Speakers

Concurrent Speakers

• 

  Mr Lyndon Tilbrook

  S3 Desk Officer EMB, CASG

  Joined RAAF in 1980 and graduated as an Armament Engineering Officer in 1983.

  Various armament related postings in RAAF prior to undertaking an MSC in EO Engineering at RMCS Shrivenham, 1991. Served as TSO-AF at DOS (AOC) and as the inaugural Chief Engineer at JALO (now EMB) prior to serving as Australian Exchange Officer at DOSG in the UK, 1999-2002.

  Final posting in uniform was to bravely be the only TSO to return to DOS as the Director, 2003-06. Have worked with QinetiQ Pty Ltd since 2006, almost entirely as a senior engineer within EMB (and all its predecessors!).

  Currently the S3 Desk Officer within the Directorate of Engineering.
• 

  Mr Osama Rehman

  Graduate Engineer, QinetiQ

  I have a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from The University of Sydney, with my thesis involving the extraction and spray drying of lutein from microalgae. My role as a Graduate Explosive Ordnance Engineer at QinetiQ Australia involves supporting CASG-EMB engineering activities. I am currently working within the Directorate of Engineering to develop and review energetic material reports, conduct change management procedures for the development of a holistic energetic materials inventory, and supporting the development of an EO item comparative study.
• 

  Dr Daniel Mangos

  Science Advisor, Defence Science and Technology Group

  Daniel has completed a Bachelor of Technology in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry (2009), First Class Honors in Chemistry (2010) and was awarded a PhD in Chemistry & Nanotechnology (2017).

  Since completing his academic studies Daniel has contributed to the success of several sovereign manufacturing campaigns, involving 3D Printing of Highly Solids Loaded Energetic Materials and the Development and Characterization of Australianised Bomb Fills.

  Daniel's career in Defence started as a Researcher supporting the efforts of Australian Industry in a Cooperative Research Centres Project investigating novel 3D printed energetics. He then supported BLU series energetic materials related projects as a Contractor to Defence for the Novel Explosive Materials Discipline, within the Advanced Propulsion and Weapons Effects Branch of Defence Science and Technology Group (DST-G).

  Daniel has recently joined the APS within DST-G as a Navigate Participant, returning to the Novel Explosive Materials for a 6 month placement as a Science Advisor.
• 

  FLGOFF Nathan Widdup

  Domestic Bombs Engineer, Aerospace Explosive Ordnance Systems Program Office

  Nathan is an ARMO posted to AEOSPO as the Configured Bombs and Domestic Bombs Engineer in late 2020.

  Nathan was posted into this role following completion of ADFA in 2019. He completed Armament Engineering Specialist Officer Course in 2020.

  Nathan's primary role is the coordination of domestic bombs manufacture, including T&E planning, specification development and stakeholder engagement with the ultimate goal of certifying the new warheads in All Up Round configurations.
• 

  Mr Matt Wingrave

  Atl Regulation, UK MOD, DSA, DOSR

  Matt Wingrave works within the UK Defence Safety Authority (DSA), for the Defence OME Safety Regulator (DOSR). He is responsible for the Regulations and Guidance of UK OME Acquisition, OME storage and processing, range safety, Major Accident Control and the use of lasers and DEW systems.

  He has worked with UK OME for 30 years in areas such as Explosives Licensing, Whole Life Assessment, Demilitarisation and as a Safety Advisor for DOSG on Sea Viper and heavy weight torpedoes. He started in the MOD in 1991 as an armament fitter on Harpoon, Sea Wolf and Sea Dart Missile systems and graduated from Canfield University with a MSc in Explosives Ordnance Engineering in 2000.

  He lives in Wiltshire UK with his wife, has one grown up daughter and enjoys road cycling for leisure.
• 

  Mr Christopher Heron

  Policy Development Section Head, Canadian Department Of National Defence

  Mr Christopher Heron works in the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) Directorate of Ammunition and Explosives Regulation (DAER) as the Policy Development section head.

  He is a former Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) who completed 22 years service in the British Army before joining the CAF and serving with them until 2017. Mr Heron was acting Director DAER from Dec 2013 to Jan 2105 and is a former chairman of the NATO Munitions Safety Information Analysis Centre (MSIAC) Steering Committee.

  He is currently the chairman of sub-group C of the NATO Allied Committee 326, responsible for developing and maintaining NATO standards for in-service and operational safety management of ammunition and explosives. Mr Heron holds an MSc in Management Sciences and is a member of the Institute of Explosives Engineers.
• 

  Dr Kevin Jaansalu

  TSO Materials Technology, MSIAC

  Kevin Jaansalu joined MSIAC from the Royal Military College of Canada, where he has taught subjects in ammunition engineering, including munition design, energetic materials, material deterioration, and commercial production.

  A former aerospace engineering officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, Kevin held field positions in helicopter squadrons, including UN operations in Haiti, in a staff position for aeropropulsion R&D at National Research Council of Canada – Institute for Aerospace Research, and as faculty at the Royal Military College of Canada.

