DEFENCE CONNECT AIC SUMMIT

Stan Grant is the International Affairs Editor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a multi-award winning current affairs host, an author and an adventurer.

Well known for having brought the former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to tears when interviewed about Indigenous affairs on The Point, Stan’s keynotes are insightful, engaging, always professional and at times, controversial.

Stan Grant’s Aboriginal heritage has shaped his dynamic, resilient personality. Born in Griffith in south-west New South Wales, in 1963, Stan Grant’s mother is from the Kamilaroi people and his father is of the Wiradjuri.

Stan spent most of his childhood on the road living in small towns and Aboriginal communities across outback NSW. His father was an itinerant saw-miller who worked when and where he could. Stan moved so often he attended 12 different schools before he was in his teens.

The early traveling gave Stan a love of adventure and stories. He grew up listening to the tales of his grandfather and uncles and aunts. Despite poverty and an early sporadic education the security of his family and the larger Aboriginal community gave him a strong platform for life.

After attending University, Stan won a cadetship with the Macquarie Radio Network, launching a career in journalism that has spanned more than 30 years and more than 70 countries. In that time Stan has travelled the world covering the major stories of our time from the release of Nelson Mandela, the troubles in Northern Ireland, the death of Princess Diana, war in Iraq, the second Palestinian intifada, the war on terror, the South Asia Tsunami, the Pakistan Earthquake and the rise of China.

Stan has hosted major news and current affairs programs on Australian commercial and public T.V. He has been a political correspondent for the ABC, a Europe correspondent for the Seven Network based in London and a senior international correspondent for the international broadcaster CNN based in Hong Kong and Beijing.

Returning to Australia in 2013, Stan continued to cover international events for Sky News Australia and reignited his passion for telling the stories of his own indigenous people. He has worked as the Indigenous editor for the Guardian Australia, managing editor for National Indigenous Television and international editor for Sky News. In 2016 Stan Grant was appointed as the special advisor to the then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Indigenous constitutional recognition.

Stan has won many major awards including an Australian T.V Logie, a Columbia University Du-Pont Award (the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize), and the prestigious U.S Peabody Award. He is a four-time winner of the highly prized Asia TV Awards including reporter of the year.

Stan has written The Tears of Strangers and Talking To My Country (Harper Collins), and has published numerous articles and opinion pieces for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.

Stan Grant is passionate about justice and humanity. His years of international reporting has given him a deep understanding of how the world works. He is deeply immersed in the politics and history of Asia and the Middle East. He can link the importance of leadership and the impact of history and above all believes in the power and resilience of people.

Stan is married to ABC Sports Broadcaster, Tracey Holmes and has four children. He lives in Sydney.

David Ledger is currently the Head of Industry Engagement and Strategic Events for Saab Australia and has been with Saab for twenty-one years. He holds degrees in Communications Engineering and a Master’s degree in Control Systems and spent 20 years in the Australian Navy prior to joining Saab.

After spending a number of years as a Tender Manager and Project Manager, across both land and maritime projects, he then led Saab’s involvement in Unmanned Systems for five years. He turned to marketing 12 years ago and has extensive experience in all aspects of brand, digital and strategic marketing.

With over 40 years’ experience in the defence domain, a strong knowledge of Saab’s global operations and the local industry landscape David was recently appointed to lead Saab Australia’s industry engagement strategy.

Stan Grant is the International Affairs Editor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a multi-award winning current affairs host, an author and an adventurer.

Well known for having brought the former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to tears when interviewed about Indigenous affairs on The Point, Stan’s keynotes are insightful, engaging, always professional and at times, controversial.

Stan Grant’s Aboriginal heritage has shaped his dynamic, resilient personality. Born in Griffith in south-west New South Wales, in 1963, Stan Grant’s mother is from the Kamilaroi people and his father is of the Wiradjuri.

Stan spent most of his childhood on the road living in small towns and Aboriginal communities across outback NSW. His father was an itinerant saw-miller who worked when and where he could. Stan moved so often he attended 12 different schools before he was in his teens.

