The last few years have prompted a rapid change in technology, information and capabilities as organisations seek to accelerate their digital transformation efforts to adapt to challenging socio-economic conditions and remain competitive. Digital Engineering (DE) is reshaping the landscape of how capabilities, assets and projects are designed and managed across various industries, including defence, aerospace, cybersecurity, infrastructure, mining, construction, telecommunication and healthcare delivery. These industries are changing, and the rapid pace of the digital world has necessitated a growing need for awareness and a fundamental shift in mindset.
The National Digital Engineering Strategy (2024) paints a holistic vision for transforming how capabilities are designed, assured and delivered across all stages of capability life cycles. This initiative ensures faster innovation, enhanced system integration, and increased resilience in response to complex societal challenges.
Achieving these outcomes requires the adoption of advanced engineering practices that enhance performance, increase affordability and address current and future national security challenges. Digital Engineering (DE) is a key enabler in this transformation, providing the technical capability as well as a critical pathway for shaping the culture and workforce needed to innovate and collaborate effectively, both nationally and with allied partners.
Professor Emma Sparks is the Rector and Dean at UNSW Canberra. She has over 20 years’ experience of working within Defence and Higher Education and is particularly passionate about innovation in educational practice. As a systems engineer focused particularly on systems thinking and human systems Emma has championed the development of non- traditional routes to higher education and the importance of STEM pipelines, leading creation of the first Level 7 apprenticeship in Systems Engineering in the UK. Her early research in the UK at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), focused on human protection and performance, developing next generation soldier systems. PhD research on future soldier capability led to a long-standing relationship with DSTG in Adelaide working on the Australian Soldier Modernisation Program, part of a $35 million package to boost the Army’s combat capability. She is a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering, part of the SEBOK governing board and was a contributor to the INCOSE 2035 vision. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and was recognised as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering in the UK in 2018.
Terry is the inaugural First Assistant Secretary for Engineering, Technology and Materiel Logistics in CASG starting in September 2024. Previously he was an Air Force engineer for almost four decades and spent about 5 years in industry. Air Force roles included Senior Engineering Officer at an operational Squadron and Chief Engineer at Air Force’s Test and Evaluation Unit. As an Air Commodore he was appointed to regulate the engineering and maintenance aspects of aviation safety in the Australian Defence Force. In 2015 he was appointed as the Project Manager for Australia’s $17bn acquisition of the Joint Strike Fighter, F-35A. On leaving permanent Air Force he transitioned to industry as a Capture Director for Northrop Grumman Australia till June 2024. For fun, Terry completes Ironman (long course triathlon) races.
Lucy leads the Strategy, Planning and Performance Division which focuses on providing whole-of-government strategic leadership to the development and implementation of digital policies, the Australian Government Architecture, and the Data and Digital Government Strategy. Lucy oversees the management of the government’s digital investment pipeline to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach to government’s investment in digital and ICT. A key priority for Lucy is driving the achievement of the Australian Government’s vision to implement world class digital capabilities to deliver outstanding outcomes for all. Lucy also manages the Digital Transformation Agency’s development of policies, governance models, and assurance frameworks for the implementation and use of Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies across the Australian Public Service. Prior to joining the Digital Transformation Agency, Lucy held senior executive roles at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Public Service Commission where she led several transformation programs. Lucy has experience across a range of sectors including Australian federal and state governments, the private sector and the UK civil service.
Dr Nigel McGinty is the Chief of the Human and Decision Sciences Division. The division consists of over 290 scientists, technologists, and engineers and spans human performance, optimising decision-making, core operations analysis, modelling, simulation, and war gaming to support the design of the ADF. Dr McGinty commenced as Chief in March 2025. Prior to this position, Dr McGinty was the Chief Technology Officer of Science Strategy, Communications and International Engagement. Dr McGinty is responsible for Defence's Innovation Science and Technology Strategy, determining policy direction, and advocacy for Defence science and technology. Dr McGinty strengthened science collaboration ties with allies and key international partners in this role by leading DSTG's international. Previously, Dr McGinty led the National Security Science and Technology program, where he fostered the development of S&T across the Government to enhance Australia's national security. His other roles include Program Leader of the Integrated Force and Head of Strategy and the Joint Force Branch. Throughout his career, Dr McGinty has gained extensive experience in emerging technologies, force design, joint concepts, whole-of-force experimentation, simulation, and strategy. Dr McGinty started his career specialising in signal processing to optimize digital communications systems. Dr McGinty has received three Defence Gold Commendations, a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering from the Australian National University, and a Bachelor of Electronic Engineering from RMIT University.
Brigadier Harris is a combat engineer and proud STEM professional and brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and military experience to every role. Her technical grounding includes a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of New South Wales, and a Master’s in Science of Weapons Effects on Structures from Cranfield University. She is a graduate of the Joint Services Command and Staff College, United Kingdom, where she completed a Master’s in Defence Studies from Kings College, and most recently has relished the opportunity to study military organisational change through a Master’s in National Security and Strategy from Deakin University. A Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Australia she continues to invest in developing the future generation of leaders, through Engineers Australia, STEM Women and most recently as a mind in residence at Questacon.
Brigadier Harris’s Army service has included combat and peacekeeping experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Syria and through a wide range of command, leadership and operational roles around Australia. She was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for her efforts in leading major organisational change in 6th Combat Support Brigade. It is leading teams through change, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement that continues to drive her passion for work and people centric approach.
Jawahar Bhalla (JB) is a passionate Systems professional with 30+ years’ spanning strategic leadership roles in multi-national organisations delivering complex capabilities across sectors. He has served as president and past Technical Director of INCOSE’s Australian chapter, the Systems Engineering Society of Australia (SESA), and prior to that on the Board of Simulation Australasia (2014-2019). He is a passionate proponent and educator on the power of Systems Thinking, Modelling & Simulation as foundational enabling pillars for understanding complexity in work and life, to improve culture, and in the transdisciplinary and integrative engineering of systems for a better, safer world. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia with a BE (Aerospace, UNSW), a BSc (Computer Science, UNSW), a Master’s in Systems Engineering (UNSW@ADFA) and is a current (late career!) PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide, on an Australian government RTP scholarship with industry partner, Shoal Group, working on a Framework for the Systems Engineering and Assurance of Autonomous Systems. He has published 28 technical papers and delivered numerous presentations and tutorials on Systems Thinking, Systems Engineering, Modelling and Simulation, and was recognised in 2021 with the “Ray Page Lifetime Achievement Award” for an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Modelling & Simulation in the Australasian region.
Sondoss Elsawah is the Director of the Capability Systems Centre, a boundary organisation with the mission to connect science, engineering, policy, and industry to address complex societal problems. She is also a Professor of Engineering at the University of New South Wales, Canberra and the lead of UNSW Digital Engineering Initiative. Sondoss’ career is driven by the vision to advance and accelerate the science of knowledge integration and interdisciplinary problem-solving as a key driver for innovative solutions to systemic problems and transformative change. Her research program focuses on the design and application of collaborative and model-based problem-solving approaches to support decision-making in complex and multi-stakeholder decision contexts. She has applied her research program in many critical and high impact application areas, such as sustainable development, national security, and emerging technologies. Sondoss is a passionate educator who loves to stretch the mental models of her students to think in systems which extend beyond narrowly-defined and technically focused boundaries to a more holistic view of the social, cultural, and ethical aspects. Sondoss is a mother of two beautiful children who continuously challenge her own mental model and personify the future generations as a key stakeholder for any societal problem and its solution.
Commodore Andrew Macalister joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Midshipman in March 1996. He holds master’s degrees in National Security and Strategy, specialising in Leading Defence Capability and Policy from Deakin University, as well as Military and Defence Studies from the Australian National University. He is a graduate of both the Defence and Strategic Studies Course (2024) and the Australian Command and Staff Course (2014). His career as a Principal Warfare Officer included postings to HMA Ships Ballarat, Manoora, and Toowoomba. The highlight of his seagoing career was as the Commanding Officer of Armidale Class Patrol Boat Crew Attack Five. Ashore, he has held several appointments in capability development and staff officer roles for the senior leadership group. He has also had the privilege of serving as the ADF Liaison Officer to US Cyber Command and as the Commanding Officer of the Joint Cyber Unit. Commodore Macalister was honoured in the 2022 Queens Birthday list with a Conspicuous Service Cross for outstanding achievement in cyber capability development for the Australian Defence Force.
