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
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Annette McLeod
CONTRACTS AND BUSINESS ANALYSIS
Ansonne Yap
ADMINISTRATOR

DSI Board Members

Dr Tony Lindsay (Acting Chair)
DIRECTOR OF LOCKHEED MARTIN STELARLAB, LOCKHEED MARTIN AUSTRALIA
Dr Teresa Tufano
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEFENCE, AVIATION AND AEROSPACE,  DEPARTMENT OF JOBS, SKILLS, INDUSTRY AND REGIONS
Dr David Kershaw
CHIEF SCIENCE STRATEGIC PLANNING & ENGAGEMENT OF THE DEFENCE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY GROUP (DSTG).

 

Ms Laura Anderson
CHAIRMAN, SVI GLOBAL PTY.
Mr Miles Partridge 
DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, TECTONICA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
Professor Liz Sonenberg
PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR, SYSTEMS INNOVATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Professor Callum Drummond AO
DEPUTY VICE  CHANCELLOR AND VICE PRESIDENT RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, RMIT UNIVERSITY
Mr Ben Vivekanandan
SENIOR DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AND PRECINCTS, MONASH UNIVERSITY

DSI Liaison Managers

TBC

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 Natalie Emmerson
SENIOR MANAGER  GOVERNMENT RELATIONS,  OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY VICE-MONASH INDUSTRY COUNCIL. 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

A/Prof Sean Müller
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE, FEDERATION UNIVERSITY OF AUSTRALIA 
Ms Genevieve Reid
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, INDUSTRY RESEARCH ENGAGEMENT, INNOVATION AND ENTERPRISE, SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNIOLOGY
Dr Megan Dean 
PROJECT MANAGER (RESEARCH) , DEFENCE & MARITIME INNOVATION & DESIGN PRECINCT (DMIDP), UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
Dr Bree Nicholas
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, RESEARCH STRATEGY, POLICY & INFRASTRUCTURE, RESEARCH SERVICES, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY