Conference program
The overarching program theme in 2024 is ‘Sustaining and Building the Intelligence Profession’. Within that theme, we will explore the sub-themes of Accountability, Capability and Renewal – each factor represents what is needed to sustain and build the intelligence profession in Australia for the complex and challenging future.
The conference will represent the broad diversity of different domains of intelligence practice and the critical role and influence each domain has in securing our defence, security and well-being.
This program page has been designed to be explored using the filters - use the check boxes to select by either Conference subtheme/s, OR topics (as many as you like!) to browse the sessions that are most relevant to you.
This program is subject to change.
Sustaining and building the intelligence profession amidst current and emerging threats. The presentation will focus on the future state of the workforce, accountability mechanisms and emerging technology.
A discussion of the future of information technology in intelligence and investigations. The impact of artificial intelligence and the almost limitless ability to collect data not only provides formerly unthought of opportunities for law enforcement, but significantly increases the risk to law enforcement agencies.
This presentation covers the speaker’s experience of adapting and implementing longstanding intelligence practice as both a function and outputs for an environmental regulator.
Helen’s session will focus on understanding intelligence capability in Incident and Disaster Management, specifically using the PPRR framework. The session will focus on the roles and responsibilities of intelligence practitioners in this space, the frameworks they use, creating effective systems and processes, and how these are applicable in strategic, operational and tactical intelligence environments. Helen will also unpack the impact and outcomes that intelligence practitioners are faced with in this environment.
Threat intelligence can be a powerful source of insight, but it’s not always clear how these insights have informed decisions. Cybersecurity strategy often focuses on an architecture-centric target state, based on abstractions about threat. Simon will discuss how threat intelligence can be integrated directly into the core of cybersecurity strategy.
This session will focus on the challenges and successes of building intelligence maturity and capability through the delivering of an Intelligence Capability Uplift project. The presenters will share insights, highlight key strategies and lessons learned from their own experience in delivering this change project.
Beulah will offer insights from an intelligence perspective into the specific challenges and requirements of enhancing intelligence capabilities within a corrections agency's operating model. Beulah’s perspective will draw on her firsthand experience and expertise in the field of intelligence.
Dan will offer a corporate perspective on the challenges, and highlight the broader business implementations, stakeholder management considerations and the importance of considering organisational context in which these changes were implemented.
Together, these two perspectives will offer a comprehensive view of the project, highlighting the critical need for a holistic approach to driving change and business improvement within organisations with an intelligence function.
Stablecoins - cryptoassets pegged to a specified asset such as the US dollar - comprise less than 1% of the total value of all cryptocurrencies. Yet they are key drivers of illicit crypto activity that presents acute national security risks. Our paper will release key findings relating to stablecoin use by threat actors, together with case studies of how specific terror financing groups have used stablecoins to receive and launder funds. It will then discuss the key factors that are likely to have encouraged the use of stablecoins in general and Tether on TRON by terrorist financing entities. These include low fees and price fluctuations and an outdated perception among some threat actors that Tether is difficult to trace - no longer the case given the latest blockchain analytics technology. Finally, the paper will discuss ways in which the intelligence and defence community can leverage blockchain intelligence to track, disrupt and degrade terrorist and criminal use of stablecoins.
Accountability is a crucial aspect of the intelligence profession, underpinning the social contract and operational benefits of a robust intelligence profession. Intelligence professionals are accountable for their actions and decisions and that accountability helps to maintain public and employer trust and confidence in the intelligence enterprise. Additionally, accountability helps to ensure that intelligence activities, especially emerging practices, meet future operational requirements and are conducted within the bounds of the law and ethical standards.
Integrity, professionalism, empathy, curiosity, analytical thinking – the list of soft skills that enable the success of your profession is considerable. This interactive session will allow you the opportunity to take a deep dive into identifying your transferable skills, and how to communicate them to a broad audience. Values-based discussions will engage with a framework aiding skill recognition and translation, the progression of career identity development and a process for discovering your possible future selves.
What do China, Russia and pro-ISIS groups have in common? They have all adopted blockchain technology for funding destabilising activities, and are using it to pay for military materials, raise funds and avoid sanctions.
This session will define what blockchain intelligence is, and explore how it can enhance accountability, develop tradecraft, and boost capability within national security and defence analysis.
Join us to discover the critical data and patterns you might be missing. Learn to distill actionable intelligence from multiple blockchain sources, and uncover hidden networks, transactions, and threat vectors.
In this presentation, Jacinta will discuss the importance of continuous improvement, and the need to adapt to the changing threat environment to effectively protect the financial system, and remain world leading in the fight against financial crime.
Jacinta will discuss AUSTRAC’s ‘FIU of the Future’, a deliberate strategy of coordinated activities to develop the foundational capabilities of AUSTRAC’s intelligence analysts, with a focus on “our analysts, our intelligence toolkit, our data, and our relationships”.
Sustaining and Building the Intelligence Profession
Within that theme, we will explore the sub-themes of Accountability, Capability and Renewal – each factor represents what is needed to sustain and build the intelligence profession in Australia for the complex and challenging future.
Leah’s presentation will deep dive into how intelligence is increasingly being used in the private sector. She will explore the three key themes of accountability, capability and renewal and look through the lens of private sector intelligence being used to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the region – cyber threats.
Leah will explore the following themes:
How organisations are looking to intelligence professionals to provide actionable, timely and relevant reporting backed by analytical rigor and professionalism, and how has this changed over the past decade.
How organisations are becoming and increasingly looking to intelligence to be intelligence-led and threat informed when tackling our ever evolving cyber threats
How we are seeing organisations operationalise intelligence in the private sector and what this means for the practitioner.
How the intelligence discipline is learning and embracing other industries and the skills and analytical process being used adopted from other disciplines
How the public and private sectors are partnering to build the picture and tackle the cyber threats we are facing in the region.
These questions will be explored using tangible case insights and examples of intelligence work and outcomes Leah has led in her decade in the discipline across both public and private sectors.
Leah will close out her presentation by exploring what all this means for the future of the profession and the intelligence practitioner and how we can keep pace with the evolving landscape, evolving tradecraft and increasing expectations on us as an intelligence professional.
This presentation will explore how voice risk analytics and sophisticated technology, combined with human expertise, can address top risk management changes for security, intelligence and policing organisations. Discover how this technology can bolster due diligence, vetting, risk assessment and investigations driving organisational integrity and rebuilding public trust. It will also examine how to leverage advanced technology to improve speed, consistency, and fairness in security and policing.
In an environment of dynamic strategic complexity, strong leadership at the working level is a critical enabler of a robust and adaptable intelligence profession. This tradecraft session explores a leadership blueprint for emerging and practising intelligence leaders. Dr Susan McGinty shares lessons from her own experience as an intelligence leader and a leadership development expert to highlight the key skill sets emerging and practising leaders in the intelligence profession need to inform timely and effective decision-making in a rapidly changing strategic environment.
The session will discuss the most important vertical and horizontal leadership skills required of intelligence leaders to remain adaptive and influential, and explore emotional intelligence as a core leadership capability for emerging and practicing leaders.
Explore how intelligence methodologies are being transformed to address global humanitarian challenges. This session, led by the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Institute, showcases pioneering applications of intelligence in disaster management, community resilience, humanitarian assistance and international development – areas traditionally outside the intelligence community's focus.
We'll examine groundbreaking approaches developed and implemented by HADR Institute:
Predictive analytics for local government disaster prevention
AI-enabled OSINT tools for rapid humanitarian crisis reporting
Collaborative geospatial analysis enhancing community resilience
Multi-disciplined intelligence capabilities in disaster response
Innovative training programs bridging intelligence and humanitarian sectors
Through real-world case studies, we'll demonstrate how these methods are addressing critical challenges, from improving disaster risk assessment to facilitating humanitarian access in conflict zones. We'll also highlight how HADR Institute's unique position as a charity enables the provision of intelligence products for humanitarian crises.
This session will challenge you to think beyond traditional intelligence boundaries and explore how your skills can directly impact global humanitarian efforts. Join us to discuss the future of intelligence in this emerging and vital field.
Intelligence leads to an ability to determine the type of bomb the villain will use. Technology can now take that prediction and demonstrate the results in the real world – without causing the damage. This capability both verifies the value of the intelligence and makes security and response more intelligence-led.
In an era of rapid technological advancements, the QPS has embarked on a transformative journey to enhance community engagement through digital intelligence. This presentation delves into the multifaceted approach taken by the QPS to foster stronger connections with the community while leveraging cutting-edge technologies and techniques to identify and prosecute offenders who flaunt their criminal activities on social media.
Opportunity analysis arose from the alternate analysis movement that brought intelligence officers and decision makers closer together following 9/11. It offers a practical way to add value to our intelligence support activities by identifying opportunities, means, benefits, consequences, and risks associated with a pre-determined course of action while steering clear of policy prescription.
Dan will share his vast global experiences leading OSINT units, analysis and intelligence teams to support major events, incidents and terrorist attacks. Covering events such as the Olympics, UEFA football, terrorism incidents, large crowd gathering events such as NYE celebrations, sporting events, elections, conflicts, as well as spontaneous crowd events.