Barclay R. Brown is Senior Technical Fellow for AI Research at Collins Aerospace, a division of RTX. Before joining Collins, he was an engineering fellow in Raytheon Missiles and Defense, focusing on MBSE, and prior to that he was the Global Solution Executive for the Aerospace and Defense Industry at IBM. Dr. Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, two master’s degrees in psychology and business and a PhD in industrial and systems engineering. He is author of Engineering Intelligent Systems, published by Wiley, and is a certified Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) and certified Systems Engineering Quality Manager
Dr Stephen Craig is the Director of the National Energy Analysis Centre at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.
Stephen has more than 25 years of experience in applied research, strategy development and commercial innovation in systems engineering, digital technologies, and communications. Prior to joining CSIRO, Stephen led the national centre of excellence for Digital Engineering at Boeing Defence Australia, and he was Head of Strategy and Business Development at a spatial data analytics start-up.
Stephen received his PhD in climate system modelling from Stockholm University. He spent many years in Sweden in leadership roles in mobile communication systems research, development and optimisation at Ericsson before returning to Australia in 2015.
Tom McDermott is the Chief Technology Officer of the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) and a faculty member in the School of Systems and Enterprises at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. With the SERC he develops new research strategies and is leading research on digital transformation, education, security, and artificial intelligence applications. He previously held roles as Faculty and Director of Research at Georgia Tech Research Institute and as Director and Integrated Product Team Manager for the F-22 Raptor Avionics team at Lockheed Martin. Mr. McDermott teaches system architecture, systems and critical thinking, and leadership. He provides executive level consulting as a systems engineering and organizational strategy expert. He is a fellow of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and recently completed 3 years as INCOSE Director of Strategic Integration.
Philip Swadling is the Technical Director, Avionics with Thales in Australia, and is also the Deputy Technical Director of the global Thales Training & Simulation business. Philip has over thirty years’ experience in the development and technical management of defence systems projects, with the majority of that time spent in simulation and aerospace related activities. His responsibilities within Thales Australia include technical oversight of simulation and avionics activities in Australia, including Design Authority, definition of local technical strategy, managing self-funded R&D and collaboration with local SMEs and research institutions. Philip is also the Chair of Simulation Australasia, the peak body for simulation professionals in the region. Philip is an Industry Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney and an advisory board member at the Performance and Expertise Research Centre at Macquarie University. Philip is a Chartered Engineer and holds a B.E in Electrical Engineering and a B.Sc in Computer Science.
Shuzo Otani is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in sales management within the IT software industry. He has a proven record of driving organizational transformation through effective business strategy development and execution. From 2018 to 2023, Shuzo served as Country Manager of ANSYS JAPAN, where he led significant revenue growth, organizational expansion, and the transformation of business models to adapt to evolving industry needs. Prior to ANSYS, he was President and Representative Director of HIS Japan, overseeing the company’s market data analytics business, and earlier, was Japan Country Manager for webMethods, where he managed the SOA real-time system integration business. At Autodesk, Shuzo played a pivotal role in launching the Mechanical Business in Japan, contributing to the company’s growth in the region. His career also includes key positions in the engineering software sector at MSC Software and Hewlett Packard. Since 2024, he has been leading the Aerospace & Defense business for ANSYS across the Asia-Pacific region, spanning from Australia to India. In this role, he is not only responsible for promoting ANSYS solutions but also advances defense digital engineering and collaborates with both government and private sector leaders throughout the region.
Adrian Piani has worked in the infrastructure and environmental sectors for over 25 years. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
As the ACT Chief Engineer, Adrian championed sustainability and digital engineering as key areas of focus for the engineering profession, whilst delivering over $1.5 Billion worth of infrastructure.
Adrian believes in the value that infrastructure provides to underpin community benefit.
In his current role he provides leadership across GHD’s federal government portfolio across a diverse range of policy and infrastructure projects.
He is a proud Canberran.
