2024
Lieutenant General Natasha Fox of the Australian Defence Force
Lieutenant General Natasha Fox entered the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1988 and graduated from the Royal Military College in 1991. Her early foundation appointments were in logistics specialising in combat supplies and logistics planning, and in training positions culminating with her being the Commanding Officer/Chief Instructor at the Australian Defence Force Academy for which she received a Conspicuous Service Cross.
Lieutenant General Fox has been employed across the Australian Defence Force in Forces Command, Joint Logistics Command, Special Operations Command, Training Command – Army, Defence People Group and Army Headquarters. She has deployed to Lebanon, Syria, and Israel and was the Chief of Staff for Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East where she was appointed a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service. In 2023, Lieutenant General Fox was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for her service as Head People Capability and Deputy Chief of Army.
Lieutenant General Fox is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College, and the Defence and Strategic Studies Course. She has completed numerous degrees including Masters of Business Administration, Master of Politics and Policy, and Masters of Management in Defence Studies. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy (Singapore), The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), and The Said Business School (Oxford University).
Lieutenant General Fox was appointed Chief of Personnel on 5th June 2023.
Lieutenant General Fox is married to Commodore Andrew Willis, MVO, RAN and has two teenage boys that keep her busy!
2023
Christine Zeitz of Northrop Grumman Australia and New Zealand
Christine Zeitz is a leader in Australia’s defence industry, with over 30 years’ experience delivering world-class solutions and services across the Asia Pacific region to Defence.
As Chief Executive and General Manager of Australia and New Zealand, Christine is responsible for all aspects of NGA’s growth, program awards and financial performance. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman Australia, Christine served as CEO of Leidos Australia for five years, responsible for strategic growth of the company in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region.
During her tenure, Christine delivered a 100 per cent growth in revenue through an ambitious restructure of the Australian business.
2022
Wendy Malcolm
Born and raised in Victoria, Wendy Malcolm joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1987, graduating as a Midshipman from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1989 having completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Physics.
She trained as a Supply Officer (Maritime Logistics Officer) at HMAS Cerberus in 1990 and saw service ashore and at sea. During the period 1995-1998 Wendy was involved with setting up the in-service support for the Anzac Class frigates through the Anzac Class Logistics Office within Naval Support Command. Lieutenant Commander Malcolm served as the supply officer in the guided missile frigate HMAS Newcastle during 1998-2000 including operational service in East Timor as part of Operation WARDEN.
She was posted to the Directorate of Naval Officers Postings from February 2000 to December 2001 and during this period completed a Masters in Commercial Law. A challenging and rewarding posting in the then-Defence Materiel Organisation followed as the Project Manager for the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Project during the period of this weapons introduction into service.
Wendy was promoted Captain in 2010 and appointed as the Director Anzac Systems Program Office. In this capacity, she was responsible for maintenance, logistics support and in-service engineering for the RAN’s eight Anzac Class frigates and their shore support facilities in Fleet Base East (Sydney) and Fleet Base West (Rockingham). Wendy was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) in the 2015 Australia Day Honours List “for meritorious devotion to duty as the Anzac System Program Office Director”.
She left the Navy in 2015 to take up a position with Saab Australia as the transition manager for the new support enterprise for the Anzac Class ships, before returning to Navy in late 2017. Wendy was promoted Commodore on 23 October 2017 and appointed as Director General Specialist Ships with responsibility for sustainment of Armidale Class patrol boats, Pacific patrol boats, hydrographic vessels, mine-hunters and mine warfare and diving systems.
Promoted Rear Admiral on 7 December 2018 she assumed the role of head Maritime Systems within the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).
Rear Admiral Malcolm was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2022 Queens Birthday Honours list ‘For exceptional service in surface ship sustainment for the Australian Defence Force.’
2021
Georgeina Whelan
Georgeina Whelan graduated from Officer Training in June 1988. She has extensive experience in the command and management of Defence health systems, and military and civilian disaster and emergency response. As a Brigadier, Whelan deployed to East Timor in 1999 and to Banda Aceh, Indonesia on Operation Sumatra Assist in command of the ANZAC Field Hospital in 2005. She has completed several leadership, management, and tertiary programs over the past two decades.
Georgeina joined the ACT Emergency Services Agency as the Chief Officer of the State Emergency Service in late October 2017. She was subsequently appointed as the Commissioner of the ACT Emergency Services Agency in September 2019. She was appointed as the ACT Emergency Controller and led the ACT response to the 2019 Black Summer Fires. She remains engaged with Defence through Reserve Services as a project officer within the Directorate of Army Health.
Georgeina was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 2004 and was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2006 and awarded a Bar to her Conspicuous Service Cross in 2016.
She was named ACT Telstra Businesswoman of the year in 2015 and awarded the ACT Public Service Award for Leadership in 2019.
Georgeina is the patron of the ACT Down Syndrome Association and sits on several research and advisory boards that focus on the provision of health and wellness programs to both ADF and Australian Emergency Service First Responders. She is also a member of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Male Champions of Change Coalition.
2020
Dr. Karen Stanton
Karen Stanton is an owner and director at HTA Group, a manufacturing company with facilities throughout Australia and in Los Angeles, USA. HTA is the largest supplier of heat treat services in Australia and is an integral part of Australian defense and aerospace supply chains. As part of the HTA Team for more than 25 years, Karen has extensive experience in the manufacturing sector within Australia.
Karen is also an advocate for continual learning. With several undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in business and technology, including a business doctorate with the research focused on customer expectations.
Karen passionately advocates for SMEs in manufacturing and has demonstrated dedication to the development of the Australian defence industry at both state and national levels.
Karen is a member of the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) Advisory Board based in Adelaide, the Queensland Government Advisory Council on Defence Industry, and also a number of private company boards in the defence arena.
2019
Elizabeth (Liz) Cosson
Secretary, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
After 31 years of distinguished military service in the Australian Army, Liz Cosson joined the Australian Public Service in 2010 and was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) in May 2018. Liz is also the President of the Repatriation Commission and Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.
Liz’s diverse career has provided opportunities to develop strengths in driving reform and modernisation, leadership, building relationships, collaboration, setting visions, providing strategic advice and policy development. It was Liz’s leadership, resilience, courage and determination that saw her become the first female promoted to the senior rank of Major General in the Australian Army.