The importance of real time information and the shift of how organisations are responding differently. Data has become the new gold and there has been significant increases in the amount of global publicly available data.
In today's rapidly changing and complex threat environment, the role of intelligence officers is more critical than ever. This presentation explores how enhancing intelligence tradecraft can be achieved by leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to obtain the Triple-A (AAA) framework.
We will discuss the current dynamic risk landscape and the significance of PPP in intelligence operations, highlighting how collaboration between the public and private sectors can bolster intelligence capabilities. By integrating the Triple-A framework, intelligence officers can build comprehensive situational awareness, develop agile response mechanisms, and continuously adapt to evolving threats.
Under Chatham House Rule, and through real-world examples and case studies, we will illustrate the successful application of AAA in intelligence operations, along with the challenges and mitigation strategies for implementing these approaches effectively.
Join us to discover how PPP and the AAA framework can enhance intelligence tradecraft, ensuring a robust and adaptive approach to addressing modern security challenges.
This session examines Aylo's innovative automated detection technologies, Searchlight and Safeguard, which are transforming the landscape of content moderation and online safety. These proprietary solutions combat harmful content through perceptual hashing, fingerprinting, and the swift removal of violative material. Aylo’s approach extends beyond adult entertainment, contributing to the fight against crime by partnering with law enforcement and NGOs. Discover how Aylo's commitment to trust and safety is setting new industry standards and promoting ethical enforcement in the digital space.
This presentation will cover Threat and Risk concepts applied in a police intelligence environment. It will demonstrate the application of these concepts to both criminal and security issues, which are transferable to other intelligence sectors. Concepts covered will include intent, capability, and target vulnerability relating to potential threats. It will explain the benefits of identifying indicators related to each concept, how they assist improving intelligence understanding, and analysis of the likelihood of threat/s occurring. Understanding these concepts will improve your ability to plan, identify collection requirements and provide supported analytical findings to decision makers. Improved analysis influences better informed decision makers to implement mitigations strategies impacting criminal and security threats.
Australia's immigration detention centres currently accommodate an increasing number of detainees, whose visas have been cancelled or refused on character grounds placed directly in detention from correctional facilities who are convicted of serious offences, including detainees convicted of assault, robbery, drug or sex offences, members of outlaw motorcycle gangs and other organised crime groups.
Changes to immigration detention laws, the emergent release of detainees, and the current high-risk environment already evident within the detention space has resulted in the need for an enhanced ABF Detention Operations Intelligence Framework.
Commander Budhy Tanddo will offer the challenges faced by the ABF in this high tempo operating environment and focus on the need for whole of government understanding of the emerging intelligence requirements faced within the ABF and specifically immigration detention. Budhy will draw on his vast operational experience in Australian government roles securing the border, as well international experience building strong networks across the Indo-Pacific Region.
Helen Glazebrook will offer intelligence capability considerations and the specific intelligence challenges faced when building and enhancing a shared intelligence portfolio across competing agency priorities, offering her expertise as a senior intelligence analyst and experience in providing high level intelligence reviews for government and non-government agencies.
Together Helen and Budhy will provide the future vision for a best practice intelligence operating model specific to immigration detention, drawing on case studies and operational perspectives from ABF Detention Operations.
The application of generative AI to intelligence operations introduces both opportunities and challenges in the realm of open-source intelligence (OSINT). On one hand, generative AI can be weaponised by hostile intelligence operators to manipulate and exploit OSINT for nefarious purposes, such as creating fake personas, generating disinformation campaigns, and spreading propaganda to deceive and influence target audiences. These tactics pose significant risks to national security, democratic institutions, and public trust, as misinformation and fake content can undermine public discourse, sow discord, and incite conflict. On the other hand, OSINT tools and techniques can be used to detect, monitor, and mitigate the spread of disinformation and malicious activities. By including OSINT tools and techniques, individuals and organisations can enhance their ability to identify and counter hostile intelligence operations, safeguarding against misinformation campaigns and preserving the integrity of online information ecosystems.
This session will examine how the Joint Military Police Unit faces challenges in policing the Australian Defence Force, and how critical the relationships between the Military Police Intelligence Office and State/territory law enforcement can be. This presentation will further discuss the challenges faced by ADF Criminal Intelligence Analysts in completing their tasks in conjunction with the Australian Defence Force remaining operationally ready for the future.
This presentation delves into the advanced methods and technologies used to detect and prevent insurance fraud, focusing on the integration of intelligence systems. We will explore the following key areas:
Claims Scoring: Understanding how intelligent algorithms analyze claims data to score and rank the likelihood of fraud, enabling more efficient investigation prioritization.
Network Scoring: Utilizing network analysis to identify connections between seemingly unrelated claims, uncovering complex fraud schemes involving multiple parties.
Staged and Induced Accidents: Investigating the characteristics and detection strategies for staged motor accidents and induced accidents, which are commonly employed by fraudsters to exploit insurance policies.
Organized Crime: Highlighting how organized crime rings orchestrate large-scale insurance fraud operations and the role of intelligence in dismantling these networks.
Through case studies and real-world examples, the presentation will demonstrate the effectiveness of these techniques in identifying and combating sophisticated fraud schemes, ultimately protecting insurers and policyholders alike.
The word ‘Intelligence’, when mentioned in specific contexts, often conjures mental images of action-packed scenes relating to clandestine operations. The heroic exploits of fictional characters created by Ian Fleming and Robert Ludlum are often cited by those unfamiliar with the practice and contribute to the propagation of negative stereotypes. It is likely that most intelligence practitioners will agree that the reality is far less thrilling. While traditionally employed by those in the National Intelligence Community (NIC), law enforcement, and military forces, Intelligence offers numerous opportunities for contemporary problem-solving in private practice.
Intelligence practice is a tool and nothing more, nothing less. Intelligence has evolved alongside technology and has acted as a force-multiplier for those with sufficient resources and skills to wield it. In the modern age, we are fortunate enough to have reduced barriers of entry to both technology and intelligence practice. Consequently, the reduced barrier of entry increases the availability of intelligence practice, can enable novel use cases for modern societal problems and also attract new talent. Increasing the availability of intelligence practice is not without risk. Considerations such as ethics and potential for misuse need to be factored in. However, there is the opportunity to include these considerations in both formal and informal teachings.
This paper calls upon intelligence practitioners to become better advocates for the practice, help counter Hollywood stereotypes and effect the demystification of Intelligence. To achieve its aims, the paper refers to several use cases, contemporary events, and relevant peer reviewed studies.
Using Open Source Intelligence, Cybercrime Atlas community members collaborate to map the cybercrime landscape, criminal operations, networks, and infrastructure. Cybercrime Atlas supports disruption of cybercriminal activities by providing actionable research to its members.
The Cybercrime Atlas community is made up of organisations who have a key role in identifying and disrupting cybercriminal operations. As the Cybercrime Atlas grows, it will act as a source for evidence-based recommendations for improvements to public policy. It will also produce practical guidance to enhance operational collaborations that counter cybercrime. This will make the internet a higher risk environment for cybercriminals.
This session will provide an overview of Cybercrime Atlas, the impact it is already having in the fight against cybercrime, and look to an optimistic future.
This session will provide an overview of intelligence at Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) and explore the critical role of accountability within our unique regulatory environment. Established in July 2020, SIA brought together the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), the National Integrity of Sport Unit (NISU) and the national integrity programs of Sport Australia into one entity. This transition marked a significant expansion in the agency’s legislative remit, now addressing a broader range of integrity threats beyond the use of drugs and doping methods in sport. These threats include competition manipulation, the abuse of children and other persons in a sport environment and the failure to protect members of sporting organisations, and other persons in a sporting environment, from bullying, intimidation, discrimination or harassment.
SIA combines regulatory and enforcement powers, with educational efforts, to safeguard the integrity of sports in Australia. As a relatively new and small agency, SIA is continuously developing its intelligence function to effectively address threats. This session will explore the importance of accountability to ensure robust tactical and strategic intelligence in the sports integrity threat environment. It will also consider how accountability is essential to sustain the use of intelligence in SIA, as we work to prevent, detect and disrupt threats across Australia.
The Australian Lithuanian Cyber Research Network (ALCRN) is a collaborative research initiative between RMIT University in Australia and Mykolas Romeris University in Lithuania. Launched in 2022, its primary objective is to connect cybersecurity researchers, students, and industry/government practitioners from both countries who are working on or interested in cybersecurity.
In the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) has emerged as a critical force multiplier. Unlike traditional classified intelligence, OSINT relies on publicly available information from sources like social media, commercial satellite imagery, and news reports. The war in Ukraine, often termed “the first digital war,” and showcases the intelligence power of OSINT. As technology advances, OSINT will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping conflict dynamic
The presentation will explore the unique challenges that relate to open source intelligence, it will describe the theory and application of open source using real-life examples in the context of the Russian – Ukraine War. The paper will focus on the following areas:
1) A description of what OSINT is from an intelligence perspective
2) Real-life examples of OSINT in relation to the Ukraine looking at Russian examples;
3) Real-life examples of OSINT in relation to the Wagner Group looking at the Lithuanian border case study;
4) Australia and Ukraine OSINT examples and ;
5) Operational Considerations of OSINT;
6) Future considerations of OSINT.