  On retirement from the military in 2005, Kevin moved to Montana Tech where he taught several courses in physical metallurgy. Kevin returned to RMC in 2009 to establish and develop ammunition engineering programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

  Kevin is a member of TMS; a founding, and senior, member of the International Ballistic Society; and a registered professional engineer in Montana and in Ontario."
• 

  Mr Donald Williams

  Managing Director, Layer 3 Services

  Donald S. Williams served as an ammunition technical officer for 20 years. He holds qualifications in Security Management, Security Risk Management as well as Project and Resource Management and is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP). He is a member of the Institute of Explosive Engineers, ASIS-International, the International Association of Protective Structures, and is a Distinguished Life Member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators. He is the author of over 140 publications relating to bomb safety and security, emergency management and related issues.
• 

  Mr Mike Manchée

  Director Technical and Engineering, Australian Munitions

  Mike Manchee is the Technical and Innovation Director for Thales' Ammunition business.

  Mike has over 22 years of defence engineering and management experience in the areas of weapons and armaments. Mike initially trained as an Armaments engineer in the Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) and has held various senior technical and management in the private sector.

  Mike holds a Master of Science (Explosive Ordnance) and Bachelor of Engineering (Metallurgy).
• 

  Mr Duncan Watt

  GM Guided Weapons, Space & Hypersonics, Thales Australia

  Duncan Watt is the General Manager, Guided Weapons, Space & Hypersonics for a Thales Ammunition business. Duncan has over 25 years of weapons and ammunition experience.

  Duncan has held roles with DSTO, CASG, industry (consulting with Qinetiq and Nova, and with Thales) and at NATO in a multinational munitions program.

  Duncan holds a Master of Business administration, Bachelor of Science (Chemistry), Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), was Project Engineering Manager for JP2086 for seven years (as a contractor to defence) and has run EO and weapons programs for over 15 years.
• 

  FLGOFF Dimitar Iliev

  Eng, AEOSPO AIR6000

  Dimitar is an Armament Engineer Officer (ARMO) posted to the Munitions Industrial Base (MIB) as Domestic Bombs Engineer in mid-to-late 2022.

  Dimitar is recent to ADF, however previous engagement in the commercial space include roles as electrical engineering, solutions engineering, reliability engineering and industrial control engineering.

  As part of his current role, Dimitar supports local MIB team and liaison with relevant SPOs, as required.
• 

  FLTLT Burentogtokh Altantsetseg

  Energetics T&E Engineer, AEOSPO CIT

  Buren is an Armament Engineer Officer (ARMO) posted to the Aerospace Explosive Ordnance Systems Program Office (AEOSPO) as the Energetics Test & Evaluation Engineer in 2020.

  Buren's previous posting were to the No. 6 Squadron (6 SQN) as the ARMO, AEOSPO as the Countermeasures Engineer and the UK Masters in Explosive Ordnance Engineering.
  As part of his current role, Buren supports AIR6000 with the BLU Domestic Manufacturing as the AEOSPO T&E liaison and the Arena Trial coordinator.
• 

  Mr Sam Bevan

  Range Trials Manager, JPEU

  Sam is a retired Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO), who left Army life to act as the Range Trials Manager at JPEU Port Wakefield. Over the last eight years he has had the joy of working with all EO SPO's and services and has worked with a wide variety of EO statically, dynamically and in unexploded and unexplained states.

  For the conduct of the BLU Domestic Manufacture program, Sam has been at various times the Trial Manager, Trial officer, Safety Officer and Emergency Response and thus has a wide variety of inputs to the process
• 

  Mr Neil McCormick

  Senior Engineer, Lloyd's Register Applied Technology Group

  Mr McCormick is a Senior Engineer in the Explosion & Fluid Dynamics Team at Lloyd's Register Applied Technology Group (Martec Ltd.) since 2012, specializing in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for high-speed compressible flows, explosion modeling and blast effects, numerical methods, software development, and high-performance computing (HPC). In his tenure at Martec,

  Mr. McCormick has served as a primary developer of engineering analysis software such as Rapid City Planner (RCP) for Extreme Events, as well as CFD tools including the next-generation Chinook (NGC) solver upon which RCP is based. In particular, Mr. McCormick has provided expert consultancy services in the areas of blast effects on structure and personnel in urban environments, as well as for specialized software capability development.

  Recently Mr. McCormick has served as technical project lead on an effort to adapt the RCP platform for storage-based risk assessments of ammunition and explosives in both domestic and expeditionary applications (AECAT).
• 

  GPCAPT Matthew Grant

  Director Ordnance Safety, Directorate Of Ordnance Safety

  GPCAPT Grant has worked extensively in Defence across the Tri-Service engineering and logistics domains, retaining strong ties to the explosive ordnance and maritime aviation communities.

  He has been employed across diverse roles including engineering and logistics management, capital acquisition, and airfield operations. He has deployed on Border Protection operations, the Annual Ordnance Inspection for Middle East operations, and as a member for an Aircraft Incident Investigation Team.

  GPCAPT Grant has been the Australian Exchange Officer within the United Kingdom's Defence Ordnance Safety Group, and has represented Australia as its Steering Committee member for the Munitions Safety Information Analysis Centre and as delegate to NATO AC/326 CNAD Ammunition Safety Group.

