myanmar.  He teaches “Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World” and supervises a number of students undertaking higher degrees by research.

His publications and research interests concern intelligence and the security arms of government, Australian military history and strategy, defence studies, military operations (including East Timor, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan); international relations, notably on South-east Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Indonesia, South China Sea), North America, (Canada/United States) and Australia’s Flag.

DR GAV SCHNEIDER

Dr Gav is an acknowledged leader in the field of human based risk management and the psychology of risk. He is a serial entrepreneur and has been running his own businesses since 2001. He has conducted business in over 17 countries and provided a wide range of services for a very diverse client base ranging from heads of state to school teachers. He is a leading academic and subject matter expert in his field and is a much-sought after International speaker. He has trained thousands of people in his own right and to date, his companies have trained in excess of 150,000 people in numerous countries. he holds numerous trainer, educational and coaching qualifications, has been a martial arts full contact champion, is a 7th degree black belt and has been an Instructor to Royalty Protection teams, Presidential Protection teams and Military and Police Special Units.

Summary

• Acknowledged subject matter expert on Integrated & Human Centric Risk Management, Safety, Emergency, Crisis Management and Security with Extensive senior level management and leadership experience.
• Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia as well as Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management & Leadership
• He holds a Doctor of Criminology (Security) Degree as well as a Master of Technology Degree (UNISA). CEO of the Risk2Solution Group which is a group of risk, security, safety, medical and emergency response companies that focus on innovative integration and consolidation solutions.
• Program Director for the Australian Catholic Universities (ACU) post graduate program on the Psychology of Risk.
• Author of Can I See your Hands: A Guide To Situational Awareness, Personal Risk Management, Resilience and Security as well as Beyond the Bodyguard a guide to protective practices success and numerous academic and advisory articles.
• Numerous high-level consulting and advisory projects as well as two decades of Specialised Security, Safety, and Risk Management experience in over 17 countries.
• Extensive involvement in International Risk Management and related industry associations (Msyl, FIS (SA), FISSM, ASIS CPP, FAIM, AARPI. MAIPIO).
• Has served as an Industry Expert Witness for the Legal Sector.

SCOTT RYRIE

Scott entered the insurance industry in 1977 straight after leaving school. Scott spent 4 years in the direct market with City Mutual and Sphere Drake. Moving to Munich Re in 1980 Scott worked across Marine and Casualty. In 1986, Scott joined Alexander Howden (Australia) and spend 2 years working in the London market.

On returning to Australia, Scott started Nac Re in Australia which became XL Re and then moved to Singapore to run the region for XL Re. Scott then joined Allianz Re, Singapore, as the Regional Chief Executive Officer in 2008 until 2011.  From 2012 to 2013, Scott worked at Guy Carpenter before starting “Ryrie Consulting”. Scott joined A.M. Best as Commercial Director, Asia-Pacific in 2016 and moved back to Sydney in 2017 as CEO of RMIA.

SVEN BLUEMMEL – Information Commissioner 

Mr. Sven Bluemmel was appointed as the inaugural Victorian Information Commissioner in September 2017. Prior to his current role, Mr. Bluemmel served as Western Australian Information Commissioner for eight years.  During that time he was also a member of the State Records Commission alongside the Auditor General, the Ombudsman and a records management expert appointed by the Governor.

Before 2009, Sven held senior positions in the Western Australia Public Sector Commission, Western Australia Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department.  Mr. Bluemmel also practiced law in the private sector in Melbourne and Perth in the areas of information and privacy law.

Mr. Bluemmel is a regular contributor to Australian and international publications, particularly in the areas of information, technology, and administrative law. He has delivered guest lectures at the Australian National University, the University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University and the University of Canberra.  Mr. Bluemmel is a fellow of Leadership Western Australia and served as President of the Institute of Public Administration in Western Australia for three years from November 2014 until October 2017.

Mr. Bluemmel holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Science, both from the Australian National University.

JASON BROWN

National Security Director Thales and Chairman of the Board at Security Professionals Australasia

Qualified in psychology and security risk management, Jason has a number of areas of expertise, including Security Intelligence, Counter Terrorism, International Liaison, Leadership, Training and Strategy Development. He has served on a number of senior boards and committees in both the Public Sector and Private Institutions. Including;

• Chair of International Standards Technical Committee TC262 Risk management.
• Chair of the Steering Committee for the International Day of Recognition for Security Officers
• Member of the ISO Societal Security Standards Mirror Committee Australia to 2014
• Senior Regional Vice President ASIS International 2009-12, Member of ASIS International Standards and Guidelines Commission and Chair of Asia Pacific Advisory Committee 2010-12. 
• Deputy Registrar Security Professionals Registry – Australasia 2013 – 2015
• Board Member Australian Risk Policy Institute 2013 – 2015
• Chair of the Australasian Council of Security Professionals’ 2009-12
• Honorary Fellow, Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Centre, Macquarie University 2005-2016.
• Chair of Defence Security Committee 1999 – 2002
• President of the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO) – 1998-2000

Specialties: Jason has a number of publications in the areas of client service, intelligence management and security. He is internationally known speaker in the areas of intelligence, security, export control, scenario and strategic planning. 