Career-defining periods or hot streaks are phases of recurring career success. Research from the Kellogg School of Management has found that career hot streaks are preceded by an exploration phase incorporating work in research, testing, and experimentation, followed by a period of exploitation where the focus narrows to a particular area of work. The hot streak pattern was not evident where only one of these phases was present. (Dashun Wang, 2021) These findings have implications for the way we approach our careers. This interactive session explores how to review and plan careers to increase the chance of creating a hot streak.
This case study draws on the author’s recent experience over the last three years working closely with Pacific Island Countries (PIC) in building the intelligence capability underpinning their development of national security policy and strategy.
In 2022, Mindgeek (now Aylo), the parent company of Pornhub, partnered with the UK’s Internet Watch Foundation and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to launch Project reThink, a deterrence chatbot and redirection site to deter individuals searching for illegal content and to direct them to online and offline resources for assistance and rehabilitation. At the conclusion of the two year pilot project, the results were studied by the University of Tasmania and presented to the public. Using a constantly updated library of over 34,000 banned terms, in dozens of languages, with millions of combinations, the deterrence messaging and chatbot appeared a total of 2.8 million times (less than 1% of all searches). Of these interactions, thousands of individuals proceeded to the redirection site and over 50 people got real world assistance.
This is a model that has uses in many other contexts. It can target individuals searching for violent extremist material before they have become thoroughly radicalized. Indeed, it can be used to redirect and educate persons who are planning to commit a wide variety of offences. While the resources and the messaging may change, the fundamental methodology can be re-applied. Learn more about Aylo’s experience with deterrence messaging and how this technique can defuse potential offenders before they have gone down the path of radicalization.
Strategic Intelligence: a term many use but few understand. This session will focus on building an understanding of strategic intelligence, its utility and more critically, its importance. Participants will learn how to help influence their organisation’s success and plan for the future. Intelligence plays a powerful role in navigating the unknown making any intelligence function (and any intelligence officer) an essential voice at the table when it comes to long-term decision making. To illustrate the utility of strategic intelligence in an operational agency, the example of Pre-Mortem Analysis will be used in the latter part of the session.
In an era buoyed by technological advancements, both governmental agencies and private enterprises have been embracing digital transformation in their strategic roadmaps. Police forces around the world have also been part of that story – yet as various digital technologies are being increasingly employed to improve sense-making capabilities in police investigations and operations, the value proposition of intelligence analysis is also being tested at the same time.
This paper describes how the criminal intelligence analyst fraternity in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has re-imagined its purpose through a successful renewal process; where human analysts are augmented by new technologies to move into delivering higher value-added criminal intelligence services and products. Through three broad themes – ‘reskilling’, ‘recruitment’ and ‘reorganisation’ – this paper will delve into the myriad challenges and opportunities that have emerged in the journey involving a strategic re-positioning of criminal intelligence analysts’ role in the SPF.
The SPF’s criminal intelligence analysts now explore new data sources, code in-house solutions, apply machine learning models, manage data operations, as well as generate actionable intelligence that assist key police stakeholders in combating new trends such as online fraud and scams. The experiences and lessons gained in this renewal process could be valuable to any police establishment. More importantly, the benefits of digital transformation can be maximised when one attempts to re-imagine its value proposition and improve competitive advantage within the organisation.
Quantum technologies have the potential to significantly transform many aspects of the intelligence profession in coming years. In an era of strategic competition and growing complexity, it is important to be able to adapt to the latest technology as quickly as possible However, in a field full of hype and jargon, it is difficult to understand what is actually happening, and what are the most significant risks and opportunities that we should be considering now.
In this paper we will discuss:
Quantum computing – what it is, the current maturity levels and the pathway to a truly useful quantum computer, and what such a computer would enable
The impact on encryption – one postulated use of a quantum computer is to break popular encryption methods, so how do these need to be adapted. In particular we will consider the recent deployment of “post-quantum encryption” by Apple and what can be learnt from this
Quantum communications – in theory this provides a way to send data with 100% confidence of knowing if someone has read the contents en route; however, how practical is this to actually implement, and what new problems might it create?
Quantum sensing – a new technology offers opportunities for much more sensitive detectors, for example of changes in gravitational or magnetic fields; however again we need to understand where they could enable whole new methods of data collection, and where other physical limits will still constrain our abilities.
The paper concludes by proposing a roadmap for action by the intelligence profession to ensure we are able to maximise the opportunities and mitigate the risks that this new technology offers.
Note: the presenter has a PhD in quantum physics, but promises to make the subject matter accessible to a non-technical audience and definitely no equations!
In June 2024, the NSW Crime Commission published a report into the criminal use of tracking and other surveillance devices (Project Hakea). The Commission conducted a covert investigation utilising a range of intelligence collection and analysis techniques and found the widespread and increasing use of tracking devices to facilitate organised crime murders, kidnappings and public place shootings; as well as alarmingly high rates of use in a domestic and family violence context. It recommended reforms that will make tracking devices more difficult for serious offenders to acquire, and easier for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute when they do.
Drawing on Project Hakea as a case study example, this paper will discuss how the Commission:
manages its tactical, operational and strategic intelligence functions
uses covert collection capabilities and coercive powers to inform strategic decision making and recommendations for legislative reform
navigates the nexus between strategic intelligence, law and policy
balances secrecy and transparency to produce public facing intelligence; and
balances the need for accountability to demonstrate its evidence-based recommendations, in a context where covert and coercive collection methods need to remain secret.
In the realm of intelligence, a key area of focus is understanding the behaviours and characteristics of targets and persons of interest. However, we rarely take the time to reflect and understand our own teams or even ourselves.
This session is designed to shift this paradigm by demonstrating how DISC profiling, a robust behavioural assessment tool, can be leveraged to enhance outcomes in intelligence practices.
DISC profiling categorizes individuals into four primary styles Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C). As intelligence leaders and practitioners, understanding these profiles can significantly enhance our ability to lead effectively and drive successful intelligence operations.
This session will discuss each of the styles and explore how our understanding of these styles can inform the way we engage with decision makers, present intelligence findings and build collaborative relationships.
By the end of this session, participants will have a clear understanding of how to leverage DISC profiling to foster more effective team composition, enhance internal communication and ultimately strengthening collaborative practices to enhance operational outcomes.
The relationship between intelligence professionals and their ‘customers’ – policy makers, military planners, or law enforcement officers – is a critical but overlooked facet of intelligence activity. Many well cited intelligence failures are, in fact, policy failures stemming from a breakdown in trust in the intelligence community, or willing manipulation of intelligence to suit policy objectives. Intelligence professionals at all levels engage in relationship building to build trust, ensure that intelligence will impact decision making, and protect the integrity of intelligence analysis, and yet this function is an afterthought – or an entirely forgotten dimension – in intelligence training, workforce planning and organisational design.
This paper will argue that intelligence-policymaker relations should be elevated as a key facet of intelligence practice, and subject to greater focus in intelligence training and professional development. Furthermore, this paper will argue that failing to acknowledge ‘relationship building’ as a critical intelligence practice has significant impacts on workforce satisfaction, cohesion, and retention. The paper will analyse key research on intelligence-policymaker relationships across the field of Intelligence Studies to illustrate their significance, and offer practical steps for intelligence organisations.
In 2023, there was a significant increase in reported Virtual Kidnappings (VKs) to the NSW Police Force (NSWPF). Due to this crime, over $9 Million Australian Dollars (AUD) was extorted from victims in NSW since April 2023. In addition to the financial loss, VKs cause extreme distress to the victims and their families. Virtual Kidnappings come under the charter for the Robbery & Serious Crime Squad (RSCS) NSWPF. To understand this emerging issue, the RSCS Intelligence Team analysed the data to determine who was being targeted and develop strategies to prevent and disrupt VKs. Analysts also identified inconsistencies in defining, recording, and investigating VK offences. The RSCS Intelligence Team have since built relationships with internal and external stakeholders, developed recording standards, defined trends in methodologies, crime prevention strategies and identified disruption opportunities. It is anticipated that VK incidents will likely increase in 2024. From this presentation, the audience will develop capabilities to understand the VK crime type, how to prevent through education and minimise the harm to the targeted victims.
Can you imagine arriving to work each day feeling clear and inspired around your role in your overall team’s accountability for its actions and decisions? This session isn’t about novel new ideas, but about re-anchoring to a component of our work as analysts, that will forever be important.
Accountability is often considered through the lens of legislation or the context of position descriptions and pay grades. In this session, we’ll consider the different ways that accountability is made a core part of culture and a core value of the team within the Victorian Conservation Regulator.