  Group Captain Grant is currently the Director Ordnance Safety for the Australian Department of Defence, responsible for implementing and managing Defence's Explosive Safety Regulatory Framework on behalf of the Explosive Ordnance Safety Regulator.
• 

  WGCDR Gary Gibbs

  Res Staff Officer, ADF (DOS-JLC)

  Wing Commander Gary Gibbs has complete more than 45 years' service in the Royal Australian Air Force. During this time, Gary has fulfilled in a wide range of roles ranging from staff duties associated with EO policy, licensing and inspection to operational positions that include Air Command Targets Chief and Director Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (CIED) during his deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. Gary was the Commanding Officer of the Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School prior to transferring from permanent duty to active reserve in 2018. He now provides his services to the Directorate of Ordnance Safety in the role of a Technical Staff Officer.
• 

  Dr Burkhard Krumm

  Senior Researcher, Ludwig-Maximilians University Of Munich

  Received PhD in Chemistry from the University of Wuppertal/Germany in 1991 under the supervision of Prof. Hans Bürger in Inorganic Fluorine Chemistry.

  In 1992 then joined the group of Prof. Jean'ne M. Shreeve at the University of Idaho/USA as a post-doctoral fellow and further as research associate, working mainly on fluorine and nitrogen chemistry.

  During this period he obtained also the green-card. Nevertheless, in 1997 accepted the offer for a civil servant position at the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich in the group of Prof. Thomas Klapötke. Scientific interests cover the area of synthesis and characterization, among also hetero-nuclear NMR spectroscopy, of nitrogen-containing materials.

  Published close to 200 scientific papers and has given presentations at world-wide international conferences.
• 

  Mr Rhys Centin

  Project Engineer, Thornton Tomasetti

  Rhys Centin has worked within the Navy Engineering community over the past 5 years, having worked within Directorate of Navy Engineering (DNE) from 2018 until 2022, when he joined Thornton Tomasetti as a Project Engineer in the Applied Sciences domain.

  Rhys has experience in modelling air blast, S3 assessments of EO, propellant manufacture, and requirements engineering for maritime projects.

  Whilst Rhys was at DNE, he stood up a modelling and simulation capability which sought to use computational fluid dynamic modelling as a quantitative risk assessment tool, to characterise the impact of an EO-related incident on a warship whilst alongside in harbour.
• 

  Mr Matthew Ferran

  TSO Munition Systems, Munitions Safety Information Analysis Center (MSIAC)

  Matt Ferran joined MSIAC in November 2018 as the Technical Specialist Officer for Munition Systems. He holds Master's Degrees in Chemistry (from University of Nottingham, UK) and Explosive Ordnance Engineering (from Cranfield University, UK).

  Prior to joining MSIAC Matt worked for the UK MOD for 10 years in the Defence Equipment & Support organization (DE&S), working in a variety of posts related to munitions safety; this time included a secondment to the Australian DoD, where he worked in the Directorate of Ordnance Safety.

  Matt's current professional interests include the different approaches to munition S3 assessment among the NATO member nations; the influence of health and safety legislation on national attitudes towards risk tolerance; and the effects of thermal radiation on the human body, as a consequence of incidents involving HD1.3 munitions.
• 

  Mr Gilles Belley

  Director Ammunition and Explosives Regulation, Department of National Defence (Canada)

  Mr. Gilles Belley is a 1992 graduate of the Royal Military College at Saint-Jean. He has served in a variety of assignments as an aerospace engineering officer within the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), most notably as the Ammunition Technical Officer supporting Air and Navy stores, as the Armament Officer and subsequently a Squadron Deputy Commanding Officer at 3 Wing Bagotville, and as the Weapon System Manager and Senior Technical Engineering Officer for the RCAF's CF-188 Hornet fleet.

  In 2008, Mr. Belley transferred from the RCAF to the public service where he managed the Department of National Defence's Unexploded Explosive Ordnance and Legacy Sites Program.

  In 2015, Mr. Belley was appointed as the Director, Ammunition and Explosives Regulation where he is currently responsible for regulating ammunition and explosives within the Department of National Defence.
• 

  Mr Colin Nelson

  Specialist Engineer, Capability Acquisition And Sustainment Group

  1. Colin started his engineering career in 2006 at an acoustics, vibrations and structural dynamics
  consultancy.

  2. Colin joined the public service in 2008 and was a founding member of the Land Platform Development Program (LPDP) when that group was stood up in 2009. In the years since he:
  a) Developed and delivered The Commonwealth's 'whole vehicle' mine blast modelling capability using explicit Finite Element Analysis,
  b) Participated in the physical mine blast testing of vehicles,
  c) Developed operationally urgent engineering solutions to the armoured fleet,
  d) Designed and / or aided in the development of numerous mine blast test rigs,
  e) Undertook the numerical optimisation of mine blast seating to reduce spinal injury,
  f) Invented and optimised the PMV Rear Hull Reinforcement,
  g) Spent nine years in the ARes (RAE) as a General Service Officer, and
  h) Is currently leading LEA's advancement in assessment procedures for hearing protectors and impulsive noise exposure.

