BACKGROUND

Amanda MacKinnell’s career path traverses 16 years operational service as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy, then sought new adventures in the mining sectors of the Northern Territory and Queensland. She has also spent time with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, shaping maritime policy, business systems, processes and strategy as well as consulting to Defence in C2 programs. Amanda is currently the Australian Industry Capability Manager for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace sector, actively seeking to include Australian businesses and technology in major programs including the acquisition of the MQ-4C Triton for the Royal Australian Air Force.

Amanda’s experience in operational and project environments is complemented by academic qualifications and certifications: she holds a Master of Business Administration (AIB) as well as a Master of Global Project Management (Torrens University). An avid volunteer, Amanda has spent time in Nepal providing disaster relief work as well as contributing to local organisations in the Canberra area, offering business development work plus engaging in ‘hands on’ activities, especially with turtles.

In her spare time, Amanda is a keen photographer and works with wool and other fibres to produce blankets, dragons and bears.

BACKGROUND

Air Vice-Marshal Greg Evans (Retired) was educated at Strathfield SDA High School in Sydney and on graduation in 1975 completed training as a high school science and mathematics teacher at Avondale College. He taught at Hamilton SDA High School in Newcastle for the year 1981 before joining the Royal Australian Air Force as a pilot trainee early in 1982.

His extensive Air Force career of 27 years involved, flying and administrative roles together with exchange postings to the United States and command roles both in Australia and the Middle East Area of Operations. He was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).

Since retirement he has been involved extensively in the Air Force Reserve system and a mentor for students at the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies. He has a particular interest in the education of Defence personnel and finds that his teaching and training background is useful in these efforts.

He has a strong desire to promote the careers and education of Australia’s youth with an emphasis on STEM and leadership.

BACKGROUND

Jim holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Electronics and Communications from the Queensland University of Technology and a Master of Science in Aero-systems Engineering from Loughborough University of Technology, in the UK. Jim retired from CASA in 2014. As a result of his international work, Jim was named as one of the top 50 most influential individuals in Asia’s UAS industry.

In September 2014 Jim joined UAS International as Technical Director, where he helped develop the world’s first commercial UAS standard and training aviation auditors in the speciality nuances of RPAS. Jim is the co-author of “Drones in Society – Exploring the Strange New World of Unmanned Aircraft”, published in December 2016

EXPERIENCE

Jim has been working in the RPAS world since 2005 and has a depth of experience in this field. He is a former CASA senior manager and was the Australian representative and the former Co-chair of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Group from 2009 until 2014, where he helped steer the development of international standards for unmanned aircraft systems.

CURRENT ROLES

Jim retired from CASA in 2014. As a result of his international work, Jim was named as one of the top 50 most influential individuals in Asia’s UAS industry. Jim retired from CASA in September 2014 and joined UAS International as the Technical Director, where he helped develop the world’s first commercial UAS standard and trains aviation auditors in the speciality nuances of RPAS. Jim is the co-author of “Drones in Society – Exploring the Strange New World of Unmanned Aircraft”, which was published in December 2016.

BACKGROUND

Joanne is a highly experienced education professional with internationally recognised expertise in online assessments, curriculum implementation and trends in educational pedagogy. Throughout her professional and personal life, Joanne has been driven to provide engaging, interesting and diverse opportunities for others so they can be encouraged to achieve their best. She gains satisfaction from seeing smiles and pride on students’ faces when they have achieved and from knowing that she has contributed to the development of pre-service teachers and practicing teachers which ultimately will assist the learning outcomes of our students and future leaders. Her knowledge and understanding about how people learn and the strategies that can be utilised to increase and maximise their engagement with tasks makes her an asset to One Giant Leap as we develop our various educational programs.

BACKGROUND

Peter Redman is an accomplished Managing Director with a demonstrated ability, leading diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in the Australian, New Zealand, Asian and Indian regions. He has strong business, commercial, operations and program management experience with an impressive track record of delivering above expectation.

He is experienced at negotiating and delivering high value complex contracts with multiple stakeholders, including Australian and International governments and leading businesses and joint-ventures through transformation and restructuring.

EXPERIENCE

Peter has 37 years of experience in the Defence and Aerospace sectors, with 30 years specialising in simulation and training. He commenced his career in 1981 as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During his RAAF career he worked on aircraft including: F111C, RF111C, C130E and C130H. Towards the end of his RAAF tenure Peter gained expertise in training and simulation. From 1991 to 1999, he held numerous simulation support positions at Qantas Airways. Primary responsibilities included simulation maintenance, simulation engineering and development, instruction, and configuration management.

From 1999 to 2017, Peter has held several management and group executive positions within CAE Inc. and was appointed Vice President and General Manager, CAE Asia Pacific. Peter was honoured in 2001 being awarded the CAE Inc. CEO Excellence award, recognising his contribution to CAE globally. Peter is a graduate apprentice of the RAAF as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Electrical), has a Graduate Certificate in Management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Deakin University, Melbourne. He has completed ‘The Executive Program’ (TEP) at Darden School of Business, Virginia University USA. Peter is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AIDC) and Customer Service Institute of Australia, as well as the Australian Industry Group Defence Council National Executive.

PREVIOUS ROLES

He is experienced at negotiating and delivering high value complex contracts with multiple stakeholders, including Australian and International governments and leading businesses and joint-ventures through transformation and restructuring.

Peter has 37 years of experience in the Defence and Aerospace sectors, with 30 years specialising in simulation and training. He commenced his career in 1981 as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During his RAAF career he worked on aircraft including, F111C, RF111C, C130E and C130H. Towards the end of his RAAF tenure Peter gained expertise in training and simulation. From 1991 to 1999, he held numerous simulation support positions at Qantas Airways. Primary responsibilities included simulation maintenance, simulation engineering and development, instruction, and configuration management.

From 1999 to 2017, Peter has held several management and group executive positions within CAE Inc. and was appointed Vice President and General Manager, CAE Asia Pacific. Peter was honoured in 2001 being awarded the CAE Inc. CEO Excellence award, recognising his contribution to CAE globally. Peter is a graduate apprentice of the RAAF as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Electrical), has a Graduate Certificate in Management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Deakin University, Melbourne. He has completed ‘The Executive Program’ (TEP) at Darden School of Business, Virginia University USA. Peter is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AIDC) and Customer Service Institute of Australia, as well as the Australian Industry Group Defence Council National Executive.

Adam is a senior business leader with over 20 years’ experience in global sales, and currently responsible for the Technical & Information Services sales and account management function at ASX, operator of the primary Australian Equities & Derivatives markets, and Clearing & Settlement systems.

He has successfully led domestic & global sales teams, managed disparate multinational clients, generating exceptional value for them, together with highly profitable revenue for the businesses he leads. Adam holds a leadership position within the ASX’s Business Development team, where he successfully initiated a bold new brand and go to market strategy. Early in his career, Adam immediately recognised the importance of ecosystems and their criticality within the supply chain of any given market. Prior to joining the ASX in July 2013 Adam headed up BT Radianz across Australia & New Zealand, a specialist division of the global A$30 billion telecommunications giant British Telecom.