Professor Giselle Rampersad is a Professor in Innovation, in the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University. She is the Program Director for the multi-award-winning Diploma of Digital Technologies which upskills employees from BAE Systems Australia, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the defence supply chain and STEM teachers. Under her leadership, the program won the Training and Mentorship Program of the Year for 2020 in the Australian Defence Industry Awards by Defence Connect, through the partnership between Flinders University and BAE Systems Maritime Australia (formerly ASC Shipbuilding). It also won the Industry Collaboration Award in 2021 at the South Australian Training Awards by the Department of Innovation and Skills/ SA Skills Commission, for the collaboration between Flinders University, BAE Systems Australia and TAFE SA.

This year, the program has reached 50% participation by women. Professor Rampersad also leads industry 4.0 research with Naval Group Pacific, on exoskeletons and machining robots, as well as research with the Australian Department of Defence and Supashock on digital twins. She has a PhD in Innovation and Technology Management from the University of Adelaide (Australia) and a Masters in Internet Systems and e-Business from Durham University (United Kingdom).

At the national level, she has been named ‘Academic of the Year for 2021’ Finalist in the Australian Defence Industry Awards by Defence Connect, with the award ceremony planned for December 2021.

Craig is a defence leader with more than 30 years of industry experience including leadership positions within the surface ship, submarine, and civil nuclear power sectors. Craig spent most of his career working with Babcock International Group holding many director roles and ultimately as Managing Director of Naval Marine in the UK, leading a team of more than 6,500 people across two naval dockyards, two naval bases, two shipbuild yards and various technology and engineering centres. His experience also extends to Australia, where he was previously the CEO of Babcock Operation’s Pacific Region, based in Adelaide. During his tenure in this role, Craig delivered significant growth and transformation to the business. Craig has held many business positions serving on the Scottish Engineering Council and Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and was an avid campaigner for the development of STEM across his industry grouping.

In his current role as Managing Director, BAE Systems Maritime Australia, Craig is responsible for leading the team that will deliver nine Hunter class frigates to the Royal Australian Navy and oversee the provision of shipbuilding capability to the Air Warfare Destroyer and Offshore Patrol Vessel programs.

The Hunter Class Frigate Program is the largest surface ship build project in Australian defence history, and is a significant first step in building world-class sovereign shipbuilding capability in Australia. Craig is responsible for BAE Systems Maritime Australia’s contribution to the Australian Government’s continuous naval shipbuilding strategy through the transfer of technology and knowledge from the United Kingdom to Australia, maximising Australian Industry Capability and developing the shipbuilding workforce for generations to come.

Craig is a Mechanical engineer and holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA). During his previous term in South Australia he a comprehensive business network across Australia which is still actively used to its full capacity in supporting the objectives of BAE Systems Maritime Australia, BAE Australia and Defence.
Craig joined BAE Systems Australia in May 2019.

Jim has 30 years’ experience in both the private and public sectors. Most recently, Jim was South Australia’s top public servant in the role of Chief Executive for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Prior to that he was the CEO of BAE Systems Australia and oversaw the purchase of Tenix Defence. Under his leadership, the company expanded to become Australia's largest defence prime, with more than 6,500 employees and annual sales of approximately AUD $1.7 billion. He then moved to Saudi Arabia where he took up the role of in-country CEO for the $6 billion business.

Jim also worked in legal, commercial and marketing roles with aerospace company Bombardier Shorts for 18 years after graduating from the University of Warwick (England).

Richard Price was appointed Defence SA Chief Executive in October 2017. In this role, he was simultaneously appointed to the position of Chief Executive of the South Australian Space Industry Centre (SASIC).

Richard has worked within the defence and public safety sectors for over 25 years and has international industry experience in leadership, business development and engineering.

Prior to joining Defence SA and SASIC, Richard led a Stockholm based business unit for Saab AB with operations in Sweden, Denmark, Australia, South Africa and the UK. The focus was the global market for communication and control room solutions.
Before moving to Sweden in 2013, Richard was Managing Director of Saab’s Australian operations.

Richard is an engineering graduate of the University of Wales (BSc Hons, 1985) and a graduate of the Melbourne Business School Advanced Management Program (2006) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (2010).

Richard is the Chair of Autism SA who help each person on the autism spectrum live the life they choose in an inclusive society.