  3. Colin is currently the Senior Specialist Engineer – Survivability Systems within the Directorate of Specialist Engineering, LEA.
• 

  Mr Shlomo Mor Yosef

  Project Manager, Rafael

  Has worked at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. since 2008 as the production manager at the energetic materials mix and cast plant.

  Since 2018 he has led RAFAEL's international technology transfer branch for explosive components, including rocket motors and warheads.
• 

  Dr Eyal Bittoun

  Senior Researcher, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd

  Has worked at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. since 2010 as a senior researcher and engineering lead in energetic materials.
  Since 2017 he has served as the R&D Head Section of explosives and minimum-smoke propellants
• 

  Mr Billy Durrant

  Director Program And Design Management, Aecom Australia

  Billy is a chartered civil engineer with 18 years' experience as an Officer in the Australian Army who has managed a number of complex projects, both in Australia and overseas.

  He joined AECOM two years ago and is the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory Defence lead. Within AECOM, Billy has developed a capability program that focuses on the company's approach to the delivery of explosive ordnance facilities. He is responsible for the integration of internal disciplines and external sub-consultants in the delivery of safe solutions.

  He is the current Project Director for AECOM's design of the template Earth Covered Building and for the review of eDEOP Section 6.
• 

  Mr Yuh Sheng Tay

  Deputy Head (Explosive Facilities), Defence Science & Technology Agency, Singapore

  Tay Yuh Sheng is currently the Deputy Head (Explosive Facilities) with Defence Science & Technology Agency, Singapore.

  He has worked with the development and safety review of explosive facilities for more than 10 years. His past work ranged from ammunition storage facilities, process buildings and ranges.
• 

  Mr Kenneth Stowe

  Graduate Engineer, QinetiQ

  Kenneth Stowe is a Graduate EO Engineer within Explosive Materiel Branch, with a focus on electro-explosive hazards pertaining to electrically initiated ordnance items used within the ADF and their associated hazard assessments.

  Kenneth completed his Honours thesis in the field of RF. More specifically, he used horn antennas to measure and monitor a person's heart rate from a distance.

  Kenneth began his career as an Electrical Engineer in mid-2021, transitioning into the Defence sector in October of 2021. His studies and prior experience paved the way for the transition into the Defence sector and to apply his knowledge of RF and electromagnetic radiation to RADHAZ to ordnance.

  Since then, he has undergone extensive training, whilst developing his skills and knowledge in order to positively contribute to the industry. Furthermore, he has utilised this knowledge to deliver continuation training sessions on electro-explosive hazards to bolster the knowledge of Defence personnel.
• 

  Mr Thinus Neethling

  EEH & Fuzes Desk Officer, EMB, Directorate of Engineering

  Thinus graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Stellenbosch University and started work as an RF/Microwave Development Engineer at SAAB Avitronics in 2001. His research on 2-18 GHz limiting amplifiers resulted in an MScEng degree in Electronics Engineering in 2004, from Stellenbosch University. In 2006 Thinus transitioned to SAAB Grintek Antennas as R&D Manager - Commercial Products.

  After emigrating from South Africa in 2008 he worked as a Higher Senior RF Design Engineer and as Engineering Manager at Kaelus. In December 2012, Thinus started work as a Senior RF Design Engineer at Micreo, a Brisbane-based company that specialises in microwave and photonics products.

  At QinetiQ Australia, Thinus was earmarked in 2015 to step into the role of Electro-Explosive Hazards Desk Officer for EMB.

  Over more than 7 years, Thinus has become known as an SME within this specialised field of Explosive Ordnance Engineering.
• 

  Mr Michael Hayes

  Electro-Explosive Hazards / Software Assurance Desk Officer, Directorate of Engineering / Explosive Materiel Branch

  Michael Hayes graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from James Cook University of North Queensland in 1986 and began working as an Experimental Scientist with the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) radiotelescope project.

  In 2009 Michael joined Triasx (later Kaelus) in Brisbane QLD and worked as a Senior RF Design Engineer designing RF test equipment for Australian and International telecommunication companies.

  In 2015 Michael returned to CSIRO as a Senior Systems Engineer working on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radiotelescope project as a member of the Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) Consortium.

  Michael joined Qinetiq in 2020 as a Senior Consultant and became the Electro-Explosive Hazards (EEH) and Software Assurance (SWA) Desk Officer for the Explosive Materiel Branch (EMB). Over the last two years Michael has liaised with ADF engineers to conduct EEH and SWA assessments on various Explosive Ordnance (EO) and Guided Weapon (GW) systems.
• 

  Mr Eelko van Meerten

  Rheinmetall

  Eelko van Meerten is working over 25 years in the field of Medium Caliber Ammunition – supporting development programs and platform integration. For almost 15 years, Eelko is now working for RWM Schweiz AG, being Rheinmetall's Centre of Excellence for Medium Caliber Ammunition. Example of Eelko's activities is the development, qualification and certification of the IM 25mm FAP (PGU48/A) for use in the F-35.
• 

  Mr Martin Melan

  Rheinmetall Consortium

  Martin Melan is working over 25 years within the Rheinmetall Consortium, covering as Project Manager topics in field of Indirect Fires and as Product Manager working on the whole portfolio of Medium Calibre Ammunition. The latter role involves activities of Portfolio Management and (Supply Chain) Strategies.
• 

  Mr Tim Hutchin

  Operations Manager, Pentarch

  Tim has 40 years of experience in weapons/explosives across a wide range of areas in Defence. He is currently the Operations Manager at Pentarch Pty Ltd.