Augmented Intelligence, powered by generative AI, is revolutionising the accessibility and application of machine learning and text analysis for users across various industries. Tools like Microsoft Co-Pilot and bespoke neural networks that are trained on specific organisational data are instrumental in enhancing professional workflows. As these technologies become integrated with everyday work, they are expected to substantially alter traditional practices within various trade craft domains. The inclusion of cognitive neural networks based in Opened and Closed networks allows for a deeper analysis and understanding of data, fostering more informed decision-making processes. This transformation not only streamlines tasks but also empowers professionals to deliver results with increased efficiency, accuracy, and innovation. As a result, the future of work is poised to embrace a collaborative synergy between human expertise and artificial intelligence, leading to improvement in both speed and quality of outputs. Organisations that integrate these capabilities will gain a strategic edge on mission critical activities.
The growing utility of the Internet and its omnipresent reality has changed the scope of criminal activity, with significant increases in the deliberate targeting of individuals, businesses, and government at a global cost estimated to reach $10 trillion in 2025. Managing the threat has subsequently grown to reflect significant investment by organizations and governments as they attempt to reduce financial costs. Intelligence techniques have proportionately increased as a formal methodology to understand and communicate threat patterns and activity.
What is threat intelligence, and is it different from cyber-threat intelligence? What basic intelligence methods are used to support the intelligence process, construct an awareness of the threat, and mitigate or counter against that identified threat?
This presentation uses data collected in a twelve-month study of practices adopted by several large organizations in the Australian financial services sector. It seeks to understand if they have been effective and how they have developed in the past decade. How do they collect data, use analysis techniques, and disseminate and implement intelligence within and outside the organization? Have they adapted the intelligence process to incorporate business agility?
Lastly, what structure exists to support the practice of CTI? A paucity of academic research examining the practice of CTI in organizations has been subsumed by a tsunami of vendor-driven solutions that are expensive and potentially ineffective due to opaque rather than transparent processes. Information and intelligence sharing is critical and is underpinned by trust in business relationships. The adage, ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ is altruistically supported by the reality that ‘collective defense is more potent than its singular components’.
While intelligence has traditionally been the domain of government, corporations are increasingly building in-house intelligence teams to address strategic and operational risk. Functions such as cyber threat intelligence remains the most common requirement, but companies are also investing in geopolitical, insider, third party, investigative support, and criminal intelligence teams to meet their intelligence needs. The role of the intelligence team in the corporate setting is to contextualise intelligence against enterprise risk, leveraging a variety of paid and open collection sources to inform analysis and meet these organisational needs.
There are challenges in this emerging field. Sourcing expert staff who can bring an intelligence mindset to a corporate environment remains difficult, and the nature of business means that demonstrating the value of intelligence to leaders is a continuous process. Capabilities need to be shaped to meet resource constraints and requirements of the organisation, with continuous reinvention as priorities shift. Corporations can also be organisationally complex with competing requirements and overlapping areas of responsibility making stakeholder engagement challenging. Nevertheless, there is a growing appetite for intelligence within corporations, for both in-house and externally managed capabilities.
This presentation uses the deployed all-source intelligence unit as a model for how intelligence teams can operate in a corporate setting. It draws on the presenter’s twenty years as an intelligence professional leading intelligence functions across defence, policing, and corporate environments. It aims to inform the audience of how intelligence is being used in the corporate setting and identifies opportunities for growth over coming decades.
Intelligence from the finance sector is useful for more than just fraud and corporate crime investigations. This session will provide audience members with a ‘behind the curtain’ look at how major reporting entities undertake their work in order to deliver intelligence from the finance sector, which is ultimately consumed by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
An incisive assessment of the biggest cyber challenges facing Australia and our region, how private sector intelligence is playing a crucial role in addressing them, and what more can be done.
Is Australia Really Getting Safer? Despite a decline in homicide rates, Australia faces a surge in other major crimes, including sexual assaults, domestic violence, and robberies. This presentation will delve into the latest crime statistics, highlighting the trends and providing a comprehensive analysis of the current crime landscape. We will explore how decision intelligence and advanced analytical methods, such as AI and machine learning, can combat these rising trends and enhance public safety. Discover effective strategies and interventions tailored to protect vulnerable populations and mitigate violent crime.
There is an obvious tug of war between requirements for secrecy and transparency in intelligence, and this makes accountability in the profession a complex anatomy. Of course, when talking about accountability in intelligence, we are also talking about the perceived legitimacy of the profession being on the line. When legitimacy and accountability drop, so too does trust and confidence in assessments and decision making, which may result in strategic surprises, intelligence failures, and other unfortunate consequences. In a complex and rapidly evolving intelligence climate of threats, and in a seemingly busier time than ever, we will be exploring accountability to safeguard trust in intelligence and why it must underpin everything we do.
In this presentation, the speaker shares findings and experiences from a physical security penetration test conducted on a major electrical Independent System Operator (ISO) in the United States. The operation demonstrated the effectiveness of social engineering and human intelligence (HUMINT) techniques in infiltrating critical infrastructure. The speaker successfully breached not only the entire C-suite with listening devices and key loggers but also managed to penetrate control and operating rooms in plain sight.
The successful penetration test provides several key lessons for the intelligence community and security professionals. It emphasises the critical role of human factors in physical security, highlighting the need for employee awareness and training beyond technological safeguards. The ease with which social engineering was employed to gain access stresses the importance of comprehensive training for staff at all levels. The operation also underlines the value of fostering a strong security culture within organisations, encouraging vigilance and proactive reporting of suspicious activities. The test shows the need for a multi-layered approach to security, including physical barriers, access controls, surveillance, and personnel training. Regular security assessments and penetration tests are crucial for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. Sharing these insights aims to highlight the importance of a holistic approach to security and the need for continuous improvement in protecting critical infrastructure.
Samantha Rush helps teams make decision better by unravelling complexity and facilitating decision making that challenges thinking and safeguards psychological safety. She is an experienced Corporate Executive, Company Director, and Advisor who believes in the importance of making a positive impact.
Samantha’s current work as a speaker, facilitator and consultant focuses on connecting an organisation’s people, system, information and processes in a way that helps to smooth out the decision-making continuum. Samantha holds an MBA, as well as tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Industrial Relations and HR, International Business, and she is currently undertaking a PhD focused on team decision making.
Phil is one of Australia's preeminent thought leaders in law enforcement, intelligence and national security.
For over 34 years in the Australian Federal Police, he played a key role in many of Australia's most important law enforcement programs and initiatives. He established multiagency intelligence capabilities in Australia's major airports; designed arrangements to set and manage Australia's counter terrorism priorities in the Counter Terrorism Control Centre; was instrumental in developing the Australian Criminal Intelligence Model; the strategic organisational design of the Australian Border Force; the Australian Federal Police, International Engagement 2020 and beyond; and the National Plan to Combat Cybercrime.
Phil is the President of the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers and a member of the School of Justice Advisory Committee at the Queensland University of Technology.
Deputy Director-General Catherine Burn has had a distinguished 34 year career with the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) reaching the rank of Deputy Commissioner. Her career encompassed many areas across the NSWPF including general policing, detectives, homicide, major crime, organised crime, internal affairs, counter terrorism and corporate areas. Catherine also commanded Local Police Commands, Region Commands and many major events and emergencies.
In April 2018 Catherine was appointed Deputy Director-General Capability & Corporate Management.
Catherine has been awarded many accolades including a University Medal, the Australian Police Medal and the International Women’s Day 2007 NSW Woman of the Year for achievement in valuing difference and leading change. In 2011 Catherine was announced as the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the year in recognition of her leadership in strategic, business and commercial management.
In 2013 Catherine was honoured with a Doctor of Letters, Macquarie University in recognition of contributions to the community and she has completed the FBI National Executive Institute program.
Catherine comes from a large family and enjoys all forms of sport and music and is an Ambassador for the Sydney Swans Australian Football League team.
Former Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins is an experienced Senior Executive who has led New South Wales Police Force specialist tactical, operational and strategic intelligence capability. He held the position of Deputy Chair of the National Criminal Intelligence Capability Committee which led the coordination of law enforcement and security intelligence for the Commonwealth. He has extensive Senior Executive experience in the management of serious and organised crime investigation and Human Resource Management.
He was the ex-Commander of State Crime Command, leading the NSWPF serious and organised crime investigative capability. He chaired the National Serious and Organised Crime Co-ordination Committee which leads the national law enforcement response to serious and organised crime and has also held the role of the NSWPF Counter Terrorism Coordination Command leading CT investigative, CT intelligence and protection functions for the NSWPF.
Mr Jenkins has a Masters of Public Policy from Charles Sturt University and was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the 2008 Australia Day Honours.
Katie George is a Senior Intelligence Analyst with Queensland’s environmental regulator under Department of Environment, Science & Innovation. Katie is an accomplished Intelligence Practitioner with thirteen years of tactical, operational, and strategic intelligence delivery, including experience in leadership and capability building of intelligence functions and mentorship of budding analysts. Katie has specialist expertise in both law enforcement and regulatory intelligence across environment protection, industrial relations, and social security domains.
