UNSW Canberra Advisory Council

Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston led a distinguished 41-year career in the Australian Defence Force. He retired as Chief of the Defence Force in 2011.

As well as UNSW Canberra Advisory Council chair, Angus also chairs for a range of organisations, including:

• Murray Darling Basin Authority
• Airservices Australia
• Defence South Australia Advisory Board
• Order of Australia Council
• Canberra Symphony Orchestra.

He is also a Board Member of the Lowy Institute for International Policy, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the Anzac Centenary Public Fund Board and Greater Good Canberra. In addition, he is the Ambassador/Patron of numerous charitable organisations.

Sir Angus Houston was named the 2011 Australian Father of the Year and the 2012 ACT Australian of the Year. In 2015 he became a Knight of the Order of Australia.

Professor Robert Clark is Professor and Chair of Energy Strategy and Policy at UNSW.

He is a former Chief Defence Scientist of Australia and Chief Executive Officer of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).

In addition to receiving military medals from the Australian and US governments, Prof Clark won many fellowships and awards due to his pioneering work in nanotechnology and quantum computing. For example, he has twice been awarded the Australian Government’s Federation Fellowship, is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and was awarded the Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science.  

Prof Clark joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at age 15 and undertook his BSc degree through the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay and UNSW. After being promoted to Lieutenant and serving for ten years he left the RAN to complete a PhD in Physics at UNSW and the Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford.

Ms Stephanie Copus-Campbell is the Executive Director of the Oil Search Foundation, based in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Foundation implements annual health, leadership, education and women’s empowerment and protection programs. She is also Chair of the Board of Directors of the Southern Highlands Provincial Health Authority in PNG and and a Non-Executive Director (NED) and immediate past treasurer of Femili PNG.

Previously, Ms Copus-Campbell was a Board Director for UNICEF Australia and Executive Director of the Harold Mitchell Foundation. She also has experience leading Australian Government aid programs and from 2009–2011 was the head of Australia’s aid program with PNG. Ms Copus-Campbell holds a Master of Philosophy degree from Cambridge University in international relations and a Bachelor degree from the University of California in political science.

Ms Gabby Costigan is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BAE Systems Australia. In this role she is responsible for one of Australia’s largest defence companies.

Ms Costigan is also a Board Member on the Australian-ASEAN Council and Chair of the Council for Women and Families United by Defence Service.

Ms Costigan is also a former CEO for Linfox International Group. In addition, she served as a Colonel in the Australian Army and was honoured by the Australian and US governments as well as NATO for her service while leading logistic operations. Ms Costigan has a Master of Arts focused in Strategy and Management and a Bachelor of Engineering from UNSW.

Mr Michael Forshaw is a retired barrister, Deputy Mayor of Sutherland Shire (NSW) Council and a former NSW senator.  

During his 17 years in the Senate, Mr Forshaw served on many parliamentary committees and as an opposition parliamentary secretary. 

Before that, Mr Forshaw was General Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU). He was also a member of the Board of the CSIRO and a Director of the Australian Retirement Fund. Mr Forshaw has Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Laws from UNSW. 

Rear Admiral (Retd) Raydon Gates is the Defence Advocate for Western Australia, reporting to the Minister for Defence Issues. He holds a number of non-executive and pro-bono director positions, for example: QinetiQ Australia, Elbit Systems Australia, Cablex, MicroSecure and New South Wales Centenary of ANZAC Advisory Council. He  was previously Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin. 

Before that, Rear Admiral Gates was Board Member and CEO of the Kokoda Foundation, a private consultant in Defence defence and National national Security security and Director of the Williams Foundation.  

He led a distinguished, 37-year career in the Royal Australian Navy. During the latter parts of his Navy career, Rear Admiral Gates was Maritime Commander Australia (2002–2004) responsible for the entire Australian Fleet and commanded the Fleet during the Iraq War. He was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia in the 2005 Australia Day Honours List for his distinguished service as a Flag Officer.  

Rear Admiral Gates also held positions as the Australian Defence Attaché and Head Australian Defence Staff (Washington). 

Rear Admiral Gates has a Masters Degree in Business Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies, and a Diploma of Company Directorship. He is a graduate of a number of strategic leadership management programs from Mt Eliza Management College, Australian Graduate School of Management, Oxford University and Harvard University. 

Ms Gayle Ginnane has considerable public sector and board experience; both commercial and not-for-profit. She is a Councillor on the Australian Pharmacy Council and a Director on the boards of Healthdirect Australia and Police Health.

Ms Ginnane is also the independent chair of a number of audit committees, including with the Department of Veterans Affairs, The National Health and Medical Research Council and the Department of Finance.

She held prior Director/Board Member positions with the National Blood Authority, ACT Medicare Local, CIT Solutions, National Childcare Accreditation Council and the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.

Ms Ginnane also has more than 30 years of experience in the public sector. She was Chief Executive Officer of the Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC) for 12 years. Ms Ginnane holds Bachelor degrees in Arts and Economics from the University of Queensland, a Master's Degree in Defence Studies from UNSW and a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies from Joint Services Staff College (now the Australian War College).

Mr David Michel is the General Manager of the Landmark Group.

He previously held executive roles in companies including Richard Crookes Constructions. The latter built the current ADFA Auditorium, the Sports Centre and was responsible for the cadet accommodation refurbishment.

Mr Michel managed the operational planning and preparation for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games villages before moving to Athens to advise on the planning and preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games.

He was also an Officer in the Australian Army for five years. 

Mr Michel holds a Bacholor of Arts (Hons) from UNSW, a Master of Business Administration (Copenhagen Business School), a Master of Business Administration (AGSM @ UNSW), and has completed the Company Directors Course from Australian Institute of Company Directors.