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Financial members are invited to attend our Williams Foundation Errol McCormack Lunches. Dates for 2025 are Tuesday 25 February 2025 Thursday 1 May 2025 Tuesday 12 August 2025 Tuesday 18 November 2025 To register for a lunch click here To apply for membership click here Inquiries: events@williamsfoundation.org.au

Dates for 2025 are Financial members and Defence personnel are invited to attend our Williams Foundation Conferences. Thursday, 22 May 2025 The Imperative for Cost Effectiveness in Multi-domain Operations Thursday, 18 September 2025 For conference details and to register click here To apply for membership click here Inquiries: events@williamsfoundation.org.au

Dr Robbin Laird, Enabling and Defending the National Information Society: The Space Dimension, 7 October 2024 Link to article (Defense.info) Some time ago – more than a decade – I worked with Alan Dupas , the noted French space expert, on a project for a European space company on the future of space in 2020. We focused on the key point that although a space company was most closely identified with launchers and satellites, the future was its engagement in the global information society. Let me say that we were not greeted with cheers and love. Rather the major company we were dealing with shuddered at the thought that its “things” might be overshadowed by a product – data, communications and information. This of course puts a space company into competition with a range of providers of data, communications and information. Space is enabler of much which goes on in earth providing the nodes and networks of an information society. But space is costly, complex and governments are loath to invest more than they have to in such “esoteric” technology whose investments might cut into social spending or green energy or whatever the priority is for a sitting government. This is certainly the case for Australia. Dr. Malcolm Davis at the September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation seminar provided a compelling case for Australian space investments and acceleration of engagement in the space sector. This is how presented and discussed this important subject: Space is contested and congested. When we’re talking about resilience, both being contested and congested are really becoming much more acute as a challenge. Assuring space access for the ADF can be defined in different ways, but I would argue that it’s not just about being able to use a foreign provider. It is also about sovereign space capabilities. Space domain awareness allows space control. If you look at the national defense strategy and integrated investment program, it highlighted space domain awareness. Then importantly made the point that space control is an important task for the ADF.. We can’t have assured access to space if we only rely on foreign launch providers to give us that capability. We need to prioritize our national space capabilities, including sovereign launch. We need to pursue space policy as a whole of nation endeavor. We don’t currently have that. It was started by the previous government. Those efforts were canceled by the current government. I would argue that we need to restore a whole of nation space strategy. Space is an operational domain in its own right… We’re seeing in the arsenals of our adversaries counter space capabilities. And these capabilities do not apply only in hot war scenarios. They could also be used in terms of gray zone operations as well… We need to think in terms of how we defend against what the Chinese call system destruction warfare or how they can utilize counter space capabilities along with cyber attack, electromagnetic operations, and kinetic operations to take down critical Information Infrastructure as quickly as possible… Part of resilience is managing space traffic and that requires a new approach to how we think about space domain awareness, how we manage the increasing amount of material that’s in orbit. Space is increasingly competitive in the sense that it’s no longer just the sole domain of the major powers. It is also about the activity of small to medium powers, including Australia, as well as commercial actors. And space has become democratized through a combination of falling costs that are driven by new technologies which allows more states to do things in space than previously was considered possible or financially viable. That means there is a greater possibility that you could get either non state actors, commercial actors or hostile state actors essentially using space in a way that’s inimical to our interests. But it also brings opportunities in the sense that more states like Australia can actually do things in space that previously were beyond our capabilities… We’re starting to think about space 3.0. Space 1.0 was the Apollo era of big space agencies and the activities were the taxpayer funded and government led. Space 2.0 was the establishment and the emergence of commercial space activities which really transformed the space environment and global space activity, Space 3.0 is that next step that beckons in the future. It’s that opportunity to do space-based industry and a manufacturing capability, a space based economy that exploits space resources and new environments such as lunar space. We have to challenge the orthodox mindsets that I think currently exist within government which primarily thinks about space in terms of satellites and rockets and start thinking about how we can utilize space in radically new and different ways that generate prosperity and growth. He then went on to discuss how adversarial actions in space (war in space) can bring down or dismantle space infrastructure and that this infrastructure is a key part of a functioning information system for Australia. This meant that the Australian government needed to get out of any stoved-piped look at space and take a broader view which would include space policy in the whole of nation concept of defence. A slide from Dr. Davis’s presentation at the September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation. He then added: The democratization of space technology means that space is no longer dominated purely by the major actors, so it’s far more unpredictable as an operating environment. Increasingly, counter space technologies are moving in radically different ways and posing direct threats to space assets. For example, If you think back to the Cold War, there was no such thing as cyber warfare. Now we have the potential opportunity for cyber-attacks on satellites that can create scalable or reversible effects to disable or deny. And so suddenly, space weapons or space warfare or counter space capabilities become far more usable because it’s in the interests of our adversaries to use them. And I think that our adversaries recognize that space warfare and counter space capabilities can generate decisive strategic effect. Space is critical for maintaining how we fight wars and how we undertake joint and integrated operations across multiple domains, but it’s also vital for sustaining our information-based economies and societies… Modern information-based societies depend on space capabilities to function, in particular through satellite communications, but also positioning, navigation and timing services. Everything that we do in a modern society from using information on our mobile phones, to our computers, to stock markets, logistics systems, all of that depends on the space capabilities. That dependency will grow in the future, particularly as we get more and more reliant on processes of change associated with the Internet of Things and pursue the fourth industrial revolution. Such transitions demand that we have continued access to space Dr. Davis then went on the identify the various means of space attack and degradation which adversaries have already demonstrated. And his point was clear – If Australia wants to protect its free and open society, if it wants to support a “rules-based” order which in my view is shrinking globally, how can you do so without an effective space engagement policy? Featured Photo: Dr. Davis speaking too the September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation.