Helen McGarry, a seasoned intelligence professional, has an extensive career that spans multiple Intelligence agencies and disciplines across Australia, the UK, Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Her wealth of experience positions her as a respected leader in the field.
In her current role as the Executive Manager of Intelligence and Predictive Services within the State Operations Directorate at the Queensland Fire Department (QFD), Helen is entrusted with the critical responsibility of overseeing the development, design, implementation, and leadership of the intelligence and predictions capability. This multifaceted role covers strategic, operational, and tactical domains related to Incident and Disaster Management.
Helen has demonstrated remarkable achievements in identifying and resolving critical organisational intelligence capability gaps. Her exceptional contributions were formally recognized by the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO), which bestowed upon her the prestigious AIPIO Individual Award (2020/21). This award acknowledges her distinguished impact on the Australasian intelligence profession.
Helen has an impressive track record, having served in numerous military operational tours as an Intelligence Officer with both the British Army and the Australian Defence Force.
Simon is the Head of Cyber Strategy and Advice for the Westpac Group. In this role he is accountable for the cybersecurity strategy for the Group, its operating model for cybersecurity, and embedding cybersecurity across the broader Group.
Simon has about twenty years’ experience in cybersecurity – across a broad range of sub-fields including security engineering, ops, architecture, red teaming and research – and in technology strategy. He holds an MBA from MGSM and a BSc. (Hons) from UNSW.
Beulah has 16 years of experience working in intelligence across both law enforcement, integrity and correctional agencies. She specialises in capability development and training, focusing on enhancing the skills and tools of intelligence teams to improve their effectiveness. Throughout her career, Beulah has played a key role in strategic planning, operational management, and the development of innovative methodologies to address complex challenges within the intelligence field. She is trained in human behaviour DISC profiling methodology assessment, which she initially applied in her role as an intelligence practitioner, which now enables her to understand and manage team dynamics effectively in senior leadership roles.
Dan’s interests are primarily in getting good outcomes for people and communities, which has seen him enjoy a career across industry, local government, education, health, and justice sectors. He enjoys most the opportunity to engage with people and understand the drivers in organisations which lead to great culture and therefore great outcomes.
Dan brings together people, information, and processes toward a position of understanding and mutual respect, leading to higher levels of organisational performance and improved project leadership. This is of particular interest to him in the human services sector, where decisions often need to be evidence based, risk aware and human focused, balancing core compliance imperatives with the lens of humanity and the impact on those affected.
Tom Armstrong currently serves as TRM's Compliance Advisor where he provides expert guidance and advisory support to traditional financial institutions, emerging crypto businesses, and regulators on industry best practices for the detection and prevention of money laundering and financial crime within digital assets. Prior to joining TRM, Tom spent over nine years at Goldman Sachs leading various investigative teams. He served as the Head of Financial Crime Compliance Digital Assets at Goldman Sachs, leading the strategic efforts to build the bank’s first dedicated financial crime compliance team covering blockchain-based assets. He also served as the Global Head of the Forensics Group, Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, and Transaction Surveillance Group. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa College of Law where he specialized in International Law.
Ben Kite was commissioned into the British Army’s Intelligence Corps in 1990, retiring in 2022 as a Major General. During his thirty-two year career he worked on intelligence, Security and Cyber issues both in the UK as well on deployments to Germany, the United States, Belize, Bosnia, Kosovo, South Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. His last role was as Director Intelligence Interoperability in Defence Intelligence where he led the creation and implementation of Defence’s first Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance strategy and managed International Intelligence engagement, as well as interoperability with the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army.
Ben is currently working as a senior Defence, Intelligence and Security adviser for Kearney and primarily employed in the Middle East. He studies military history in his spare time and has published three books on the Second World War, as well as being elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is also an honorary Professor at Brunel University, supporting their post-graduate Intelligence and Security Studies programme.
Dr Diana Tolmie is Senior Lecturer of Professional Practice at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, D’Addario International Artist, and Chair of the Juror Council for the Australian Women in Music Awards.
Passionately teaching and researching performance, pedagogy, musicians’ health and vocational preparation, her ongoing nation-wide investigation in the Transferable Skills of Musicians has seen her deliver a TEDx talk and guest on ABC radio discussing the need for quality music education in schools.
Her teaching excellence has been nationally recognised by: a University Australia Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2018), a 2021 Australian Universities Award for Teaching Excellence (Creative Arts) - the most recognised national teaching award in her field, and more recently the 2023 AFR Higher Education (Employability) Award. She continues to lead an exciting life as a freelance woodwind specialist in a multitude of genres, performing in countless interstate and international tours, plus appearing in live radio and television broadcasts as performer and speaker.
Nathan Fischer holds a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Carrying 10 years of expertise in delivering complex technological solutions, Nathan has amassed significant experience across top-tier companies such as Apple, Yahoo!, and Salesforce. In these roles, he has demonstrated a robust ability to navigate and resolve intricate technological challenges
Currently, Nathan is the ANZ Head of Business Development at TRM Labs. In this capacity, he plays a pivotal role in aiding Australian government agencies to combat illicit activities facilitated through blockchain technology. Nathan develops strategic partnerships and spearheads initiatives that enhance the visibility and intelligence capabilities of Australian and New Zealand government agencies in relation to blockchain networks. His local team is contributing to the joint efforts to fortify the integrity of digital financial transactions and mitigating threat vectors associated with blockchain capability.
Dennis James Richardson, AC (born 14 May 1947) is an Australian retired public servant and diplomat. His last appointment was Secretary of the Department of Defence (2012–17).
In 1969 Dennis Richardson commenced what would prove to be an outstanding career in the Australian Public Service. Between 1969 and 1986, he had various positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs, including postings to Kenya, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
In 1986 he was appointed Head of the Refugee and Humanitarian Branch in the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
In 1987, he moved to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, appointed Head of the International Division in 1988.
In 1990-91, he was seconded to Prime Minister Bob Hawke's office, where he served as Chief of Staff.
In 1992, Dennis reviewed the Australian Intelligence Community Post Cold War and
In 1993, he was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
Dennis was the 10th Director-General of Security from 1996 to 2005 and the 19th Ambassador of Australia to the United States of America from 2005 to 2010. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a position he held from 2010–2012 and in October 2012, Dennis was appointed Secretary of the Department of Defence, a position he held until 12 May 2017.
Jacinta is a Senior Executive within AUSTRAC’s leadership team, and a specialist in intelligence tradecraft, tools, data and governance. Jacinta leads AUSTRAC’s Intelligence Capability Branch, responsible for the strategy and delivery of AUSTRAC’s FIU of the Future and is a strong advocate of continuous improvement and driving the training and tradecraft uplift of intelligence professionals.
Leah is an accomplished intelligence professional with over 13 years’ experience building intelligence teams and helping organisations leverage intelligence to inform decision-making in public and private contexts. Her experience encompasses intelligence across government and law enforcement, including at NSW Police Force where she spent many years working in serious and organised crime intelligence at State Crime Command and State Intelligence Command. In addition to her law enforcement and government experience, Leah also led the Cyber Threat Intelligence capability for AUNZ at a global consulting firm through strategy and service offering development, service delivery, client liaison, and product development.
Martin spent 30 years with UK law enforcement up until October 2010 spending his final 7 years as the Head of Cocaine Intelligence for HM Customs and the UK’s Serious Crime Agency (now National Crime Agency). Most of that time was spent in a range of operational and intelligence roles. He was responsible for drugs intelligence and the co-ordination of various organised crime control strategy programmes, including UK and European threat assessments. His career included being based in Miami, Florida, as the UK Drug Liaison officer.
Martin moved on to become the founder of Harod, which, for the past 10 years, has been involved in the private sector investigating commercial fraud, corruption and asset tracing work. In the past 5 years, Harod investigators and this technology has helped identify over USD 2 billion of hidden assets.
Harod has also developed an extensive sport crime portfolio. Martin was engaged as the Chief Investigator into the Russian doping scandals at the Sochi Olympic Games and corruption enquiries within International Weightlifting and International Boxing.
He has an MSc in International Criminal Justice degree and is a member of the FBI Leadership Development Executive Program. He has been awarded the US International Narcotics Award of Honor.
Dr Susan McGinty is the CEO and Founder of Aya Leadership and a Board Member of Women in STEM Leadership (US). She is an award-winning scientist and global STEM leadership development expert, speaker and author, who is inspired to transform the profile of leadership in STEM and Security to achieve innovation sustainability, uplift women into leadership roles, and enable diversity and equity in STEM and Security. Susan was awarded the 2023 Women in STEM Leadership Leader of the Year Award for her work supporting the leadership development of women in STEM globally.
Susan is a specialised leadership development partner for STEM and Security organisations that prioritise diversity. She works with organisations to develop sustainable and diverse leadership pipelines as a foundation for business sustainability, growth, and innovation. She works with leaders globally to strengthen their leadership skills and develop high-performing and resilient teams and organisations. Her thought leadership and tailored leadership programs have global impact.