  Tim completed 20 years service as an armourer with the RAAF, culminating in managing the RAAF explosive test facility. After leaving the RAAF, Tim worked for 10 years in weapons engineering consulting to Defence on weapons-related tasks. Highlights included being awarded engineering authority (design development level) for all non-guided explosive ordnance (EO) in ADF service and writing and managing the test program for introduction of an artillery round to the ADF.

  Since 2012, in his current position with Pentarch, Tim and has developed new methodologies for disposal of EO. The focus being on on equipment, including robotics and automation, that increases safety to personnel, reduces the environmental impact of and maximises recycling from the disposal of ADF and commercial EO.
• 

  Mr Warren Miller

  EMB DENG, Software Assurance Desk Officer

  Warren Miller has 32 years of defence industry experience as a software and systems engineer. He has worked on F/A-18(A) Classic Hornet, S-70B-2 Seahawk, SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite, I-View 250 Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), AEW&C E-7A Wedgetail, Vigilare Air Battle Management System (ABMS) and Currawong Integrated Battlefield Telecommunication Network (I-BTN) programs for several Defence contractors in a range of engineering related roles including software safety assurance. He is currently the Software Assurance Desk Officer within CASG EMB DENG.
• 

  DP Mark Stewart

  Director, Centre For Built Infrastructure Research, UTS

  Mark G. Stewart is Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of the Centre for Built Infrastructure Research at the University of Technology Sydney.

  He is the author of 5 books including Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Engineering Systems; and Engineering for Extremes: Decision Making in an Uncertain World, as well as more than 500 technical papers and reports. He has over 35 years of experience in probabilistic risk and vulnerability assessment of infrastructure and security systems that are subject to man-made and natural hazards.

  Since 2004, Professor Stewart has received continuous Australian Research Council support to develop probabilistic risk-modelling techniques for infrastructure subject to military and terrorist explosive blasts and cost-benefit assessments of protective measures for critical infrastructure. Professor Stewart is the Chief Investigator of collaborative explosives field testing and ballistics performance programs with the Australian Defence Force.
• 

  Ms Julie Green

  Blast And Ballistic Engineer, GHD

  Julie has worked in the field of blast and ballistics for the last 20 years, firstly as an officer in the Corps of Engineers (RAE) and then as a design consultant.

  She has worked on many indoor ranges including Defence Indoor Test Fire Facilities across Australia, 100 m Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MilVehCoe) range, limited danger area barracks ranges, police training facilities in Victoria and Queensland, and recently 360 indoor ranges in the Northern Territory and Urban Training Facilities in Central Queensland.

  Her work has involved designing for up to 35 mm rounds down to small arms training ammunition. Each project has had unique challenges, involving ventilation, acoustics, ballistic treatments and environmental leading to specific lessons learnt.
• 

  Mrs Christelle Collet

  Technical Specialist Officer, MSIAC NATO

  2002: Graduated from ENSMA engineer school, in Poitiers, France.

  2002 – 2003: Engineer at CNES (National Centre for Space studies) in Evry, France

  2003 - 2017: Research Scientist in the Detonics & Safety Laboratory of ArianeGroup's Research Center, in Vert le Petit - Le Bouchet, France. In charge of experimental studies and projects related to explosives performance, IM tests, and propulsion.

  Since 2017: TSO in Propulsion Technology at MSIAC – NATO HQ, Brussels.
• 

  Mr Scott Genta

  Director Of Southwest Operations, Safety Management Services, Inc.

  Scott is a founding partner with Safety Management Services, Inc. (SMS). Scott is a Chemical Engineering with over 28 years in the hazardous materials and explosives industries.

  Scott has worked with many companies globally, performing risk assessments on Explosive Ordinance (EO) processes. Scott also speaks several times per year at various Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) symposiums.

  SMS is an engineering firm that specializes in performing explosives characterization testing and applying risk management methodology to a wide variety of energetic and hazardous material processes. SMS is also approved by the US Department of Transportation to conduct and witness testing to assign shipping classifications for explosive substances and articles.
• 

  Mr Brett Taylor-Parkins

  Health & Safety Manager, NIOA

  Brett completed 21 years in the Australian Army, finishing his career as an Ammunition and Bomb Technician. During this time Brett was involved in UN Packaging trials at Woomera, the Sydney 2000 Olympics as a Bomb Technician and Explosive Ordinance Storage, Management and Disposal. For the last 20 years Brett has worked in numerous manufacturing positions at the Benalla facility, from Product Development, Emergency Management and Explosive Safety Management and Training. Combining his and the Benalla teams broad industrial experience, their explosives manufacturing experience and EO handling/ management/ destruction experiences, has empowered NIOA to transition into EO manufacturing at Benalla.
• 

  Dr Chad Prior

  Discipline Lead, Defence Science And Technology Group

  Dr Chad Prior is discipline leader at Defence Science and Technology Group in the area of Propulsion Technology Integration and Assessment.

