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 Toby Murray 
DIRECTOR
Assoc. Prof Christopher Best
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Craig Butler
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT 
Charlotte Morris
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Annette McLeod
CONTRACTS AND INFORMATION OFFICER
Ansonne Yap
ADMINISTRATOR

DSI Board Members

Prof Regina Crameri (Chair)
 VICTORIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY ADVOCTE, DEFENCE COUNCIL VICTORIA BOARD MEMBER
Dr Tony Lindsay 
DIRECTOR OF LOCKHEED MARTIN ADVANCED SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES, AUSTRALIA
Dr Teresa Tufano
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEFENCE, AVIATION AND AEROSPACE,  DEPARTMENT OF JOBS, SKILLS, INDUSTRY AND REGIONS
Dr Maria Athanassenas
PROGRAM LEADER – SCIENCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, DEFENCE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY GROUP (DSTG)
Mr David Levy
MANAGING DIRECTOR, TECTONICA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
Ms Laura Anderson 
INTERNATIONAL COMPANY DIRECTOR, ENTREPRENEUR AND GLOBAL PHILANTHROPIST 
Professor Alastair Sloan
PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR, (RESEARCH COLLABORATION), THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Professor Calum Drummond AO
DEPUTY VICE  CHANCELLOR AND VICE PRESIDENT RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, RMIT UNIVERSITY

DSI Liaison Managers

Prof Rezaul Begg
PROFESSOR AND RESEARCHER, INSTITUTE HEALTH AND SPORT, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY

VU.defence@vu.edu.au

Ms Zara Hammon
MANAGER, SPACE INDUSTRY HUB AND SMARTSAT CRC VICTORIA NODE

defence&aerospace@rmit.edu.au

Dr James Mullins
DIRECTOR, DEFENCE AND SECURITY, PARTNERSHIPS/STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

james.mullins@deakin.edu.au

Prof Gayan Kahandawa Appuhamillage
PROFESSOR IN MECHATRONICS, INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY, FEDERATION UNIVERSITY OF AUSTRALIA 
Dr Katarina Tomka
PROGRAM DIRECTOR – MNSD INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE 

defence-technologies@unimelb.edu.au

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

defence@latrobe.edu.au

Dr Freyja Peters
SENIOR SPECIALIST – RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY, METALLURGY AND CORROSION CLUSTER, DEPARTMENT OF MATERIAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, MONASH UNIVERSITY

defence-research@monash.edu

Mr Mathew Clarke
SENIOR SECURITY COORDINATOR, MONASH UNIVERSITY

defence-research@monash.edu

Dr Patrick Campbell
SENIOR LECTURER, SCHOOL OF BEHAVIOURAL AND HEALTH SCIENCE, 
 AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
Dr Ashleigh Homer
RESEARCH CENTRE MANAGER, SPORT PERFORMANCE, RECOVERY, INJURY & NEW TECHNOLOGIES (SPRINT) RESEARCH CENTRE, AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY 
Dr Megan Dean 
PROJECT MANAGER (RESEARCH) , DEFENCE & MARITIME INNOVATION & DESIGN PRECINCT (DMIDP), UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
Dr Varsha Lal-Singh 
SENIOR MANAGER, CENTRE OPERATION, SIR LAWRENCE WACKETTE DEFENCE AND AERO CENTRE, RMIT UNIVERSITY 
Mr Richard Hebden

 DEFENCE SECURITY OFFICER, SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNIOLOGY
Dr Kevin Choo
TECHNICAL SPECIALIST  SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNIOLOGY