Aggy Smith

Aggy Smith is the Deputy Director, Thales Australia and New Zealand. Aggy has over 20 years of progressive experience in Global Trade Compliance Management, global logistics management and operations, skilled in distribution and process control. She possesses a high degree of integrity, and outstanding work ethic, as well as strong leadership qualities.

In her current role as the Deputy Director of Trade Compliance, she has been instrumental in developing and implementing comprehensive compliance programs, ensuring adherence to international export controls and trade sanctions. Her proactive approach to compliance has not only safeguarded her organisation against legal risks but also streamlined international operations.

As a Certified Internal Auditor Mrs. Smith also oversees audits, provides training on customs and export control issues to business stakeholders and when applicable, supports compliance investigations, and preparation of export authorisations.

She holds a Masters of Law degree from the European School of Law and Administration with a major in International Trade and Customs Law.

Kym Welsby

For over 20 years, Kym has developed, implemented and managed information security solutions for vendors and end-user organisations. Operating internationally, Kym has unique insights and experience implementing cybersecurity solutions within defence, government and aerospace industries, including multi-jurisdictional environments.

This diverse range of experience stems from founding and exiting a tech start-up to a UK-based acquirer and as Global Product Manager for an international software vendor, Clearswift, and later managing the business throughout the Asia Pacific region. As Regional Director, he was responsible for significant growth in the development of Clearswift’s information protection solutions within the Australian Department of Defence.

Kym provides strategy advisory and briefing services to Defence Industry organisations in relation to protecting classified and sensitive information and the US Department of Defense Cyber Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. Defence primes, BAE Systems Australian and Lockheed Martin engage Kym to deliver CMMC advisory services to their supply chains nationally.

Currently, Kym holds strategic advisory roles with Secure State Consultants and Australia’s global provider of information classification solutions, Janusnet.

Kirsty Braybon

Kirsty Braybon is a nuclear law expert in Australia, working as both an academic and consultant. Kirsty is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Adelaide and leads the nuclear law programme for the Adelaide Law School, focusing on nuclear-powered submarines. Kirsty also serves as the Principal of Braybon Advisory, where she offers comprehensive advisory services utilising her legal, policy, commercial and strategic expertise. Prior to this, she was the inaugural Head of Legal for the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency. In this position, she was instrumental in the formation and development of the agency, a key government body responsible for overseeing the management of Australia’s radioactive waste. In this capacity, Kirsty was an early contributor to the AUKUS program, providing advice on major project development, nuclear liability and legal risk mitigation to the AUKUS Taskforce. In addition to being an award-winning academic author, Kirsty holds a Bachelor of Law from Flinders University, a Master of Law and a Higher Degree of Research from the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Diploma of International Nuclear Law from the University of Montpellier.

Eva Galfi

Eva Galfi, Principal at International Trade Advisors, brings 25 years of experience as an international trade consultant to assisting her clients with challenging export compliance issues.

Ms. Galfi specialises in assisting Australian companies with understanding how to apply U.S. export controls, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). She also advises on creating and implementing export controls policies and procedures (TCPs), conducting risk assessments to identify compliance issues, and designing staff training.

Ms. Galfi understands the challenges multinationals face in balancing trade compliance with organisational profitability. Her clients have included companies on the Forbes 500 and ASX 20. Over the course of the past decade, Ms. Galfi has brought this experience to SMEs in the form of affordable, easy to implement compliance programs that stand up to U.S. State Department and U.S. Commerce Department scrutiny.

Dr. Tony Robinson

Tony Robinson is the Director for International Partnerships at the Australian Space Agency. Tony is responsible for developing and maintaining international space relations and agreements at the Australian Space Agency. He manages the Australian Space Agency’s engagement with international partners and leads on the negotiation of international treaties focusing on space cooperation, including the recently signed Technology Safeguards Agreement. He brings a strong focus on creating opportunities to develop Australian capability and technology with international partners, particularly in the US ecosystem. Tony has diverse experience having worked across government, academia and the private sector. He has a background in chemistry and physics and has previously worked in the biotech sector developing new pharmaceuticals. He is an author on multiple publications and holds a patent.

Catherine van der Winden

Catherine van der Winden has recently returned to SAHR Professional Services as Associate Director of the Technology and Exports Controls function, having spent the last 10 months as Senior Global Trade Controls Specialist at Boeing Australia. Catherine has over 13 years experience in the legal and commercial area, with the last 9 specialising in international export controls, particularly ITAR compliance.