  He has 10 years' experience in the areas of propulsion chemistry, explosives safety and the testing of propulsion systems.
• 

  Dr.ir. Richard Bouma

  Senior Research Scientist, TNO

  Richard Bouma studied applied physics and chemical technology. He has more than 25 years of experience in energetic materials and munitions and works at The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).

  He was the Dutch representative in the NATO AC/326 group on energetic materials, performed accident investigations, qualification of energetic materials, etc. He is now working in the field of pyrotechnics, reactive materials and is involved in risk assessment studies.
• 

  Msc. Hugo Dijkers

  Senior Scientist, TNO - Unit Defence, Safety And Security

  Currently Hugo is working as senior scientist and team lead Explosions and Infrastructure Protection (part of the TNO research group Explosions, Ballistics and Protection).

  He is an expert in the area of explosives safety and risk analysis, focusing on risks involved with the storage, transshipment and transport of munitions and explosives, and advising on mitigating these risks.

  Currently he is the Technical chair of the Klotz Group, an international expert group on explosives safety and explosion effects (numerical) modelling. He is actively involved in NATO AC 326 Subgroup C, together with Dutch MoD, to develop munition storage safety guidelines, for example for munition aboard navy ships. In the Netherlands, Hugo is involved in developing National policies on matters related to explosives safety, ranging from lightning protection to safety of personnel.
• 

  Mr Thomas de Prinse

  PhD Candidate, University Of Adelaide

  Thomas de Prinse is a final year PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide, where he is researching techniques for stand-off explosives detection using high-powered lasers.

  His laboratory at the University of Adelaide is run by Professor Nigel A. Spooner and focuses on developing advanced optical sensing techniques to solve challenges in defence, mining and space.

  Thomas recently presented some of his PhD work on explosives detection at the New Trends in Research of Energetic Materials conference (NTREM 2022) in the Czech Republic. In 2021,

  Thomas undertook an internship at DST Edinburgh, designing and building an experimental set-up to further study the interactions of lasers and explosives at a scale larger than the University could allow.
• 

  Mr Lewis Quill

  Test Engineer, Joint Proof And Experimental Unit

  Lewis is an Electrical Engineer at Proof and Experimental Establishment Graytown. He has been working in the field of small arms testing for three years now, first working in Data Acquisition then Test Engineering.

  Lewis is a developing young engineer who is passionate about explosive ordinance safety; he has made significant contributions to improving quality at Graytown.
• 

  Dr Peter Teague

  Principal Acoustic Consultant, Vipac Engineers & Scientists

  Dr. Peter Teague is a principal acoustic consultant, adviser and project manager in occupational (OHS/WHS) and environmental acoustics, based at Vipac Engineers & Scientists Ltd, Brisbane.

  He has over 28 years' experience managing major occupational/workplace noise assessment projects for Defence, other government agencies and major industries. He provides expert acoustic advice on noise management plans and exposure reduction plans.

  Peter has performed high level occupational noise exposure studies in the Defence, aircraft, ship, vehicle and industrial sectors, and has developed a robust occupational noise management system across the whole of Defence. He has been an expert witness at Court hearings, and Parliamentary and State Planning hearings.

  Peter has been directly involved developing Government guidelines and policies and Australian and International Standards for over 20 years. He is a member of the Standards Australia AV-001 Noise Committee, and is Australia's expert representative on the International ISO Working Groups for Noise.
• 

  Ms Serena Cherian

  Engineering Systems Engineer, Explosive Materiel Branch

  Serena Cherian works in the Directorate of Engineering (DENG)within the Explosive Materiel Branch in Brindabella Business Park.

  Her role as the engineering systems engineer consists of managing the engineering management system used in EMB and the desk officer team in DENG.
• 

  Mr Martin Jennings

  Desk Officer, Hazardous Materials & Environment, Department Of Defence

  Martin Jennings is an Occupational Hygienist with over 40 years experience in government, and in the nuclear, chemical, mining and defence industries. He is a Past President of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists. He was the Senior Occupational Hygienist in the Department of Defence for 11 years and joined QinetiQ in September 2020.
• 

  Dr Nathan Stanley

  Research Scientist (Contractor), Defence Science and Technology Group

  Dr Nathan Stanley is a contract research chemist working within the Missile and Space Propulsion group at DSTG.