Susan has a PhD in Medicinal & Organic Chemistry, a Master of Leadership, and 25 years’ experience in STEM, Defence, Intelligence and National Security, and STEM leadership development. She is a partner of Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO) and Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN).
Mitch King is the CEO and Founder of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Institute, an innovative NGO applying analytical and data collection methodologies to humanitarian action and disaster management. His background includes deployments as an infantry and intelligence officer, supporting outcomes across national security, disaster relief, stability operations, border control and international evacuations.
Since establishing HADR Institute in late 2022, Mitch has led initiatives including resilience analysis for Australian local governments, support for government crisis simulations, and reporting on over 80 international incidents in 2023. The Institute's current focus includes disaster risk and humanitarian access assessment in remote Papua New Guinea and domestic disaster resilience projects. Previously, Mitch founded private ventures developing geospatial applications and computer vision technology for security operations.
Mitch received a Chief of Defence Force commendation for establishing an intelligence capability as Joint Intelligence Officer for the Queensland C19 Joint Task Group. He holds a Bachelor of International Relations, a Professional Certificate in Data Science, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is completing a Master of Laws in International Law
Don Williams holds qualifications in Security Management, Security Risk Management as well as Project and Resource Management. He is a Certified Protection Professional and a member of ASIS-International, the Institute of Explosive Engineers, the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (Distinguished Life Member), and the International Association of Protective Structures.
He served at the Australian Bomb Data Centre and was the Strategic Bomb Risk and Intelligence Officer for the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics for which he was awarded the Olympic Order of Merit. He has authored over 150 publications. He was awarded the Australian Security Medal by his peers for services to the profession. Don can be contacted on dsw57@internode.on.net
Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Colin Briggs commenced with the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in January 1989 and has performed a variety of investigative and intelligence roles over the past 35 years.
Whilst working as a Detective Inspector within the Security Intelligence Branch, he led the development and implementation of the Queensland Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, a joint Queensland Police Service / Forensic Mental Health Service initiative which received the Gold Award for innovation at the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards. In 2017, he undertook a secondment to the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet where he performed work as an adviser in the Centre for Counter-Terrorism Coordination, leading the review and development of Australia’s National Counter-Terrorism Plan.
More recently, he has performed the role of Chief Superintendent for Intelligence, where he has had responsibility for leading the QPS Intelligence capability assessment and uplift project, with the aim of delivering an enhanced intelligence capability for the QPS.
Superintendent Briggs has a Bachelor of Psychology and has attained post graduate qualifications in Applied Management in Policing.
Brett is the Managing Director of Intelligent Futures Pty Ltd (www.ifutures.com.au) – a specialist management consultancy providing intelligence-led approaches for strategic planning.
Brett has over 45 years’ experience as a professional intelligence officer, including appointments across multiple domains of intelligence practice in Australia and overseas.
Brett has made a significant contribution as a thought leader in intelligence studies, developing scholarly articles and addressing national and international intelligence conferences.
Brett is a Fellow, Past President, and Life Member of the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO), a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM), a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), a Member and former Board Member of the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE), a Security Risk Management Certified Professional (SRMCP), and an Adjunct Fellow at Macquarie University.
Dan leads our European public sector business and is also Dataminr’s Policing and Security lead. He spent 20 years working in UK Law enforcement. He spent the majority of his career in National Counter Terrorism Policing where he led analysis, OSINT and digital teams. He pioneered the concepts of OSINT since 2006 and digital intelligence in Policing - including leading OSINT and Analysis for the London Olympics. Dan led 2 large national digital transformation programmes in UK Policing. Dan has spoken and consulted globally on OSINT, Digital and CT, and chaired many international working groups.
Kelvin is the Director, Industry Practice Lead at Moody’s Analytics, based in Singapore. He is responsible for the government security sub-segment focusing on Defense, Intelligence, Law Enforcement, National Security and Intelligence Agencies for the Asia Pacific and Middle East region.
Kelvin has extensive experience working in both government and corporates such as financial institution, system integrator and technology provider, including time in the Singapore Police Force as Senior Investigation Officer and DRI (Directly Responsible Individual) for risk, loss prevention and protective covering APAC and Oceania, with a 2 years stints in China. He was also the partner and alliance manager for a global leading AI company that was listed in Shanghai. Prior to Moody’s, Kelvin was Idemia’s regional manager for Public Security and Identity.
Kelvin holds an Honours Bachelors of Science Degree from Coventry University, and was also a certified counter-terrorism and crime prevention practitioner.
Solomon is a trial and appellate lawyer, representing individuals and organizations before all levels of court in Canada. He is certified as a specialist in criminal law by the Law Society of Ontario.
For over a decade, Solomon has been a trusted voice at Parliament, regularly appearing before Standing Committees of both the House of Commons and Senate in Canada, providing testimony about criminal, regulatory and constitutional law matters.
Solomon is a legal author and commentator. He has published dozens of academic and popular articles and is the co-author of Canada’s leading text on firearms law and regulation.
He also lectures widely to audiences of defence lawyers, judges and police officers on a wide spectrum of criminal and regulatory law topics.
Solomon's work has been recognized by his peers in both the legal and broader business community. In 2014, he was named one of the Forty under 40 by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Chamber of Congress. In 2016, he was given Precedent Magazine's Precedent Setter Award. In 2018, he received the Regional Senior Justice Award by the County of Carleton Law Association.
Solomon is an adjunct law professor, teaching The Law of Evidence and Advanced Criminal Evidence at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law.
Prior to his call to the bar, Solomon clerked for Justice Morris Fish of the Supreme Court of Canada. Solomon came to the law following rabbinical studies in Israel, where he was ordained in 2005.
Stuart Meiklejohn is a Sergeant with the Queensland Police Service with 21 years’ experience in policing. Stuart has 14 years’ experience working as an Intelligence Officer split between District Intelligence and Security Intelligence. He is currently a facilitator with Intelligence and Specialist Skills Section. Stuart has provided intelligence support for range of criminal and security operations including G20, Commonwealth Games, COVID, dignitary visits and major events. Stuart holds a BA (Anthropology) and Grad Cert Env Mng. In his current role Stuart facilitates and mentors QPS staff across the state to develop the intelligence capability of QPS, specialising in teaching Threat and Risk concepts, and is qualified as an assessor for the Advanced Diploma of Police Intelligence Operations. Stuart is passionate about developing quality intelligence officers to further enhance intelligence as a profession.
Helen Glazebrook is a leading criminal intelligence expert who has applied her skills across a broad range of intelligence environments over the last twenty-five years including law enforcement, national security, regulatory, corrective services and most recently the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission where she spent 15 years as a Senior Specialist Intelligence Analyst.
Over her career Helen has developed intelligence response capabilities for both state and federal government agencies, most recently for Queensland Corrective Services providing recommendations around intelligence practice, process, capabilities, technologies and legislative amendments.
Helen is now supporting government and non-government agencies to develop and enhance their intelligence capabilities in her new role as Senior Business Consultant for Visual Analysis Pty Ltd and is currently developing comprehensive intelligence capability reviews for Australian Border Force and the mining and resource sector.
Helen has completed a Winston Churchill Fellowship on international best practice in corrections intelligence and was awarded the AIPIO Publication Award in 2023 for her final paper. Helen has a degree in Justice Studies from Queensland University of Technology and is the convenor of the AIPIO Community of Practice for Corrections and Detention Intelligence and an expert panel member for the Office of the Inspector of Prisons in Ireland.
Budhy Tanddo is currently the Commander for Detention Operations for the Australian Border Force (ABF) with responsibility for the management of the Immigration Detention Network.
Budhy has vast experience within ABF patrol and response activities spanning across the Northern Territory, Gulf country and the Torres Strait engaging closely with regional partners in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste. This includes wide-ranging involvement in international capacity building, undertaking long term deployments to Indonesia and the Solomon Islands providing a range of training, mentoring and project management activities.
Budhy’s other previous roles in ABF include operational positions in the Joint Agency Taskforce, Operation Sovereign Borders focusing on maritime people smuggling and border protection measures.
Budhy has also served with the Australian Federal Police in the Philippines as a Counter Terrorism Liaison Officer. During this time, Budhy held central roles in numerous counter terrorism investigations including the kidnapping of an Australian citizen by a terrorist group in the southern Philippines, receiving a citation for Conspicuous Conduct after the successful resolution of the incident.
Budhy holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Deakin University, Graduate Diploma in Applied Science from Melbourne University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from La Trobe University.
Emerald is Head of OSINT Combine's Intelligence Services. With over a decade spent in Australian Federal Government security and intelligence, and a degree in counter terrorism studies, Emerald has a deep understanding of the value OSINT and other counter-operational measures offer to national security. Her extensive list of threat programs managed includes counter terrorism, counterintelligence, cyber security and insider threats. After 15 years in the intelligence industry , she remains a passionate member of the community, mentoring young OSINT professionals and contributing to shared industry knowledge at events and meetups.
