Revolving Doors

Duncan Lewis

Duncan Lewis

ASIO | Military | Revolving Doors

Just five months after ending his five-year term as head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Lewis joined the board of the Australian arm of Thales, one of the world’s top ten weapons-makers.

Current Positions

Board member, Thales Australia (21.2.20–present)

Previous Positions

Military positions

  • Australian Army (1975–2005), commanded at all levels, including command of Special Air Service Regiment, culminating in appointment as Major General, Special Operations, commanding Australian special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan
  • Army officer training, Royal Military College, Duntroon (19721975)

Departmental positions

  • Director-General of Security, Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Department of Home Affairs (15.9.1415.9.19)
  • Secretary, Department of Defence (5.9.1110.10.12). Lewis was the first former military officer to be appointed Defence Secretary.
  • National Security Adviser (inaugural), Associate Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Dec 2008–Sep 2011)
  • Deputy Secretary, National Security and International Policy Group, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2005-2008)
  • First Assistant Secretary, National Security Division, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2005)

Diplomatic positions

  • Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (late 2012–Sep 2014)

Other Positions

Chair of the board and Professor in the Practice of National Security, National Security College, ANU (June 2021 – Present)*

*11.3.20 emailed NSC for dates of term on board; awaiting reply

Brothers-in-Arms: the high-rotation revolving door between the Australian government and arms merchants

Related Items

19.12.19 “The breadth of [Lewis’s] experience in senior national security positions in Australia is unique in our country’s modern history,” Allan Gyngell, national president, Australian Institute for International Affairs, introducing Lewis on AIIA podcast

11.9.19 “Proximity to the head of government [as NSA] was the experience of a lifetime. I had the opportunity to meet with kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, bishops and billionaires.” Duncan Lewis, IPAA valedictory speech

James is studying a bachelor of Communication (Journalism) at the University of Technology Sydney. He is a producer at 2SER radio and contributor at UTS’s Central News.

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