  He has experience in synthetic organic chemistry, analysis, and materials science. He also has a broad interest in advanced manufacturing technologies and innovation.
• 

  Mr Joel Huf

  Energetic Systems Engineer, Defence Science and Technology Group

  After completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree, Joel Huf has worked in several roles since 2011, characterising a variety energetic materials including gun and rocket propellants, pyrotechnics and explosives. In his current role as an Energetic Systems Engineer at Defence Science and Technology Group, Joel focuses primarily on developing test methodologies for the characterisation of materials for use in solid rocket motors. Joel has also served part-time in the ADF as a Combat Engineer since 2009.
• 

  Mr Jason Anglberger

  Mechanical Engineer, Defence Science And Technology Group

  Jason completed his Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) in 2020, where he first applied Finite Element Methodology to the behaviour of polymer structures. He has previously worked in the private sector in the weapons domain, and is now applying his experience to the problem of analysing rocket propellant structural integrity.
• 

  Mr Mark Ashcroft

  Desk Officer Energetic Materials And Lifing, Explosive Materiel Branch - Capability Acquisition And Sustainment Group

  In 2004, Mark started work in QinetiQ's Weapon Life Assessment business in the UK. At this time, he was hands on in energetic materiel evaluation and research activities, which resulted in the production of a number of open publications. In parallel and over the next 15 years, he acted as a Technical Lead responsible for the delivery of weapon Breakdown, Test and Critical Analysis programs. These investigative test and evaluation programs were on many different weapon systems, from small arms to guided weapons, and at every stage of the weapons life cycle. In 2012, with the aim to achieve more strategic focus to research, Mark took on a position in the Weapon Science Technology Centre where he was part of the Research Planning Team. Since January 2019, Mark took on the position of EMB Desk Officer for Energetic Material and Lifing (EM&L). In this role, Mark is responsible for the provision of expert advice in support of Navy, Air Force, Army and Munitions Industrial Base programs. Mark provides guidance to technical staff on the whole life assessment of munitions, advises on the development of test programs, acts as a mentor for more junior personnel and regularly delivers training packages to technical multi-disciplinary audiences. In this position, Mark has Engineering Authority for all EM&L aspects. This entails the review, approve and release of documentation within an Engineering Management System.
• 

  FLTLT Nick Fraser

  MAWPO Engineer, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group

  FLTLT Nick Fraser is an Armament Engineer currently working in Explosive Materiel Branch in Canberra.

  FLTLT Fraser is passionate about innovation and has been working with EDGY AF since 2020 to encourage ADF members to think innovatively and responsibly challenge the status quo.
• 

  SQNLDR Joel McGrath

  Technical Staff Officer - Air Force, Directorate Of Ordnance Safety

  SQNLDR Joel McGrath joined the Air Force as an undergraduate in 2008, studying Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Queensland. Following graduation, he was posted to 76SQN as the Armament Engineering Officer. His follow on postings to RAAF Guided Weapons Support Program Office (SPO) and Air Combat & Electronic Attack SPO saw him providing direct support to units rotating through OP OKRA operational deployments.

  Joel was then selected to complete a Masters of Explosive Ordnance Engineering at Defence College Shrivenham in the UK, enjoying travelling prior to COVID-19! His experience and qualification saw him return to the Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School as the Armament Engineering Officer Instructor.

  Joel was then promoted into the role of Senior Engineer at Aerospace EO SPO, leading a team of engineers to manage Non-Guided EO. He is currently posted to the Directorate of Ordnance Safety as the Technical Staff Officer - Air Force .
• 

  SQNLDR Michael Netherton

  Airfield Engineer, RAAF

  A Structural Engineer with research interests in explosive blast loads, structural response to dynamic loads, and risk assessments of the same.
• 

  CAPT Jacqui King, RAN

  Executive Director EATR Task Force, Defence - Joint Logistics Command

  Jacqui King is a Chemical Engineer (1986) having qualified at the then Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology while serving in the Royal Australian Air Force.

  In 1987 Jacqui transferred to the Royal Australian Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Engineering Officer and in 1989 completed a Masters of Science in Explosive Ordnance Engineering at the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham, England.

  Over the past 39 years Jacqui King has fulfilled significant safety posts within Navy and Defence. Postings have included Director Navy Weapons Systems, twice Director Ordnance Safety, Director General Navy Certification and Safety, Director General Explosive Ordnance and the Defence Explosive Ordnance Safety Regulator.

  While posted to the United Kingdom (2003 to 2005) Jacqui represented Australia on the NATO Munitions Safety Information Analysis Centre (MSIAC) Steering Committee and the NATO Ammunition Safety Group. From October 2006 to October 2008 she was chair of the MSIAC Steering Committee.

  Jacqui is currently the Executive Director of the Explosives Act Thematic Review Task Force.

  Along the way Jacqui has also added an MBA and a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies to her qualifications.