The early traveling gave Stan a love of adventure and stories. He grew up listening to the tales of his grandfather and uncles and aunts. Despite poverty and an early sporadic education the security of his family and the larger Aboriginal community gave him a strong platform for life.

After attending University, Stan won a cadetship with the Macquarie Radio Network, launching a career in journalism that has spanned more than 30 years and more than 70 countries. In that time Stan has travelled the world covering the major stories of our time from the release of Nelson Mandela, the troubles in Northern Ireland, the death of Princess Diana, war in Iraq, the second Palestinian intifada, the war on terror, the South Asia Tsunami, the Pakistan Earthquake and the rise of China.

Stan has hosted major news and current affairs programs on Australian commercial and public T.V. He has been a political correspondent for the ABC, a Europe correspondent for the Seven Network based in London and a senior international correspondent for the international broadcaster CNN based in Hong Kong and Beijing.

Returning to Australia in 2013, Stan continued to cover international events for Sky News Australia and reignited his passion for telling the stories of his own indigenous people. He has worked as the Indigenous editor for the Guardian Australia, managing editor for National Indigenous Television and international editor for Sky News. In 2016 Stan Grant was appointed as the special advisor to the then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Indigenous constitutional recognition.

Stan has won many major awards including an Australian T.V Logie, a Columbia University Du-Pont Award (the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize), and the prestigious U.S Peabody Award. He is a four-time winner of the highly prized Asia TV Awards including reporter of the year.

Stan has written The Tears of Strangers and Talking To My Country (Harper Collins), and has published numerous articles and opinion pieces for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.

Stan Grant is passionate about justice and humanity. His years of international reporting has given him a deep understanding of how the world works. He is deeply immersed in the politics and history of Asia and the Middle East. He can link the importance of leadership and the impact of history and above all believes in the power and resilience of people.

Stan is married to ABC Sports Broadcaster, Tracey Holmes and has four children. He lives in Sydney.

Francesca (Fran) Rush is the Chief Counsel – Commercial and acting First Assistant Secretary – Australian Industry Capability for the Department of Defence. This includes Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Chief Information Officer Group and Defence Science and Technology.

In her Chief Counsel – Commercial role, Fran is responsible for providing high level legal advice on complex contracting and procurement matters, as well as setting commercial and contractual policy and implementing commercial legal and contracting frameworks across all Defence commercial activities.

As the acting First Assistant Secretary – Australian Industry Capability, Fran is leading work to support Australian industry participation in the defence sector, including the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) review recommendations; and the independent AIC Plan Audit Program.

Fran’s background is a commercial lawyer specialising in asset and structured finance transactions and she is accustomed to leading large multi-disciplinary teams to achieve desired client-specific revenue, risk and policy outcomes.

Prior to joining Defence, Fran was a partner of one of Defence’s strategic legal advisors and developed contracting models where Defence could tap into private sector finance and financing structures for a number of Defence programs.

Born and bred in Victoria Wendy Malcolm joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1987, graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1989 having completed a
Bachelor of Science majoring in Physics.

She trained as a Supply Officer (Maritime Logistics Officer) at HMAS Cerberus in 1990 and saw service ashore and at sea. During the period 1995-1998, Wendy was involved with setting up the in-service support for the Anzac Class frigates through the Anzac Class Logistics Office within Naval Support Command. Between 1998-2000, Wendy served as the Supply Officer in the guided missile frigate HMAS Newcastle including operational service in East Timor as part of Operation WARDEN.

She was posted to the Directorate of Naval Officers Postings from February 2000 to December 2001 and during this period completed a Masters in Commercial Law. A challenging and rewarding posting in the then-Defence Materiel Organisation followed as the Project Manager for the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Project during the period of this weapons introduction into service.

Wendy was promoted to Captain as Director Anzac Systems Program Office in 2010.

In this capacity, she was responsible for maintenance, logistics support and in-service engineering for the RAN’s eight Anzac Class Frigates and shore facilities in Fleet Base East (Sydney) and Fleet Base West (Rockingham). Wendy was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) in the 2015 Australia Day Honours List "for meritorious devotion to duty as the Anzac System Program Office Director".