Board The Sir Richard Williams Foundation conducts its operations independently and has no political or industry ties. ​ The Foundation's activities are governed by its Board. The current Board is comprised of 11 former military leaders and security strategists. Members' business affiliations are listed in their biographies. Members are required to absent themselves from any discussion which might create a conflict of interest. The Board welcomes participation from the broad cross-section of the Australian community. ​ ​ Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Mark Binskin AC Chair Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC (Retd) is a highly respected senior executive and leader in the national security, defence and aerospace sectors. He was Chief of the Defence Force of Australia from 2014-2018, Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011-2014) and Chief of Air Force (2008-2011). In 2020, he was Chair of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. He is currently Chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Chair of the Pacific Security College Advisory Board, Deputy Chair of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation, on the Boards of the Western Parkland City Authority and Invictus Australia, a member of the Governing Committee of the Temora Aviation Museum and provides strategic advice as a Non-Executive Director with BAE Systems Australia and Nihon Cyber Defence. As Chief of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Binskin (Retd) successfully led the Australian Defence Force, comprising 80,000 permanent and reserve personnel, to significantly improve capabilities and responses to major global events and championed organisational change across areas of national security, culture, diversity and leadership performance. Air Chief Marshal Binskin (Retd) has provided national security advice to the highest levels of governments, industry leaders and international stakeholders and his aerospace knowledge and expertise is extensive. He has over 3,500 hours in single seat fighter aircraft including the A-4G Skyhawk, Mirage 111O, F-16C and F/A-18 Hornet, and continues to be active in general aviation. Air Chief Marshal Binskin (Retd) has completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Air Marshal (Retd) Geoff Brown AO Deputy Chair Geoff Brown AO retired from the Royal Australian Air Force in July 2015 as Air Marshal in the position of Chief of Air Force. In a 35-year career, he commanded at all levels in the Air Force and flew Chinook helicopters, F-111s and F/A-18 as well as being a flying instructor and a member of the Roulette Aerobatic team. His operational service included Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was the operational commander for all RAAF assets. Among his qualifications, he holds a BEng (Mech), a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies), Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Australia and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Since leaving the Air Force he has been appointed as a Director of Lockheed Martin (Australia), a Director of Electro Optic Systems, Chairman of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation, Chairman of the Advisory Board of CAE Asia Pacific and Middle East, Director on the Governing Council for the Temora Air Museum and a Director of GCB Stratos Consulting. He also mentors in Leadership and Strategic Studies at the Australian Defence College. His honours and awards include his appointment as an Officer in the Order of Australia, the United States Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal from Singapore. Ken Moore Treasurer and Secretary Ken had an extensive career in the Australian Public Service with the Department of Defence. His last appointment was as the Defence Chief Finance Officer (Deputy Secretary level). Prior to the CFO position, Ken held a number of other senior management appointments in Defence including Head of National Operations Division that was responsible for the management and delivery of a large range of services to all Defence bases across Australia. After leaving the APS, Ken worked for a number of years with the ACT Government as the Chief Executive Officer of Rhodium Asset Solutions (the Government’s vehicle leasing company) and Executive Director Shared Services ICT. Ken holds two appointments: Independent Chair, Audit Committee, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions Board Member and Treasurer Sir Richard Williams Foundation Ken has tertiary qualifications in economics and accounting. He is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Ken is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the INSEAD Business School in France and the Senior Defence Resource Management Program at the US Navy Postgraduate School in California. Vice Admiral (Rtd) Tim Barrett AO, CSC Director Vice Admiral Barrett joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1976 as a Seaman Officer and later specialised in aviation. He assumed command of the Royal Australian Navy on 1 July 2014 and remained in this position until 6 July 2018. A dual-qualified officer, Vice Admiral Barrett served in Her Majesty's Australian (HMA) Ships Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane and HMS Orkney as a Seaman Officer and then as Flight Commander in HMA Ships Stalwart, Adelaide and Canberra. His staff appointments include Deputy Director Air Warfare Development, Director Naval Officer's Postings and Director General of Defence Force Recruiting. Vice Admiral Barrett has served as Commanding Officer 817 Squadron, Commanding Officer HMAS Albatross, Commander Australian Navy Aviation Group, Commander Border Protection Command