Advisory Council

The UNSW Canberra Advisory Council:

  • helps realise the strategic focus of building collaborations with government building links between UNSW and its stakeholders, in particular raising awareness of and engagement with UNSW Canberra and its activities amongst alumni, business, government and the community;
  • serves as a source of independent advice with regard to strategy and external relations;
  • assists UNSW Canberra to undertake research and teaching activities of the highest level;
  • advises on matters relevant to research and business opportunities and needs to ensure UNSW produces leaders in specific fields of practice; and
  • provides commercial advice and market intelligence.

Membership of the UNSW Canberra Advisory Council is by invitation and the position is voluntary.

Portrait Sir Angus Houston
Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret'd) (Chair)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston was awarded the Knight of the Order of Australia in January 2015 for extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to Australia, through distinguished service in the Australian Defence Force, continued commitment to serve the nation in leadership roles, particularly the national responses to the MH370 and MH17 disasters, and in a variety of roles in the community.

Sir Angus retired... read more

Professor Robert Clark AO FAA FRSN

Professor Robert Clark was appointed Professor and Chair of Energy Strategy and Policy at UNSW Australia in 2012.  Prior to this appointment Professor Clark held the position of Chief Defence Scientist (CDS) of Australia and Chief Executive Officer of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) from 2008 to 2011. He has twice been awarded the Australian Government’s Federation Fellowship, is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of... read more

Ms Stephanie Copus-Campbell

Ms Stephanie Copus-Campbell is the Executive Director of the Harold Mitchell Foundation and Harold Mitchell’s international advisor. From 2009-2011, Ms Copus-Campbell was the head of Australia’s $500 million aid program to Papua New Guinea. She was also posted to Suva, Fiji, as head of Australia’s aid program to Fiji and the Pacific region and has had previous postings to PNG. During her early career with DFAT she worked on the China program... read more

Ms Gabby Costigan

Gabby Costigan joined BAE Systems Australia as Chief Executive Officer in October 2017. As CEO she is responsible for one of the nation’s largest defence companies, which has supported the Australian Defence Force for more than 65 years.

Gabby retired as a Colonel in the Australian Army after a distinquished career that included operational experience commanding logistic operations for both Australian and US deployed military forces... read more

Mr Michael Forshaw

Mr Michael Forshaw is a former Senator for NSW.  He was appointed as an ALP Senator in May 1994 and was re-elected in 1998 and 2004.

During his 17 years in the Senate Mr Forshaw served on many parliamentary committees. He was Chair of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence & Trade, the Senate Foreign Affairs Defence & Trade Committee and the Senate Finance & Public Administration Committee. He also served as... read more

Rear Admiral Raydon Gates AO CSM

Rear Admiral Raydon Gates has served as the Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin since 2011 after a distinguished career in the Royal Australian Navy. Rear Admiral Gates has previously held the position of Board Member and CEO of the Kokoda Foundation, a chief Canberra-based independent think-tank. Subsequently he has spent time working as a private consultant in Defence and National Security. He also undertook a tutoring role in... read more

Ms Gayle Ginnane
Ms Gayle Ginnane

Ms Gayle Ginnane has over 30 years experience in Public Sector, 12 years as the CEO of the Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC). Ms Ginnane has broad experience as a senior manager in an insurance and regulatory environment, and an in depth understanding of governance, risk management and finance.

Ms Ginnane has considerable experience as an independent director on a number of Boards, both commercial and not for... read more

Portrait David Michel
Mr David Michel

David is founder and managing director of Bedrock Offsite, a Sydney-based company specialising in the manufacture of prefabricated modular buildings.

David has served in executive roles in private and listed companies including Lend Lease Corporation and Richard Crookes Constructions.  The latter being responsible for the construction of the new ADFA Auditorium, Sports Centre and cadet accommodation refurbishment.

He managed the... read more

Mr David Nockels

David is responsible for the Identify and Biometrics Division which covers identity and policy strategy, verification and background checking services, acts as the design authority for identity and biometric systems, and ensures Departmental processes to manage identity records of non-citizens and naturalised citizens.

Prior to this he oversighted Departmental property requirements, major procurement activity and contract management... read more