Wendy left the Navy in 2015 to take up a position with Saab Australia as the Transition Manager for the new support enterprise for the Anzac ships, before returning to Navy in 2017 and appointed as Director General Specialist Ships with responsibility for sustainment of Patrol Boats, Pacific Patrol Boats, Hydrographic Vessels, Minehunters, Mine warfare and diving systems.

Promoted Rear Admiral on 7 December 2018 she assumed the role of Head Maritime Systems within the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG)

Stan Grant is the International Affairs Editor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a multi-award winning current affairs host, an author and an adventurer.

Well known for having brought the former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to tears when interviewed about Indigenous affairs on The Point, Stan’s keynotes are insightful, engaging, always professional and at times, controversial.

Stan Grant’s Aboriginal heritage has shaped his dynamic, resilient personality. Born in Griffith in south-west New South Wales, in 1963, Stan Grant’s mother is from the Kamilaroi people and his father is of the Wiradjuri.

Stan spent most of his childhood on the road living in small towns and Aboriginal communities across outback NSW. His father was an itinerant saw-miller who worked when and where he could. Stan moved so often he attended 12 different schools before he was in his teens.

The early traveling gave Stan a love of adventure and stories. He grew up listening to the tales of his grandfather and uncles and aunts. Despite poverty and an early sporadic education the security of his family and the larger Aboriginal community gave him a strong platform for life.

After attending University, Stan won a cadetship with the Macquarie Radio Network, launching a career in journalism that has spanned more than 30 years and more than 70 countries. In that time Stan has travelled the world covering the major stories of our time from the release of Nelson Mandela, the troubles in Northern Ireland, the death of Princess Diana, war in Iraq, the second Palestinian intifada, the war on terror, the South Asia Tsunami, the Pakistan Earthquake and the rise of China.

Stan has hosted major news and current affairs programs on Australian commercial and public T.V. He has been a political correspondent for the ABC, a Europe correspondent for the Seven Network based in London and a senior international correspondent for the international broadcaster CNN based in Hong Kong and Beijing.

Returning to Australia in 2013, Stan continued to cover international events for Sky News Australia and reignited his passion for telling the stories of his own indigenous people. He has worked as the Indigenous editor for the Guardian Australia, managing editor for National Indigenous Television and international editor for Sky News. In 2016 Stan Grant was appointed as the special advisor to the then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Indigenous constitutional recognition.

Stan has won many major awards including an Australian T.V Logie, a Columbia University Du-Pont Award (the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize), and the prestigious U.S Peabody Award. He is a four-time winner of the highly prized Asia TV Awards including reporter of the year.

Stan has written The Tears of Strangers and Talking To My Country (Harper Collins), and has published numerous articles and opinion pieces for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.

Stan Grant is passionate about justice and humanity. His years of international reporting has given him a deep understanding of how the world works. He is deeply immersed in the politics and history of Asia and the Middle East. He can link the importance of leadership and the impact of history and above all believes in the power and resilience of people.

Stan is married to ABC Sports Broadcaster, Tracey Holmes and has four children. He lives in Sydney.

Daniel Lai is the CEO and Managing Director of archTIS. He has extensive industry experience in successfully delivering outcomes as part of a senior executive team to both government and commercial organisations. Most importantly Lai has direct experience in implementing organisational change to address the real challenges businesses confront today in a rapidly evolving environment.

Over his career, he has had many successes including leading the Security Enterprise Architecture for the Single Information Environment for the Department of Defence, leading enterprise change as the National Manager for Service Delivery for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, and restructuring and implementing enterprise ITIL services for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. Lai is a regular speaker at industry events and has been featured in the Financial Review and CIO magazine.

Sue is the General Manager for Strategy Relationship and Growth, Downer Defence which is part of the Downer group.

Sue has 30 years of experience in logistics and personnel in the Australian Defence Force. She is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, Australian Command and Staff College and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a member of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. She undertook operational service in Somalia with the United Nations.

