Speakers

Matt Kirk is Director, Trusted Workforce at WorkSec, where he leads the organisation's mission to help Defence, Government and industry build trusted, security-ready workforces that strengthen Australia's sovereign capability.

With more than three decades of leadership experience spanning global financial markets and the Australian personnel security sector, Matt brings a strategic perspective to workforce readiness, personnel security governance and security clearance sponsorship. Since entering the sector in 2020, he has played a pivotal role in designing, building and scaling high-performing security clearance capabilities, supporting the sponsorship and management of more than 7,000 Australian Government security clearances across Baseline, NV1 and NV2.

Today, Matt leads WorkSec's Trusted Workforce division, partnering with Defence primes, SMEs and Government suppliers to develop workforce strategies that extend well beyond security clearance sponsorship. His focus is on helping organisations strengthen personnel security governance, improve workforce readiness and build the trusted capability required to deliver on Australia's most critical Defence and national security priorities.

Recognised for his authentic leadership and collaborative approach, Matt has established trusted relationships across Defence industry, Government and Australia's leading Defence recruitment organisations. He has also secured strategic partnerships with globally recognised organisations, including Amazon, Google, Salesforce and Rolls-Royce, expanding WorkSec's reach and strengthening pathways into Australia's trusted workforce ecosystem.

A passionate advocate for proactive workforce planning, Matt is a respected industry voice on the role of personnel security in enabling Defence capability. He regularly works with organisations to shift the conversation from simply obtaining security clearances to building resilient, trusted workforces through strong governance, strategic planning and long-term capability development.

Derick Postlethwaite is the Industry Engagement Manager at Babcock Pty Ltd and a appointed member of the AIDN WA Chapter Council. A General Management Professional who has extensive operational experience working in several Industries across many international boundaries, utilising his strong Commercial and Procurement Leadership. He brings together industry, government and community to understand the Sovereign capability within the Defence sector across all states and territories in Australia. Derick is an Armed Forces Veteran with 27 years of military service and has extensive knowledge of dependencies required across a number of domains including, but not limited to, Maritime, Aviation, Mission Support Systems, LAND, Construction, Energy/Thermal Generation and also the Oil & Gas Industry.

With a background spanning project delivery, commercial management and business growth, Derick is passionate and focused on strengthening sovereign capability, supporting Australian industry and building partnerships that deliver lasting outcomes for Defence.

Romina Rocha is currently the Acting Assistant Secretary Defence Export Controls and Director of the Compliance Section in Defence Export Controls. She has built a distinguished career in regulating and enforcing Australia’s export control legislation, ensuring compliance with laws governing the transfer of sensitive goods, technologies, and services domestically and internationally. Her contributions in the national security domain have strengthened Australia’s ability to safeguard military secrets, support global efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and implement strategies to mitigate terrorism risks at the border—all while facilitating legitimate trade and innovation. Recognised for her leadership and operational expertise, she continues to advance Australia’s role as a responsible global actor in the control of strategic goods and technologies. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Investigations, a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, and a Master’s in International Studies.

Dr Precious Shamba is an Assistant Director in the Assessments Section of Defence Export Controls within the Department of Defence. In this role, Dr Shamba provides scientific and technical expertise on emerging technologies, strategic trade controls, and national security issues, including representing Australia at multilateral export control regimes. Prior to joining Defence, she held regulatory roles at the Department of Infrastructure and the Clean Energy Regulator. Before commencing her career in the Australian Public Service, she completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Dr Shamba holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Wollongong. She is passionate about applying science and technology expertise to support evidence-based regulatory and national security decision-making.

Ross Babbage has worked on Australian security issues for over four decades. In the Department of Defence he led the branches responsible for Alliance Policy and Force Development. He also held senior positions in the Australian intelligence community, at ANU and in the corporate sector.
Ross currently leads two companies that work on the tough security challenges confronting Australia and its allies. He is also a Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington DC. His latest book published in New York is The Next Major War: Can the US and its Allies Win Against China? His latest monograph published by the Lowy Institute in Sydney is Deterrence and Alliance Power: Why the AUKUS Submarines Matter and How They Can be Delivered

Michael was appointed to First Assistant Secretary Industry Engagement in August 2024, tasked with leading the implementation of the Defence Industry Development Strategy. Prior to commencing this role, Michael was Acting First Assistant Secretary Procurement and Contracting, responsible for procurement reform in response to the Defence Strategic Review. In this role one of the reform initiatives Michael led was the development and implementation of the Defence procurement and contracting assurance framework which aimed at improving CPR compliance and contracting performance. In 2022, Michael was also a co-author of the Recruitment and Retention Tiger Team Report. Under the direction of the Secretary and CDF, Michael established the team responsible for implementing ADF and APS Recruiting and Retention initiatives.

Michael has had a long term professional interest in Indigenous affairs, workplace inclusion, building diverse teams, organisational culture and leadership development.

Michael’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) and a Bachelor of Economics.

Michael joined the APS in 2009 and his previous career roles in Defence include Director Non-Materiel Procurement, Director of Indigenous Affairs, Acting Assistant Culture and People Development and Assistant Secretary Work Health Safety. Michael also undertook a secondment as the Senior Ministerial Adviser for Veterans’ Affairs to the Minister for Defence People and Veterans’. Prior to joining Defence Michael worked as a management consulting and a production manager in the metal work industry.

Michael has received three Deputy Secretary Gold Commendations for his contribution to supporting Defence’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, Defence Indigenous Affairs and the Defence Force Recruiting 2012 Contract. He was also a member of the Cross Agency Working Group that developed the Indigenous Procurement Policy and lead Defence establishing an Indigenous Procurement Policy Team.

After graduating BA (Hons) in History from the University of Sydney, Michael joined the Department of Defence as a graduate officer in 1987. He served in a number of intelligence and policy roles until 1992, before transferring to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In March 1993, Michael joined the staff of the Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans. He served in a number of staff roles until December 2001, including four years (1997-2001) as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Federal Labor Leader and Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley.

In February 2002, Michael re-joined the Defence Department as a Senior Executive Service officer, serving in the Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group. In July 2004, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff Australian Defence Headquarters (a two-star equivalent position). In January 2006, he was promoted to the role of Deputy Secretary Strategy (a three-star equivalent position). From February 2008, he oversaw the development of the 2009 Defence White Paper, which was released in May 2009.

In July 2009, Michael joined the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) as its Chief Operating Officer. In February 2013, he was appointed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard as the Chief Executive Officer of ACBPS. As CEO, in September 2013 he was appointed as the lead agency head overseeing Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB). In October 2014, he was appointed by Prime Minister Tony Abbott as the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. In December 2017, he was appointed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs. He remained in that role until November 2023. He is now retired, after almost 37 years of service, principally in the areas of defence, national security, immigration, and border protection.

Michael was a member of the Secretaries Committee on National Security and attended the National Security Committee of Cabinet for over a decade (2013-23). He was a commissioned officer in the Infantry Corps of the Australian Army Reserve (1987-92).