PROGRAM
SPECIALIST SESSIONS
Global Opportunities in Defence Exports: 1-on-1 Government Support
SPEAKER PROFILES:
Rear Admiral Ian Middleton, AM RAN
Maritime Specialist Adviser to Defence Industry International Policy Branch
Rear Admiral Middleton entered the Royal Australian Navy through the Royal Australian Naval College in 1978 and specialized as a Principal Warfare Officer after a range of sea postings as a junior officer, including officer of the watch and fighter controller in several frigates and destroyers. His operational service includes three deployments to the Arabian Gulf, the most recent in 2007 as Captain of HMAS ANZAC. He also represented the Commander Australian Theatre on the staff of the Commander US Central Command as part of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom in 2003.
He has commanded two frigates, Navy’s Maritime Warfare Training base in Sydney, and the Navy’s Surface Ship Force.
Rear Admiral Middleton’s previous shore assignments include instructing the Principal Warfare Officer’s course, an exchange tour with the US Navy Fleet Combat Direction Systems Support Activity in Dam Neck VA, the Deputy Director of Sailors Career Management, and Director of Strategic Plans and Futures for the Chief Knowledge Officer. As a one star officer Rear Admiral Middleton was the Director General of Navy Capability Transition and Sustainment at Navy Strategic Command Headquarters in Canberra 2010-2011 before an assignment on exchange to U.S. Pacific Command as the Deputy Director J5. He served at U.S. Pacific Command for three and half years, and was awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit (Officer) on his departure for “exceptionally meritorious service as Deputy Director for Strategic Planning from May 2013 to January 2017”.
Rear Admiral Middleton has a Masters degree in Business Administration from the UNSW Australian Graduate School of Management. Rear Admiral Middleton retired from full time service in April 2017, but continues to provide Reserve Service as the Maritime specialist, Case Manager and Business Analyst in the Australian Defence Export Office. Since joining the Export Office Rear Admiral Middleton negotiated and managed the transfer of two Adelaide class frigates to the Chilean Navy and has assisted Australian Defence Industry companies make connections in overseas markets and achieve export success.
Alice Barlin
Assistant Director, Team Defence Australia
Alice Barlin commenced in the role of Assistant Director, Team Defence Australia within the Australian Defence Export Office in November 2022, and has been Acting Director since September 2023. Prior to working in the Australian Defence Export Office, Alice has held a number of positions in Defence, including Chief Engineer and Technical Manager, Diggerworks, CASG and National Fleet Manager and Senior Technical Specialist within the Integrated Soldier Systems Branch, CASG.
Alice joined the Australian Department of Defence in 2011, working predominately in the technical development space for soldier combat systems including uniforms, body armour and the soldier combat ensemble. Prior to working in Defence Alice worked in private industry for eight years in design and development. Alice is also currently an Australian Army reservist in the Army People Capability Branch. She has a Bachelor of Design, Diploma of Project Management and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management. Alice is married to Luke who is in the Australian Army and they have two young children who keep them busy. They enjoy snowboarding, travelling and adventures.
Anthony Weymouth
Head - Defence, Advanced Manufacturing & Space Australian Trade and Investment Commission
Anthony commenced in his current role in October 2020. Anthony has held numerous senior positions with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission over the past 25 years, both in Australia and internationally. Prior to taking up his current role, Anthony was the Senior Trade Commissioner for Central Europe, Russia & CIS based in Warsaw. He has also worked in the Philippines, the United States, the Pacific, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.
He has over 30 years’ experience working in international trade across a range of sectors and countries and understands the challenges of operating in different markets. Prior to joining the Australian Trade and Investment Commission he worked for the Vestey Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for developing regional operational and marketing strategies
Andrew Perkins
Director, SME, Export Finance Australia
Andrew is a Director in Export Finance Australia’s SME business. In this role he helps to finance the export growth of Australian SMEs. He is also one of EFA’s defence industry leads and works across government and industry to see how EFA can continue to support more Australian SMEs in the sector.
Ann-Maree Palmer
Director, Global Supply Chain Program
Ann-Maree Palmer has over 30 years experience in the Australian Public Service working in various Federal Government Agencies and as a Sole Trader in the Defence industry space. She has extensive experience in the implementation and delivery of very complex industry policy and program activities relating to the Defence Industry Policy Strategy, Defence Export Strategy, Australian Industry Capability program and the Global Supply Chain Program.
Ann-Maree directly contributes to this through implementing these key initiatives and provides advice to senior management, the Australian government and industry on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Australia’s Defence industry.
In August 2022 Ann-Maree became the Director of the Global Supply Chain Program within the Australian Industry Capability Delivery Branch in the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group. The Australian Industry Capability Division plays a major role in advancing the Defence-industry partnerships.
The Global Supply Chain Program which is a key export initiative within Defence that provides Australian companies with opportunities in the international supply chains of Defence Program Primes. The GSC Program, in conjunction with the Australian Industry Capability (AIC) Program, are Australia’s industrial participation programs.
