Defence Trailblazer is pleased to announce the appointment of two new industry Defence Trailblazer Governing Board members, Mr Alan Rankins, OAM, Chair of GuardWare Australia and Ms Emily Pyke, Co-Founder of UndaTech.
Mr Rankins brings significant experience in Defence serving 21 years as systems engineer in the Royal Australian Navy and 28 years in Naval Reserves whilst holding many senior defence industry roles. Mr Rankins was a past National and NSW President for the Australian Defence Industry Network (AIDN) and still represents AIDN on the AiG Defence Security Working Group and the Hunter Defence Task Force (HDTF). Mr Rankins is passionate about Australian innovation, SMEs and capability development.
Ms Emily Pyke brings strong leadership experience as a start-up founder coupled with 12 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy. Ms Pyke is also a member of the Women in Defence Association Advisory Board. Ms Pyke is actively engaged in several Defence Trailblazer programs and is passionate and committed to supporting early-stage and small businesses in the Defence sector.
We wish to thank Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney AM (Retd), Mr Harry Hubbert, Greenroom Robotics and Dr James Palmer, Silentium Defence for their valuable contributions to the Defence Trailblazer Governing Board since 2022. Defence Trailblazer has reached several significant milestones during their time on the Board.
In late 2024, Defence Trailblazer’s Governing Board also welcomed members Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) (UNSW Sydney) and Major General Matthew Pearse, AO, Head Force Integration, Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The Board, which provides strategic oversight and advice to the Defence Trailblazer, is currently chaired by the highly respected defence industry executive Ms Christine Zeitz. Other members of the Board include:
- Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research) (University of Adelaide)
- Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) (UNSW Sydney)
- Professor Emily Hilder, Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), Defence Science and Technology Group (DST Group)
- Major General Matthew Pearse AO, Head Force Integration, Australian Defence Force (ADF).
We congratulate Mr Alan Rankins, OAM and Ms Emily Pyke on their appointments, and we look forward to working with them and the Defence Trailblazer Governing Board.