Catherine brings a wealth of experience to her clients, having provided US export control advice and support across CASG and the wider Defence in policy positions as well as spending time embedded within a range of complex Defence projects. Catherine also diversified her experience by spending time working in Defence industry as an international trade/export control practitioner. Catherine has a strong passion for international export controls, in particular keeping up-to-date with legislative and regulatory reform efforts in order to help the SAHR team, government and industry clients navigate the changing landscape.

Nick Chapman

Nick is a highly experienced management consultant based in Canberra, with a diverse background in the Commonwealth and State Government spanning nearly 20 years. He is the Founder of Parbery Consulting which currently employs over 60 staff.

He has worked both as an employee and consultant, collaborating with major government departments such as the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Department of Finance, Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Taxation Office.

Nick’s core skills are in cost estimation, activity-based costing, government service costing and pricing, financial modelling, tender evaluation, NPP development and shared services policy and implementation. Nick has a deep understanding of Commonwealth financial and commercial management frameworks and is a proven relationship builder within the
Commonwealth with an extensive public sector network.

Nishi Pakkiyaretnam

Nishi Pakkiyaretnam is an accomplished cybersecurity manager with more than a decade of dedicated service in both the Department of Defence and the private
sector. With a rich background, he has successfully led the Defence Security Operations Centre (DSOC) in both domestic and deployed environments, offering strategic counsel on cybersecurity risk throughout the Defence sector.

Nishi has played a pivotal role in enhancing industry organisations by optimising their governance, compliance and security functions. Beginning his career in IT Security Management in the Public Service, Nishi transitioned to the DSOC, where he played a crucial role in advancing the security operations of Defence. Subsequently, he joined Bluerydge as a Manager, contributing significantly to supporting both industry and government in achieving their objectives while effectively mitigating cybersecurity threats.

Nishi is dedicated to continuous professional development, holding certifications from ISC2, SANS, and SABSA.

Julie Magnone

Julie Magnone is the Managing Director of Depth Logistics which specialises in the movement of equipment for the Australian Defence Force and other government agencies, as well as many Prime Contractors and SME’s.

Julie’s expertise lies in project management from small airfreight consignments through to complex logistics moves of heavy roll on/roll off (Ro/Ro) and breakbulk cargo, and is formally trained in the movement of controlled goods. Julie has over 33 years of experience in all areas of international and domestic freight forwarding and via air/sea/road/ rail, dangerous foods including EO, Customs requirements, biosecurity consultancy and project management.

She provides Consultancy and Specialist Project services in the fields of EIS (Environmental Impact Studies), Logistics Studies and Route Surveys, Maritime Security and Biosecurity Management Plans, supply chain and transport optimisation.  Julie was also recently a finalist for Lloyd’s Freight Forwarder of the Year.

David Kameniar

David is a business and security professional with a background in law and defence security advisory, as well as program and project management. Working across security engagements at De Stefano & Co, David specialises in the delivery of DISP membership attainment support and physical security uplift services.

Proficient in advising senior executives – from SMEs through to multi-nationals – on uplifting defence security within their organisations, David is a Member of the Australian Information Security Association (MAISA) and has recently completed the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight Assessment Course through TAFECyber.

Prior to joining De Stefano & Co, David spent 5 years working in various roles within the Australian Centre for Business Growth at the University of South Australia, managing the centre’s world class business growth programs focused on growing Australian SMEs. David most recently led the centre’s program operations, as well as sales and recruitment.

David has completed a double degree in Law and Business (Economics, Finance & Trade) as well as an Associate Diploma of Language and Cultural Studies, achieving written and speaking competency in French. David has also completed further legal training with a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. David will be co-presenting with his colleague Jeremy Watkinson.

Jeremy Watkinson

Jeremy is an experienced cyber security consultant with highly developed team leadership, stakeholder engagement, planning, project management, and technical skills. He is a Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) specialist, able to assist with technical security assessments for classified environments, cyber security strategy and implementation and security training. Jeremy has worked with Commonwealth and State Government, defence industry, and leading global software and cloud services providers.

As De Stefano & Co’s Head of Protective Security Services, Jeremy lives and breathes all things related to the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP), supporting clients by managing the entire DISP process, beginning with the initial gap analysis, all the way through to the submission of final documents and finally, membership attainment and ongoing compliance. In addition, Jeremy is also a Member of the Australian Information Security Association (MAISA).

Prior to specialising in cyber security, Jeremy had a long career in the Australian Defence Force and the Commonwealth Government, including management and specialist technical roles in international diplomacy, communications, trade policy, law enforcement, regulatory compliance, border security, visa processing and intelligence analysis. Many of these roles used technology as an enabler, and Jeremy has carried this passion and interest into his cyber security career.