CAPT Cresswell is a Military Police Officer in the Australian Regular Army, currently leading the Operational team of the Military Police Intelligence Office, responsible for the criminal intelligence capability in the Australian Defence Force. She has recently been posted into the intelligence field, and holds current postgraduate qualifications in Criminology & Criminal Justice, as well as completing a Masters in Terrorism / Security Studies from Charles Sturt University.
Glenn Rowe brings over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services sector, specialising in fraud investigation and prevention. Currently, he leads the Counter Fraud and Investigations team at RACQ Insurance, where he has significantly improved fraud detection across the business through the implementation of intelligence-led technologies. Previously, Glenn held key positions including chairing the Insurance Fraud & Financial Crime Committee at the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Australia and the Cyber Insurance Fraud Taskforce in the UK.
He has collaborated with British Aerospace on advanced fraud detection systems and played a crucial role in developing industry-wide databases for fraud prevention, such as the Insurance Fraud Register. His leadership and strategic thinking have made a substantial impact in combating insurance fraud on a global scale, making him a prominent figure in the field.
Andre Harrington is a recent entrant to the security sector. He is an experienced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professional and holds current postgraduate academic qualifications in the fields of Criminology, Cyber Security, and Intelligence Analysis. Andre is also currently completing a Master of Intelligence Analysis at Charles Sturt University. One of his goals in the Intelligence sector is to encourage the adoption of structured and innovative Intelligence practices in the private sector.
Glenn Maiden is the Director of Threat Intelligence Operations at Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs Australia and New Zealand. Using millions of global network sensors, FortiGuard Labs monitors the worldwide attack surface and employs artificial intelligence (AI) to mine that data for new threats, ensuring you are prepared for what's coming. Glenn’s role with FortiGuardLabs focuses on identifying and sharing threat intelligence to help organisations protect against current and emerging threats. Glenn has more than 25 years’ experience in different roles across the technology sector with a solid background in defence, intelligence, national security, and government affairs.
Professional memberships/certifications:
Degree in Science (ICT)
Degree in Business (Management)
Diploma in Security and Risk Management
Diploma in Project Management
Oceania Cybersecurity Centre, member of the board of advisors
Australian Information Security Association, organising committee
Member Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Stephanie is the Senior Strategic Intelligence Analyst in the Strategic Intelligence Team at Sport Integrity Australia. In her role, she produces strategic intelligence that supports Executive planning and underpins the Agency’s Operations Plan. Her work informs decision makers on threats and opportunities to mitigate potential harms to sports integrity in Australia, including: the abuse of children and other persons in sporting environments; the failure to protect members of sporting organisations from bullying, intimidation, discrimination or harassment; the use of drugs or doping methods in sport; and the manipulation of sporting competitions.
Stephanie has previously been involved in intelligence and investigation roles across state law enforcement and federal regulators, contributing to investigations into serious sexual offences, online abuse and financial crimes.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Justice, Major in Criminology and Policing from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and is due to graduate in August 2024 with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from QUT.
With experience in intelligence roles spanning various government agencies, Stephanie is passionate about how intelligence principles and practices can be applied to various crime themes and leveraged to protect the most vulnerable members of the community.
Professor Matthew Warren is the Director of the RMIT University Centre of Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CCSRI) and a Professor of Cyber Security at RMIT University, Australia. he is the co-director of the Australian-Lithuanian Cyber Research network.
Professor Warren is a researcher in the area of Cyber Security and Information Warfare. He has also attracted research funding from numerous sources, including the Australian Research Council (ARC), Australian Government (ASD, DFAT, DOD, DOE, DISR, TEQSA), EPSRC funding from the UK, European Union Research funding, Research Council of Lithuania funding and funding from the South African National Research Foundation. He has authored and co-authored over 300 books, book chapters, journal papers and conference papers.
In recognition of Professor Warren's contribution to Cyber Security. Professor Warren has been twice awarded the 'Cyber Security Researcher of the Year Award' by AISA (Australian Information Security Association) as an individual researcher also part of a research team. He is also a recipient of an ACS (Australian Computer Society) President Award for his Cyber Security contribution. Professor Warren is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and a Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA).
Jacqui has worked in various senior strategic executive roles over the last 20 years, specialising in corporate and customer strategy and business model innovation. It was the experience of learning how to adapt and thrive in these complex and dynamic environments that led Jacqui to begin studying and practising as a coach in 2012.
Jacqui works with future focused leaders who are passionate advocates for positive and purposeful change within their organisations. In recent years, she has worked with individuals and teams across a variety of industries including, pharmaceuticals, insurance, banking, telecommunications, professional services, energy and utilities, aged care, and education.
Jacqui’s coaching practice is complemented by her work as Strategy Consultant and Board Advisor in two different emerging companies that both deliver positive and purposeful B2B Artificial Intelligence solutions. Her areas of interest and experience include user-based design, strategic innovation, business model innovation, decision making and organisational complexity.
Jacqui’s coaching approach is influenced by her career in strategy and design, complemented by her knowledge and application of leadership and coaching tools and frameworks.
As COO of Intelligence Rising, Anne-Maree assists in the production and delivery of intelligence training to public and private organisations around the world. Additionally, she has worked in both law enforcement and regulatory intelligence and investigations covering organised crime, money laundering, missing persons, environmental crime and serious recidivist offending. She has run strategic analysis exercises for the NSW EPA, NSW Fair Trading and most recently on behalf of the US Department of Justice as part of their capacity building program in the Philippines.
Zhi Yong joined the Police Intelligence Department, Singapore Police Force as an analyst after obtaining a First Class Honours in Social Sciences (Sociology) from the National University of Singapore in 2015. Partaking actively in both strategic intelligence and crime pattern analyses throughout the course of his career, he was also previously involved in an inter-ministry committee that was set up in Singapore to develop strategies to deter and prevent online scams. Having spoken at numerous local and international law enforcement-related forums that delve into cybercrime, one of his key research interests lies in studying the impact of technological developments on the criminal landscape.
Rajiv Shah is an experienced consultant and thought leader with over 25 years experience in cyber security, quantum technology, telecommunications, AI and cloud. He has held a broad range of senior industry executive roles, including as Australian regional director for the cyber security division of BAE Systems. As Managing Director of MDR Security, he delivers strategic consulting services to Government and other clients, helping them to understand technology, and use it securely to deliver genuine business benefit. Rajiv is also a Fellow of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, having published a number of papers on technology strategy and policy, and is a regular speaker at industry conferences and a contributor to industry publications.
He has experience of working in the UK and the US, and since 2011 has been based in Canberra, Australia. Before joining the commercial world, Rajiv completed a PhD in quantum physics and retains a keen interest in mathematics and science.
Tahli has worked as an intelligence professional since 2006 and has been employed at the NSW Crime Commission since 2010. In her current role as Director Strategic Intelligence & Capabilities, Tahli pioneered the establishment of new Strategic Intelligence and Data Analytics units. She also leads the Commission’s covert intelligence functions including telecommunications interception, technical operations and HUMINT. Tahli has a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (hons) from the University of Sydney and a Masters of Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism from University College London.
James Ellis-Smith is a seasoned intelligence professional with over two decades of experience in the military, national intelligence community, and commercial roles. With operational deployments in Afghanistan, Timor Leste, and Iraq, James has fulfilled leadership and strategic planning roles in a range of high-stakes environments. James has been a key figure in intelligence reform within the Australian Defence Force, most notably within Joint Operations Command and the Army. James is currently a consultant specialising in intelligence planning, commercial intelligence, and counter-foreign interference.
Alongside consultancy work, James is a PhD research candidate with the Australian National University. James’s area of focus is Intelligence Studies. His research project – Cooperation, Competition and Domination: Military Intelligence as a Social Practice – explores the practical ways intelligence officers work with commanders and operations staff in complex, high stakes environments.
Jenna joined the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) in 2017 and started as a General Duties Officer before commencing her role as an Intelligence Analyst with the State Intelligence Command in 2022. In her role, she provides high level intelligence and analytical support to State Crime Command’s Robbery & Serious Crime Squad investigations, primarily kidnapping, robbery, extortions and major breaking offences. She is the lead analyst for the NSWPF’s Virtual Kidnapping Project with the aim being to ‘prevent and disrupt’ through education and to minimise the harm to targeted victims.
An Intelligence Analyst with the Victorian Conservation Regulator's Regulatory Intelligence Unit, Sam is passionate about engaging productively, developing a quality intelligence product, and sharing intelligence to inform effective operational and tactical actions. Sam’s focus has aligned with the Regulator’s regulatory priorities – including illegal take of firewood, cruelty to wildlife, protection of threatened species, illegal commercial timber harvesting and illegal vehicle use.
Sam's career with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) spans 21 years across investigative and intelligence functions.
Stewart Howard is a distinguished Principal consultant with decades of experience in enhancing organisational performance through data analytics and artificial intelligence. His career includes tenures at leading consulting and law firms where his focus on technology and strategic planning delivered transformative outcomes for clients across the justice sectors.
Stewart leads the Global Safety and Security Sector, providing expert guidance on the implementation of advanced AI Strategy to improve decision-making and operational efficiency. His extensive work in leveraging AI strategy has contributed to the firm's reputation as an innovator in the field.