He is a member of ASIS International, ARPI, RMIA and a Fellow of the British Security Institute. He was awarded the Australian Security Medal in February 2011. In 2012 he was admitted as a Charted Security Professional in United Kingdom and a Registered Security Professional Australasia . In 2013 he was a finalist for the Defence Excellence in Security Award for Innovation and listed by IFSEC International in their roll of Global Top 40 influential persons in Security and Fire Management.

TONY MCGUIRK – CBE, QFSM, MSc, FIFireE, FIIRSM

Director ( Hazmat and Specialised Support) at NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA)

Innovative, highly experienced and credible, Chief Executive and Executive Director ( including operational leadership as Chief Fire Officer) with an exemplary career in Emergency and Crisis Management leadership at local, regional, national/international level. Awarded Australian Distinguished Talent visa in 2015 for record of exceptional and outstanding professional achievement. Proud to be appointed as Director of Hazmat and Specialised support to NSW EPA, and experience offering consultancy support on risk management, crisis management, emergency management, leadership and organisational change. Extensive commercial experience through governance and Non-Executive roles on a number of commercial Boards. 

Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers, Fellow of the International Institute of Risk and Safety management, Graduate Harvard Business School, Graduate Civil Service Top Managers Programme, and holds a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management. Extensive senior level networks in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Europe and the UK. Associate of International City Managers Association (USA).

ROBBIE SINCLAIR – CPP, MBA, BAdminL, FARPI, JP

Risk, Business Continuity, Assurance and Insurance knowledge broker.

Robbie Sinclair is a Risk, Business Continuity, Crisis Management, Governance and physical and cyber Security leader across multiple sectors. 

Internationally respected and experienced leader, adviser, knowledge broker, and completer/finisher helping customers and colleagues manage novelty and the unexpected. Offers a worldview mindset through a combination of global and domestic experience supported by extensive academic qualifications. 

Success in corporate, government, education and not for profit sectors combining strategic vision with pragmatic operational know-how for sustainable results.

A formidable track record of applying creativity, innovation and practicality responding to complex and sometimes wicked problems through harnessing skills and intellect of others, creating and managing effective teams working through complex projects, and establishing enduring collaborative partnerships.

Qualified in strategic risk and business continuity planning, business management, leadership, and security risk management, Robbie has a number of areas of expertise, including Risk Management, Business Continuity Management, Project leadership, International and Domestic Security Intelligence, Counter Terrorism, and team dynamics management both locally and remotely.

He has served on a number of senior boards and committees in Public Sector and Private Institutions as well as NFP boards.

BRETT DOBBIE

Protective Security at NSW Government

Protective Security ▪ Security Risk Management ▪ Risk Leadership ▪ Counter Terrorism ▪ Exercise Management ▪ Crisis Management

Experienced counterterrorism practitioner with 19 years law enforcement experience specialising in integrating traditional risk management frameworks into security risk management for protective security assessments across NSW Government and non-government assets, Critical Infrastructure, Crowded Places, Mass Passenger Transport and NSW Events (Vivid, NYE, Australia Day and others). Co-author of ‘Safe Places Vehicle Management Guide’ (2012).   

Qualifications:

• Master of Arts Terrorism Safety and Security
• Graduate Certificate Psychology of Risk
• Diploma Government Security
• Diploma of Policing
• International and Nationally facilitated protective security courses

An author, practitioner, academic and innovator in the organisational resilience and agility community, an accomplished executive risk and organisational resilience practitioner with over 20 years of real-world experience in the development, integration, automation, implementation and continual improvement of the multiple systems required to achieve organisational resilience and agility.

Having insight and understanding of current and future organisational challenges are a result of extensive operational experience and higher degree research where Bruce has been developing an innovative and futureproofed enterprise agility model. The model fuses technology, people, social/organisational and physical networks into one framework that allows organisations and communities to achieve shared awareness and self-synchronisation, so they can not only adapt but thrive in uncertainty.

Sessional academic for the Post Graduate Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment Programs at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) where he lectures in postgraduate risk.

Recognised strategic and critical thinker with proven success operating at the complex interface between national security, politics and strategy. Commended ability to shape strategic thinking in highly sensitive, politically charged interagency situations. Significant experience in interoperability in regional security in the Indo-Pacific and in joint and interagency operations, with expert knowledge of the policy context and interagency dynamics that characterize integrating effects across multiple government departments.

Adjunct Professor at QUT, Managing Director of Sagire Consulting and President of Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers.

Through Sagire Consulting Dr. Kowalick provides expert advice in Intelligence, Law Enforcement and National Security including through strategic organisational design and by conducting business needs analysis.

Colin Pecats is an accomplished security risk management and intelligence specialist with a broad spectrum of industry exposure since 2002, having transitioned through private sector front line security operations and military policing, security risk and intelligence roles until 2012 when Colin became a security adviser to a top 15 ASX listed financial services group where he also filled the role of Executive Manager for Security and Risk. In 2015 he founded a specialist security intelligence consulting firm which delivered services across Australia and North Africa. Colin is currently running an R&D project focused on the integration of leading security risk assessment methodologies with a view to producing more holistic, meaningful, and actionable assessment outcomes through a modular framework which is fit-for-purpose across all levels of government and the private sector.