and as Commander Australian Fleet. Vice Admiral Barrett was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in 2006 for outstanding performance as Commanding Officer HMAS Albatross and as Chief of Staff Navy Aviation Force Element Group Headquarters. Vice Admiral Barrett was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2009 and subsequently promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia in 2014 for his leadership of Border Protection Command and the Australian Fleet. Vice Admiral Barrett holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and History and a Masters of Defence Studies, both from the University of New South Wales, and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He recently published ‘The Navy and the Nation: Australia's Maritime Power in the 21st Century’ in which he outlines the extensive opportunities for Navy and Australia as steps are taken to implement the planned investment in naval capability outlined in the Defence White Paper 2016 and the National Shipbuilding Plan over the coming decades. Vice Admiral Barrett and his wife, Jenny, have two daughters. John Conway Director John retired from the Royal Air Force as a Group Captain in 2010 having served 24 years in a number flying, staff and senior command roles. His experience on the F4 Phantom and Tornado F3 aircraft included Cold War Europe, the South Atlantic, the Balkans, and the Middle East theatres of operation. He commanded the United Kingdom’s largest Permanent Joint Operating Base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus between 2005 and 2008 enabling the airbridge into Iraq and Afghanistan, and supporting strategic ISR operations in the eastern Mediterranean. ​ John is the owner and Managing Director of Felix, an independent company providing specialist air domain and intelligence capability development, and creative services to Defence and industry. He was previously a business development executive with Raytheon Australia specialising in air combat integration, electronic warfare, advanced weapons systems, test and training ranges, and integrated air and missile defence. Emily Frizell Director Emily is a veteran with 25 years’ experience in Defence and Defence Industry. Beginning her career in the RAAF as an electrical engineer, Emily now owns a successful engineering and management specialist consulting company, AeroPM. Under Emily’s leadership, AeroPM has experienced sustained and rapid growth over the last five years and is the recipient of many industry awards, including being a National finalist in the Telstra Awards and listed as a Smart50 SME and AFR Fast 100 company. Emily has been personally recognised as Female Defence Leader of the Year, finalist in the Women in Defence Awards and finalist as the Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year. Emily proudly supports veteran employment and entrepreneurship and is a Soldier on Ambassador. She is an active member of the Princes Trust Australia Enterprise for Veterans Advisory Council, and UNSW School of Engineering and IT Academic Advisory Board. She is also a Board Director of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation. Amy List Director Amy List was appointed managing director of Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) in February 2024. In this role, List leads the BDA businesses, capabilities and functions at the organisation’s 13 Australian sites. Her duties include establishing and executing new and existing programs, achieving business objectives, and implementing corporate strategies that position Boeing’s Australian defence activities for continued success. Prior to her appointment, List was director of Operations where she provided strategic advice to the executive and managed day-to-day operations and administration of the business. From March 2020 to October 2023, she was the director Sustainment Operations where she was responsible for managing the company’s through-life sustainment support and training solutions for military platforms in order to maximise operational readiness while reducing cost of ownership. This included delivering sustainment contracts for Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, CH-47F Chinooks and F/A-18 A/B Classic Hornets; the C-17 Globemaster III logistics support and maintenance; and the Helicopter Aircrew Training System, as well as for the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s CH-47Fs. List joined BDA in December 2018, performing a number of leadership positions including director of the Structures and Build capability and director of Wedgetail Programs, where she led all sustainment and training programs for the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) fleet of six E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. Prior to Boeing, List spent over nine years at Raytheon in operational and business development roles, including as head of Business Operations for Raytheon Australia, where she was responsible for the successful delivery of all programs across the company’s portfolio, as well as business intelligence and reporting. List started her professional career as an Aeronautical Engineering Officer in the RAAF. During her tenure, she served in a number of operational roles, before running both acquisition and sustainment programs for the Defence Materiel Organisation. Post-separation from the Australian Defence Force, List ran a consulting business, offering project and risk management services to clients across the defence and mining industries. List is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy and holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical) and a Masters Degree in Project Management. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Gerard Foley Director Ged Foley has 40 years’ experience across the commercial, federal government, and private sectors in Australia and internationally, with a focus on influencing the governments and Defence Departments of Australia and allied nations. He specialises in influencing strategic intent through the implementation of thought leadership initiatives that produce lasting and distinctive national security improvements. He served over 15 years on the executive leadership team of the Australian subsidiary of the world’s largest Defence and Aerospace company, where he was responsible for shaping the company’s business strategy, driving enterprise-wide growth, and overseeing corporate development. Prior to joining RTX, Ged worked in the information technology sector as a project manager and account executive for a mainframe software and services company. He also spent 15 years as an Australian Army officer specialising in rotary wing aviation, leadership instruction, and major capital equipment acquisition. Ged is a graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy. He holds an honours degree in electrical engineering from the University of New South Wales and a master’s degree in Defence Technology from Cranfield University, U.K. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, a Chartered Professional Engineer, and is listed on several international and domestic engineering registers. Major General (Retd) Fergus "Gus" McLachlan AO Director Gus McLachlan completed his 37-year career with the Australian Army in December 2018, retiring as a Major General. Gus McLachlan has been responsible for generating Australian Defence capability in cyber space, electronic warfare and command and control systems. He completed two years as Head of Army Modernisation, during which time he worked closely with industry to commence a major recapitalisation of Army equipment and to network the systems of the Army. Gus McLachlan’s military career concluded after he led Land Forces Command where he was responsible for 35,000 women and men of the Army. He continued his leadership career in the commercial sector with Boral, Australia’s largest construction materials company, where he led Business Performance and Improvement during a major transformation activity. Gus McLachlan is currently a Senior Adviser at Bondi Partners, a unique advisory firm offering strategic counsel to businesses in Australia and the United States. He is a Director and Strategic Adviser to Australian and US defence, cyber and space technology companies. He is an Adjunct Professor at Monash University where he advises on national security research, and he chairs the Advisory Board for Cyber and Data Security at Charles Sturt University. Gus is also Director of the not-for-profit Williams Foundation, an air and space “Think Tank”. Gus was made an Officer in the Order or Australia (AO) for his contribution to Army Modernisation and awarded the United States Legion of Merit by Secretary James Mattis for his service in the international coalition force in Afghanistan. Gus lives in Sydney with his wife Maree and they have two adult sons. Nicole Quinn Director Nicole is Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs, Japan and Asia Pacific for Palo Alto Networks – the world’s largest dedicated cyber security company. Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks Nicole’s roles included strategic advisor to companies including the Defence sector, advisor to a NSW Senator, General Manager and Board Member of the Institute For Regional Security, National Convenor for Defence Families of Australia and General Manager at the State Chamber of Commerce (NSW). In addition to being a board member of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation, Nicole is an American Chamber of Commerce Governor (Vice-Chair ACT), and a member of the RMIT Industry Advisory Board for Cyber. Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) Steve Roberton, DSC, AM Director ‘Zed' is a Category A Fighter Pilot who joined the Royal Australian Air Force after completing a Bachelor of Science at Queensland University. He flew for 26 years of his RAAF career including fighter tours in Australian combat units and an exchange flying F/A-18s with the United States Marine Corps. ​ AVM Roberton enjoyed five commands in his RAAF career: initially commanding Number 75 Squadron for three years in Australia’s Northern Territory. Roberton led the RAAF’s transition to F/A-18F Super Hornet before commanding Number 82 Wing at RAAF Amberley; for which he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2012. Roberton commanded the inaugural Operation OKRA Air Task Group 630 countering ISIL in 2014, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He returned to Australia to command Air Combat Group in 2015 and went on to assume the Air Commander Australia role in 2017. AVM Roberton was Head Force Design in VCDF Executive in 2019, delivering the Force Structure Plan 2020 and the ADF Workforce Growth submission to Government. Zed completed several joint staff tours in project management and capability development roles. His further education includes a Masters in Management from Australian staff college in 2002 and the UK's Higher Command and Staff College in 2012. He completed the Australian Company Director’s Course in 2013 and the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program in 2022. ​ Steve is a full-time senior advisor with McKinsey and Company based in Canberra and he is married to Libby. Katherine Ziesing Director Katherine Ziesing is the Strategic Communications Manager at Hanwha Defence Australia. In this role, she is integral in supporting the business to mobilise and deliver capability