Stewart holds a Masters in Law, Bachelor in Business and specialisations in Artificial Intelligence from the Computer Science labs and Sloan Kettering Management School at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His academic background is complemented by his practical experience in designing and executing AI strategies for complex commonwealth and State organisations.
Scott brings knowledge from a career distinguished by the breadth and depth of his exposure to the cybersecurity threat landscape.
His approach reflects extensive experience across all security domains, using knowledge gained to create new pathways to understanding cybersecurity problems.
His desire for self-improvement led to his PhD research into cybersecurity with the University of Melbourne. An entertaining speaker whose knowledge, insight, and unique Australian humour provide depth to any conversation.
He is a member of multiple risk, intelligence, and cybersecurity organisations. This active membership provides an ideal platform for empowering outreach from a broad global community of cybersecurity practitioners.
Todd Harland is the CEO of consulting firm, AML Solutions International which, for the past 10 years has provided specialty compliance, advisory and training services to Australian businesses and technical assistance and training to law enforcement and intelligence agencies in developing nations throughout Africa and the Middle East.
Todd’s career in the AML/CTF world, started with his time at AUSTRAC as the Manager for Tactical Intelligence for Qld, SA, WA & ACT. He was previously a Sergeant of police with the Queensland Police for 15 years. With the advent of COVID 19, Todd commenced work with Heritage Bank and in 2022 commenced with the Star Entertainment Group. Up until this year, Todd was on the Board of the Australasian Chapter of ACAMS and co-chair of the Environmental Crimes Task Force. He is also a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.
Following a 15-year career as a Federal Agent in the Australian Federal Police, where he established Australia’s High Tech Crime Centre, Alastair held senior cyber security and safety roles across the private sector, including head of eBay’s Asia Pacific Trust & Safety team.
Upon returning to public service, Alastair was appointed Australia’s inaugural eSafety Commissioner, before going on to roles as National Cyber Security Advisor, head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Cyber Security.
Tracy is a former Deputy Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service (QPS). During her six years as a Deputy Commissioner, she held executive responsibility for the Crime, Counter Terrorism & Specialist Operations portfolio. In this role she was responsible for the delivery of expert specialist & investigative support, & strategy direction in the areas of organised crime, counter-terrorism, youth justice, ethical standards, intelligence & specialist operations. Prior to this she was the Deputy Commissioner overseeing the Strategy, Policy and Performance portfolio. In this role she oversaw a budget of over 2 billion dollars.
She has a combined experience of over 39 years in both the Victorian Police & the QPS. During her 31 years in Victoria Police, she worked on a number of state-wide projects. Highlights include - the introduction of a Victoria Police Intelligence Model, & the formation & implementation of the Major Crime Management Model, brought about following a series of gangland murders.
As a Deputy Commissioner she has performed key governance roles on Boards & Committees including the QPS Board of Management. She chaired the Demand & Capability Committee, the Senior Women's Collective; & was the organisation’s Chief Security Officer. She was the QPS representative on a range of national committees, including the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee, Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, Australian Transnational, Serious & Organised Crime Committee, & the National Criminal Intelligence System. She spent 2 years on the Women’s Safety Justice Taskforce and The Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Council. Tracy also represented the QPS on several intergovernmental committees.
Tracy holds a Bachelor of Business Management Degree & an Executive Masters Degree in Public Administration. She is a graduate of the Leadership Victoria Program, the international Leadership in Counter Terrorism Program, ANZSOG Executive Fellows Program, & has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. In 2009 she won an outstanding leadership award from ACWAP for driving cultural change. She was awarded an APM in the Australia Day Honours in 2014, an Exemplary Leadership medal in 2019 and Meritorious Service medal in 2023.
Jeremy Schwartz is the regional head of Oceania, responsible for developing Moody’s business in the region and providing strategic direction. Jeremy leads all operations across Moody’s full portfolio of data, analytics, and software, working with financial institutions, insurers, wealth asset managers, corporates, and governments to navigate risk and unlock opportunities.
Jeremy joined Moody’s in 2018, where he led Bureau van Dijk’s Corporate and Professional Services sales in the Americas. In 2021, he became the Head of Americas Professional Services Segment for Moody’s. Subsequently, in 2023, he became the Professional Services Global Business Director, where he led Moody’s commercial strategy to maximise revenue through partnerships with the Big 4 accounting firms.
Prior to joining Moody’s, Jeremy spent eight years at S&P, where he led different roles across sales and management, covering wealth asset managers, corporates, and government clients.
Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Arts from Lake Forest College, Illinois.
Prior to joining Babel Street, Farid retired from the National Security Agency as a member of the Senior Executive Service cadre. In his last position with the government, he led the Video, Image, Speech, and Text Analytics (VISTA) effort. Having guided language analysis teams for the counterterrorism target set in the post-9/11 era, he developed a deep appreciation for human language technology and its role in prosecuting the mission. Over the past 15 years he drove the development of several VISTA service capabilities, empowering over ten thousand analysts within the U.S. Intelligence Community. Farid was a two-time keynote speaker at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology / Lincoln Lab biannual Human Language Technology Applications conference. He is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Rank
Adam is an experienced strategy and business development executive focused on enabling national security agencies across the Asia-Pacific region to understand and address the threat environment they operate in. Prior to joining the technology sector, Adam gained almost 30 years’ government experience in intelligence collection, analysis and management roles with the Department of Defence, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Department of Home Affairs.
Mark Massop began his career in law enforcement upon graduating from the Kansas City Regional Police Academy in 1988. In 1998, the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) established an Investigative Support Center in Kansas City where Mark was assigned as an Intelligence Analyst. In 2000, he was selected as the Outstanding Intelligence Analyst of the Year for the Midwest HIDTA. The same year the Office of the National Drug Control Policy selected Mark Massop as the Outstanding Intelligence Analyst for all of the HIDTA programs. In 2002, he returned to the Independence Police Department where he brought the agency’s intelligence unit into compliance with both CALEA standards and 28 CFR Part 23. During his tenure with the Police Department, Mark Massop received two awards for Valor from the Kansas City Metropolitan Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association. He was also recognized by the Drug Enforcement Administration for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Drug Investigations.
Mark Massop joined the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) in 1998. In 2001, he was elected as the President of the Mid-States Chapter of IALEIA. From 2004 through 2009, Mark served on the IALEIA Board of Directors as the Chapter Director. Mark served as Vice President; a role he was elected to in 2015 for a two-year term and re-elected again for another two year term in 2017. He currently continues to serve the organization as a member of the Executive Advisory Board.
Mark retired in 2004 and moved to the technology industry with focus on solutions for Law Enforcement. Over the past 20 years, he has served the community by delivering best of breed technology to support the LE mission. He currently serves as Vice President, Sales, NEXYTE North America.
Mitch Green is an Assistant Director of Intelligence with the Australian Skills Quality Authority and has worked in diverse intelligence functions across various government agencies over the last four years.
Mitch holds a Bachelor Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice and is experienced in producing tactical, operational and strategic intelligence assessments in the criminal and regulatory intelligence domains. He has also worked in the fraud and corruption and trusted insider threat space. Mitch is an integrationist who considers himself a bit of a nerd, dedicating his spare time reading in the disciplines of sociology, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology and criminology.
He enjoys the philosophy and theory underpinning intelligence analysis and is committed to the profession and supporting and learning from prospective and current practitioners.
Hayley Van Loon, CEO and founder of Magnolia Intelligence, also serves as Deputy CEO at Crime Stoppers International. With nearly two decades of experience spanning Australia, the USA, and global arenas, she has held diverse roles ranging from the Australian government to leadership positions in private intelligence firms. Certified as a CARVER Assessment Professional, Hayley brings a wealth of expertise in agile leadership, target analysis, and intelligence operations.
Hayley has collaborated with a wide range of entities, including Fortune 500 companies, medical marijuana facilities, critical infrastructure organisations, schools, universities, and innovative start-ups. Her contributions have been particularly meaningful in sectors such as biotechnology during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, where she provided vital support to the biotechnology and life sciences sector. Leveraging her extensive private sector experience, she offers valuable insights into global leadership, intelligence operations, and strategic collaboration.
Hayley has recently been appointed as the Head of Harod APAC, where she will bring Harod's world-leading expertise and technology in intelligence to Australia. Harod is a trusted partner to leading corporations, law firms, private individuals, and sports federations. Their investigative role in uncovering allegations of state involvement in cheating and corruption during the Sochi Olympics solidified their reputation. All Harod's investigators are supported by cutting-edge forensic cyber techniques, whistleblowing, and human intelligence (HUMINT).
By introducing Harod's unparalleled investigative capabilities to Australia, Hayley will elevate the standards of intelligence services in the region. Her focus will be on fostering strong partnerships and delivering high-quality, bespoke solutions to clients across various sectors. Through Harod, Hayley aims to provide clients with a trusted and strategic ally in navigating complex challenges, enhancing their operational resilience, and securing their success.