Sarah Chidgey is Acting Deputy Secretary for the Integrity and International Group in the Attorney-General’s Department. Sarah is responsible for a wide range of integrity, security, criminal justice, intelligence legislation, international law and international cooperation matters.

Sarah has held several executive positions in the department, including First Assistant Secretary, Cyber and Infrastructure Security Division; First Assistant Secretary, National Security Division; First Assistant Secretary, Strategy and Delivery Division; and Assistant Secretary of the Criminal Law and Law Enforcement Branch. Sarah has also held positions as Senior Adviser on Immigration and Emergency Management in the Office of the Prime Minister, National Security Adviser in the Office of the Attorney-General, and in the Domestic Security Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Sarah has honours degrees in Arts and in Law from the Australian National University.

Bryan de Caires has over 25 years senior management experience gained across a range of industry sectors. Among the roles he has held include senior editor with Euromoney Plc (a global finance and business publisher based in London), General Manager, AIC (a b2b media company later renamed Terrapinn) and National Manager of Professional Development, Australian Human Resources Institute.

He joined ASIAL in 2000 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2006. He has helped guide the Association through a period of significant change, including its registration as an employer organisation and establishment of the Association it as the peak body for security professionals.

Established in 1969, the Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL) is the peak national body for security professionals in Australia. With approximately 2,600 members, ASIAL is dedicated to supporting its members, promoting standards and safeguarding the interests of the public.

Bryan served as a Director of NSW Crime Stoppers from 2001-2014.

PSPF PANEL

Attorney-Generals and other Federal Agency Representatives

The PSPF has been developed to assist Australian Government entities to protect their people, information, and assets, at home and overseas.

The PSPF provides policy, guidance and better practice advice for governance, personnel, physical and information security. The 36 mandatory requirements assist Agency Heads to identify their responsibilities to manage security risks to their people, information, and assets.

Non-corporate Commonwealth entities are required to apply the PSPF as it relates to their risk environment. It is best practice to do this through a security risk management approach, with a focus on fostering a positive culture of security within the entity and across the Australian Government.

Each individual Commonwealth entity is in the best position to assess their own risk environment and apply relevant and proportionate security controls in support of Australian Government resources.

The PSPF document map is designed to assist users of the PSPF to understand the relationships between protocols, guidelines and better practice guides that support the PSPF governance arrangements and core policies.

Lisel is the Security Manager and Agency Security Advisor for Airservices Australia, the Government-owned Corporate Enterprise that is one of the world’s safest Air Navigation Service Providers.  Airservices also provides Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Services at 28 Australian Airports.

Lisel is responsible for providing the CEO and Board of Airservices with oversight of the Enterprise Security Framework. Lisel and her team provide advice to mitigate and manage security risks to ensure that Airservices is well-placed to respond to security threats and address emerging issues. Under her guidance, Airservices implemented a threat-based methodology to produce Airservices’ first Aviation Security Risk Context Statement in 2017 and link it to Airservices’ National Security Alert Plan. Her team also produce security threat, risk and vulnerability assessments to protect Airservices personnel, assets, and information from security threats.

Lisel is an experienced senior manager with a background in Ethics and Fraud, investigations and Retail Management. She has been a member of the Airservices security team since 2010 and started managing the team in 2015, where she was responsible for managing Airservices Ethics and Fraud framework, and for ensuring good governance and strong and effective fraud control arrangements. Lisel also established an innovative triaging process for the assessment and management of complaints, comprising of key personnel across the organisation and has a built strong working relations with regulatory and external law enforcement bodies.   

Lisel has a keen interest in people and risk; and is currently studying for the Graduate Certificate in the Psychology of Risk at the Australian Catholic University in Canberra.

Lisel can also bake wicked cheesecakes, which her team members rabidly destroy.

Mr Frazer Holmes has over 20 years’ experience in security including the last 15+ in consulting. He possesses a Bachelor of Science in Security, Bachelor of Science in Communications and IT, and is a (SCEC) Endorsed Security Zone Consultant.

Frazer is currently employed by Calibre (a leading provider of professional infrastructure and built environment solutions, working across multiple markets and industries) as the Principal Security Advisor, where his role is to build and manage a sustainable security consulting practice.

Frazer has managed the security operations and provided security advice for a variety of government, defence and commercial organisations both within Australia and overseas. With particular skills in security risk management, operational planning and the development of security management and master plans. He has provided security management advice for the protection of numerous critical assets for Woodside Energy Limited, Rio Tinto Iron Ore, BHP Billiton Iron Ore, Tarong Energy, Gold Coast Desalination Plant and high profile assets including the Palm Jumeriah, Dubai International Financial Exchange, Nusajaya Malaysia, Jazan Economic City and the Bahrain Energy and Water Authority.

He is an experienced trainer having conducted a number of training courses and has lectured at a Tertiary level in many security-related subjects over the last 15 years, including the role of external course coordinator for Security Risk Management as part of the Security Science Degree at Edith Cowan University.