across a range of capabilities. Prior to this role she was the Strategic Communications Manager at a Canberra based contracting SME, leading client engagement with over 400 member companies working into government. She was Managing Editor at Australian Defence Magazine Group, working in the company for 15 years. Katherine joined the ADM team in 2006 as a staff writer and was appointed editor in Canberra at the beginning of 2008. She took on the expanded role of Managing Editor of Yaffa Media’s ADM Group at the beginning of 2018. While she has a background in business journalism and economics, she has also completed a Masters of Strategy and Policy at the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, graduating in 2010. She was a member of the Defence Industry Study Course (DISC) in 2017. She has served as a committee member of the Submarine Institute of Australia and as a board member for the National Institute of Security Resilience. She was a founding member of the Defence and National Security Media Association, a group of Australia’s leading Defence and National Security journalists. Chair DeputyChair Treasurer Secretary Directors

RESEARCH Our work has a future strategic focus Our research and conference papers draw on the expertise of leading Defence, Industry and thought leaders in Australia and internationally. Our studies are succinct, future-focused and action-orientated. They assess the challenges ahead and raise policy issues to shape the future. Apr 30, 2020 Williams Paper: The Coming of the Australian Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel: A Case Study The Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel is the first of the new build platforms. It provides the template with regard to the entire reset o Oct 31, 2019 Conference: The Requirements of Fifth Generation Manoeuvre - Final Report ...major presentations and discussions at the Williams Foundation seminar on the requirements for fifth generation manoeuvre Apr 11, 2019 Conference: Hi-Intensity Operations and Sustaining Self Reliance - Final Report The latest Williams Seminar held in Canberra on April 11, 2019 focused on the strategic shift for Australia within the context of the evolvi Sep 7, 2018 Conference: The Imperative for an Independent Deterrent: A Joint Strike Seminar - Final Report Since 2014, the Williams Foundation has held a series of seminars, which have looked at the nature of military transformation enabled by new May 1, 2018 Conference: The Requirements of High Intensity Warfare - Final Report the Foundation is focusing on the new strategic context within which this force will operate and the kinds of further changes necessary for Sep 15, 2017 Conference: A New Approach, and Attitude, to Electronic Warfare In Australia - Final Report In this report, the major presentations at the Williams Foundation seminar on the evolution of electronic warfare, notably from the standpoi Apr 30, 2017 Williams Paper - Integrated Air and Missile Defence Study: The Challenge of Integrated Force Design The Williams Foundation conducted an Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) study between Sep16 and Feb17 to explore the challenges of bu Apr 27, 2017 Conference: Air / Sea / Land: Integrated Force 2030 - Final Report On April 11, 2017, the Williams Foundation held its latest seminar on shaping a way ahead in the shaping of a 21st century combat force. Thi Apr 30, 2014 Conference: Air Combat Operations 2025 and Beyond - Executive Summary Report The seminar explored the challenges and opportunities afforded by the introduction of 5th generation air combat capabilities. Apr 30, 2014 Conference: Air Combat Operations 2025 and Beyond - Laird Special Report Australia is building out a modest but effective 21st century Air Force built around the best available 21st century platforms and technolog Feb 28, 2014 Williams Paper: Protecting Australia with UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) The capabilities and use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has grown rapidly over the last decade or so. Australia’s geography is uniquely we Jan 31, 2012 Williams Paper: Flawed Doctrine: The Problem With Centralised Control And Decentralised Execution This paper focuses on two objections to current ADF doctrine. First, reliance on a ‘bumper-sticker’4 as the basis for developing command arr

We promote independent and innovative thinking to enhance Australia’s integrated 5th Generation force capability. Through our events & programs , we connect a wide network of practitioners, experts and academics to forge new ideas for future military force design with a networked edge. EXPERT ANALYSIS In-depth thinking by our highly experienced network of non-resident fellows, scholars and active practitioners Oct 7 7 min read Defence Industry in Australia: Building Strategic Depth and Resilience in Support of the Ready Force - Dr Robbin Laird Dr Robbin Laird, Defence Industry in Australia: Building Strategic Depth and Resilience in Support of the Ready Force, 7 October 2024... MORE EXPERT ANALYSIS NEWS & UPDATES Stay up-to-date with the latest in the Foundation's news and activities > Sep 26 2 min read Conference Proceedings: Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective Dr Robbin Laird Final Report: Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective - will be released in October... CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS EVENTS Errol McCormack lunches and Conferences are complimentary for financial members of the Williams Foundation. 2024 Errol McCormack Member Lunches Dec 15, 2023 1 min read 2024 Williams Foundation Conferences Dec 13, 2023 1 min read Click for more information and registration Platinum Corporate Partner