She is supported by team members is Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
Since becoming the Director, Ann-Maree has led a program of transformation with the aim of increasing the number of Program Primes through an ongoing Approach to Market scheduled to conclude in Quarter 1 2024. The increase in the number Program Primes will assist more Australian Suppliers to gain inroads into diverse Global Supply Chains.
Professor Emily Hilder
Interim Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator
As Interim Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), Professor Hilder is leading the establishment of ASCA.
The purpose of the Defence Accelerator is to accelerate the development and transition into service of disruptive solutions to priority defence challenges at the pace and scale required to deliver advantage to our military.
Emily joined Defence as Chief Maritime in DSTG in November 2020, and held the role of Chief Platforms from July 2022 to April 2023. Prior to joining Defence she was Director of the Future Industries Institute (FII) and Deputy Director of the ARC Research Hub for integrated devices for end-user analysis at low levels (IDEAL) at University of South Australia.
She is a graduate of the University of Tasmania where she completed her PhD in analytical chemistry in 2000. Following postdoctoral positions at Johannes Kepler University (Austria) and the E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA) she returned to Australia and University of Tasmania in 2004 where she held two ARC Fellowships (APD, Future Fellowship) as well as positions as Assistant Dean of Graduate Research and Head of Chemistry. She was inaugural Director of the ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech) before relocating to the University of South Australia in 2016.
Her research is the field of analytical chemistry and materials science and is focused on the design and application of new materials that can be used to improve analytical measurements. Her work has led to commercial and field adoption in separation science, bioanalysis, disease diagnosis, environment and food science, defence and national security.
Emily is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and has been recognised by a number of awards including the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia (2019), RACI Doreen Clarke Analytical Medal (2016), UTAS Foundation Graduate Award (2010) and has been included in the Analytical Scientist Power Lists from 2013-2017, 2019-2021 including the ‘Top 40 under 40’ and as one of the top 10 leaders in analytical science.
She is an Associate Editor of Analytical Chemistry (ACS) and a member of the Advisory Board of the Australian Maritime College (University of Tasmania) and Defence Trailblazer.
Saurabh Sapre
Assistant Director - Technical Assessments, Defence Export Controls
Saurabh Sapre is a distinguished professional with a solid educational background and a wealth of experience in regulatory and technical roles. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechatronic Engineering and a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of New South Wales.
Saurabh has worked at the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), where he served as an Electromedical Engineering Officer. In this role, he was instrumental in the development of test equipment and protocols for medical devices, ensuring that they adhered to the Essential Principles and Australian Legislative instruments.
Following this, Saurabh moved to Defence where he is a senior technical assessor for Defence Export Controls (or DEC). In this role, he is responsible for producing technical assessments on a wide range of military and dual-use goods and technologies to support Australia’s commitment to responsible export practices. Saurabh is also the technical lead for DECs outreach program and has represented Australia at a number of multilateral forums that inform updates to Australia’s Defence and Strategic Goods List.
John Brosnan
Defence & Security Director – United Kingdom, Austrade
John was appointed as UK Defence & Security Director for the Australian Trade & Investment Commission (Austrade) in May 2021. Prior to this, he worked in the UK defence sector in both government and industry. Much of his experience has involved operating at the interface between the two.
Immediately before joining Austrade, John spent 12 years with BAE Systems in the UK and overseas, in a range of senior business development roles. Most recently, as Group Head of Government Relations, John managed the Company’s relationships with the UK Government, Parliament, and the EU. Before this, as Managing Director for Asia, John led the Company’s operations across the region for six years, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A former UK Senior Civil Servant, John previously undertook several policy, planning, and delivery roles in the UK Ministry of Defence, as well as tours at NATO HQ in Brussels, at sea with the Royal Navy and in UK Trade & Investment. He spent over ten years promoting UK defence and security exports to Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, with both the Ministry of Defence and Department for International Trade.
David McCue
Defence & Security Director – United States of America, Austrade
David has been with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission since April 2019 as the US Defence & Security Director. Before joining Austrade, David worked at the Australian subsidiary of Sayres and Associates starting off as the Program Director and then Company Director. These roles including the provision of contracted support to the Australian Defence Industry.
A former member of the Royal Australian Navy, David has 20 years’ experience in operations, project management, capability acquisitions, performance management and leadership. In 2009, David undertook an 11-month Planning Officer role with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Working within a multi-national team of UN civilian and military personnel, he led the development of plans for UN sponsored peacekeeping and support operations for the Horn of Africa region.
David has an extensive education record; holding a Bachelor of Arts (Management), a Master of Arts (International Relations), a Masters of Arts (Strategy and Policy) as well as a Graduate Diploma of Strategic Studies from the Australian Defence College, and a Professional Certificate of Project Management.
Hosted by Austrade and Australian Defence Export Office (ADEO)
4-6 NOVEMBER 2025, INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA
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