Sue’s senior roles in Defence were the Director General of Defence Force Recruiting and Director General of Estate Service Delivery in Estate and Infrastructure Group.

David Ledger is currently the Head of Industry Engagement and Strategic Events for Saab Australia and has been with Saab for twenty-one years. He holds degrees in Communications Engineering and a Master’s degree in Control Systems and spent 20 years in the Australian Navy prior to joining Saab.

After spending a number of years as a Tender Manager and Project Manager, across both land and maritime projects, he then led Saab’s involvement in Unmanned Systems for five years. He turned to marketing 12 years ago and has extensive experience in all aspects of brand, digital and strategic marketing.

With over 40 years’ experience in the defence domain, a strong knowledge of Saab’s global operations and the local industry landscape David was recently appointed to lead Saab Australia’s industry engagement strategy.

Mr Sanderson joined EOS in January 2018 although he has worked on major EOS development activities as a consultant during 2016 and 2017. He is a military veteran of 25 years who prior to joining EOS was the Vice President Strategy and Business Development in Australia for the Israeli defence technology company Elbit Systems. Prior to joining Elbit, Mr Sanderson was the General Manager Strategy for the Thales Australia Land Division and was instrumental in the major product and manufacturing reforms that brought the Hawkei, Steyr F90 rifle and ammunition products to market including the international sales drive for the Bushmaster PMV.

Stan Grant is the International Affairs Editor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a multi-award winning current affairs host, an author and an adventurer.

Well known for having brought the former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to tears when interviewed about Indigenous affairs on The Point, Stan’s keynotes are insightful, engaging, always professional and at times, controversial.

Stan Grant’s Aboriginal heritage has shaped his dynamic, resilient personality. Born in Griffith in south-west New South Wales, in 1963, Stan Grant’s mother is from the Kamilaroi people and his father is of the Wiradjuri.

Stan spent most of his childhood on the road living in small towns and Aboriginal communities across outback NSW. His father was an itinerant saw-miller who worked when and where he could. Stan moved so often he attended 12 different schools before he was in his teens.

The early traveling gave Stan a love of adventure and stories. He grew up listening to the tales of his grandfather and uncles and aunts. Despite poverty and an early sporadic education the security of his family and the larger Aboriginal community gave him a strong platform for life.

After attending University, Stan won a cadetship with the Macquarie Radio Network, launching a career in journalism that has spanned more than 30 years and more than 70 countries. In that time Stan has travelled the world covering the major stories of our time from the release of Nelson Mandela, the troubles in Northern Ireland, the death of Princess Diana, war in Iraq, the second Palestinian intifada, the war on terror, the South Asia Tsunami, the Pakistan Earthquake and the rise of China.

Stan has hosted major news and current affairs programs on Australian commercial and public T.V. He has been a political correspondent for the ABC, a Europe correspondent for the Seven Network based in London and a senior international correspondent for the international broadcaster CNN based in Hong Kong and Beijing.

Returning to Australia in 2013, Stan continued to cover international events for Sky News Australia and reignited his passion for telling the stories of his own indigenous people. He has worked as the Indigenous editor for the Guardian Australia, managing editor for National Indigenous Television and international editor for Sky News. In 2016 Stan Grant was appointed as the special advisor to the then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Indigenous constitutional recognition.

Stan has won many major awards including an Australian T.V Logie, a Columbia University Du-Pont Award (the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize), and the prestigious U.S Peabody Award. He is a four-time winner of the highly prized Asia TV Awards including reporter of the year.

Stan has written The Tears of Strangers and Talking To My Country (Harper Collins), and has published numerous articles and opinion pieces for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.

Stan Grant is passionate about justice and humanity. His years of international reporting has given him a deep understanding of how the world works. He is deeply immersed in the politics and history of Asia and the Middle East. He can link the importance of leadership and the impact of history and above all believes in the power and resilience of people.

Stan is married to ABC Sports Broadcaster, Tracey Holmes and has four children. He lives in Sydney.