Who we are

We Are A Gateway To Australia’s Defence Science Capability

With a deep network across Australia’s science and technology landscape, we help build defence science research networks, facilitate collaborations and assemble multi-disciplinary teams including scientists, engineers, and researchers from industry and the academic community.

Our Organisation

The Defence Science Institute (DSI) was established in 2011 within the University of Melbourne and is funded jointly by the State Government of Victoria, the Commonwealth Government’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group and our university members.

Our multi-disciplinary team comprises senior professionals from industry, government and academic backgrounds.

DSI Team

Professor Adrian Pearce 
DIRECTOR
Callum Wright
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
A/Prof Toby Murray
DEPUTY DIRECTOR 
Craig Butler
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT 
Charlotte Morris
GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT
Annette McLeod
CONTRACTS AND BUSINESS ANALYSIS
Ansonne Yap
ADMINISTRATOR

DSI Board Members

Mr John O’Callaghan (Chair)
VICTORIA DEFENCE INDUSTRY ADVOCATE, STATE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA
Mr Unni Menon 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEFENCE, AVIATION AND AEROSPACE,  DEPARTMENT OF JOBS, SKILLS, INDUSTRY AND REGIONS
Dr Melissa Laws
DEFENCE GROUP LEADER NEXT GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES FUND, DEFENCE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY GROUP
Ms Laura Anderson
CHAIRMAN, SVI GLOBAL PTY.
Dr Tony Lindsay 
DIRECTOR OF LOCKHEED MARTIN STELARLAB, LOCKHEED MARTIN AUSTRALIA
Mr Miles Partridge 
DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, TECTONICA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
Professor Liz Sonenberg
CHAIRMAN, SVI GLOBAL PTY LTDPROFESSOR AND PRO VICE-CHANCELLOER DIGITAL & DATA, THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Professor Callum Drummond AO
DEPUTY VICE  CHANCELLOR AND VICE PRESIDENT RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, RMIT UNIVERSITY
Dr Joanna Donagan  

 

DIRECTOR, GLOBAL INNITIATIVES, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR (GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT)  MONASH UNIVERSITY

DSI Liaison Managers

A/Prof Daniel Lai 
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

VU.defence@vu.edu.au

Dr John Besida 
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, RMIT UNIVERSITY
Ms Rosy Calabro 
CENTRE COORDINATOR, SIR LAWRENCE WACKETT CENTRE

rosy.calabro@rmit.edu.au

Dr Navid Mohajer 
RESEARCH FELLOW, MECHANICAL DESIGN STEMS DEAKIN UNIVERSITY
Mr Quin Chang
DIRECTOR,  ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF THE DVC RESEARCH AND INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT, LA TROBE UNIVERSITY

defence@latrobe.edu.au

Ms Jessica Ware
 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP COORDINATOR. ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT, LA TROBE UNIVERSITY
 

defence@latrobe.edu.au

Ms Zara Hamon 
PARTNERSHIPS AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR AND VICE PRESIDENT (ENTERPRISE), MONASH UNIVERSITY
A/Prof Shona Sciacca 
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF BEHAVIOURAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SPRINT, AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
Dr Ashleigh Homer
RESEARCH CENTRE MANAGER, SPORT PERFORMANCE, RECOVERY, INJURY & NEW TECHNOLOGIES (SPRINT) RESEARCH CENTRE, AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY 
Professor Len Sciacca 
ENTERPRISE PROFESSOR, DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

defence-technologies@unimelb.edu.au

Mr Ryan Cross 
SENIOR PROJECT OFFICER, RESEARCH & ENTERPRISE,  UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Ms Jenny Bungur
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, INDUSTRY RESEARCH ENGAGEMENT, INNOVATION AND ENTERPRISE, SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNIOLOGY
Mr Aaron Ingram 
DEFENCE MARITIME PROGRAM MANAGER, AUSTRALIAN MARITIME COLLEGE, COLLEGE OF SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
A/Prof Sean Müller
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE, FEDERATION UNIVERSITY OF AUSTRALIA