  Jacqui transferred to the Naval Reserves in Feb 2017.
• 

  Mr Philip Jones-Hope

  Partner, KPMG

  PJ is the head of the Government & Defence practice of KPMG law, as well as leading the Canberra KPMG law practice. He is a legislative and regulatory reform specialist with extensive experience in the provision of advice for the review and reform of existing complex, multi-jurisdictional legislation. PJ also has extensive experience in Defence and Defence Industry having engaged with a number of multi-year Defence Transformation Legislative Projects.
• 

  Ms Jennifer Wilson

  Director, KPMG

  Jennifer is a Director in KPMG Law and has a multidisciplinary background as a lawyer and policy advisor. Jennifer has approximately 20 years' experience working with Australian Government agencies in the areas of policy development and program management, and for the past five years has provided external legal services to Commonwealth clients specifically in the area of corporate law, administrative law, and dispute resolution. Jennifer combines her knowledge of government services with legal acumen to offer pragmatic legal solutions to assist Government entities overcome complex problems.
• 

  Mr Imran Shaik

  Senior Engineer, ACOR Consultants

  Imran Shaik is a Charted Professional Engineer (CPEng) with a Master of Engineering Degree in Mechatronics. Imran has more than 15 years of experience working as an Explosives and Dangerous Goods consultant in various sectors, including the Department of Defence. He has completed projects for Defence, working as an Explosive Ordnance (EO) consultant, to provide compliance advice, safety solutions and guidance for different types of EO storage and handling areas as per eDEOP101. In addition to the EO, Imran has a diverse range of experience in fuel infrastructure, dangerous goods, hazardous areas, design, formulation of risk assessment, inspections, and audits for a wide range of industry sectors. Imran acts as a National Lead for the Energy Discipline within ACOR and provides specialist services to the Department of Defence in Fuel and EO areas.
• 

  Mr Darren Taylor

  National Sector Lead - Defence, ACOR Consultants

  Darren has over 30 years' experience in hazardous facilities construction and consulting. He brings expertise in Joint Logistics Command, Defence Fuel Supply Chain Safety Management, Explosive Ordnance risk consulting, program planning and delivery.

  Darren has been part of the Defence Fuel Transformation Program since 2019, collaborating with Joint Logistics Command, Fuel Services Branch to Deliver a SAFER, SIMPLER and ASSURED Defence Fuel Network PARTNERED WITH INDUSTRY.

  Darren will bring the expertise and knowledge from the Defence Fuel Supply Chain that can be adopted for the safe storage and handling of Explosive Ordnance to reduce risks to acceptable and managed levels.
• 

  Mr Chow Tat Tan

  Head Conventional Munitions, Ammunition Command, Singapore Armed Forces

  Chow Tat was enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as an Army Engineer in 2013. His previous appointment includes Staff Officer in Explosive Safety Branch, overseeing safety compliance of explosive sites and performing Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA). He was also the Deputy Officer Commanding in Underground Ammunition Facility (UAF), providing operational support by delivering safe and quality munition to operational units. In 2018, he took on the role as the Officer Commanding for Paya Lebar Ammunition Depot, managing several ammunition sites to support Operational and Training requirements. In 2020, he was also appointed the Chief Safety Officer for Fireworks Committee to support National Day Parade 2020, where his team planned and launched fireworks from ten sites concurrently across the country for the first time.

  In 2021, he went on to study Master of Defence Technology and Systems (MDTS) in National University of Singapore (NUS) and Master in Explosive Ordnance Engineering (EOE) in Cranfield University, UK. Upon completion of his double Masters, he took on the appointment of Section Head for Conventional Munitions Section, overseeing acquisition, providing engineering support, and reviewing product design to support the SAF. His article on "Sustainable Ammunition" was published in the Journal of Institute of Explosives Engineers (IEE) in Sep 2022.
• 

  MAJ Roger Brinkworth

  Technical Staff Officer, Army - Directorate Of Ordnance Safety

  Major Brinkworth is the Army Technical Staff Officer at the Directorate of Ordnance Safety, Explosive Ordnance Branch. He provides policy and specialist advice to ensure Defence guided weapons and explosive ordnance are safe and suitable for service.

  MAJ Brinkworth is a Chartered Professional Engineer with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Masters in Explosive Ordnance Engineering and a background in Land weapon and vehicle systems.
• 

  Mr Dennis Nothdurft

  Digital Transformation Manager, Thales EO Services

  Dennis Nothdurft served for almost 13 years in the RAAF as an Armament Officer, after graduating from the Defence Academy with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering. Upon leaving the Air Force in September 2004, Dennis joined Novare Professional Services, being appointed as its Chief Engineer in 2006.

  He continued in the role of Chief Engineer following QinetiQ's acquisition of Novare in 2008. Dennis joined Thales Explosive Ordnance Services in 2013, where he held the role of Technical Manager for almost 5 years. In mid-2020, Dennis assumed the role of Digital Transformation Manager, to lead the EO Services 4.0 project to create a customer-focussed EO supply chain powered by data and digital technology.

  Dennis is also the EO Services representative on the Thales Explosives Safety Committee. He holds a Masters Of Science in Aerosystems Engineering from Loughborough University, and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
• 

  Mr Choon Keat Lee

  Senior Engineer, Defence Science and Technology Agency

  Mr. Lee Choon Keat is currently a Senior Engineer in the Defence Science and Technology Agency of Singapore. He holds a BEng in Civil Engineering from the National University of Singapore, and a MSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University (USA).

  Choon Keat is part of the Building and Infrastructure Programme Centre which pushes the boundaries of protective technology, design innovation, data analytics, environmental sustainability design to develop large-scale operational and administrative facilities for Singapore's defence platforms and personnel.

  Combining digital technology with creativity in design, construction and management, Choon Keat and his team deliver resilient and smart defence infrastructure to the Singapore Armed Forces.