KRISTIAN HOWARD 

CHAIR

Kristian Howard is the Australian Director of Delivery for PentenAmio

He leads the creation, deployment and support of innovative technology solutions to turn complex national security challenges into practical results. For 25 years he’s delivered new communications and cyber capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), US Department of Defense (DoD), NATO and Australian industry partners—balancing cost, schedule and sovereign industry growth. He is a founding executive of Penten (now PentenAmio) and currently leads multidisciplinary teams for the Australian Delivery Unit for secure-mobility platforms, AI-driven cyber defence and electronic deception solutions. In 9 years, the company has grown to 300 employees across Australia and the UK, and a growing customer base across Allied nations.

Kristian also serves as a Director and Treasurer on the Certa Cito Foundation (CCF), a registered Australian charity dedicated to caring, connecting and commemorating our vibrant Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) community.

Kristian is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), holds a Master of Systems Engineering, a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems (Honours) and a range of industry certifications.

BRENDAN HENNESSY

TREASURER

Brendan Hennessy is Sales Manager, DXC Technology and current ADIESA Board Member

Brendan Hennessy is a Sales Manager with DXC Technology Australia working across Defence and National Security. In 2022 Brendan was invited to become a non-executive board member for ADIESA and has actively participated to help the board achieve the ADIESA mission throughout 2023 and is looking forward to continuing his involvement in 2024.

Previously Brendan was a business development manager at Thales Australia, working to deliver mission critical information systems capability. His journey with Thales Australia started in 2012 as the Engineering Manager for the Generation 1 Deployable Local Area Network capability and other Command & Intelligence systems with his role transitioning over time into Program Management and subsequently into Business Development.

Brendan started his career in the information, cyber and electronic domain when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 2002 as an Officer Cadet. He went on to serve 10 years in the RAAF as a Communications and Information Systems engineer with postings to No. 1 Combat Communications Squadron (1CCS), Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) and with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) on Project AIR5418. He deployed to the middle east on OP SLIPPER in 2007 as the Officer in Charge of Communications for Task Group 633.2.

Brendan holds an MBA from the International University of Bad Honnef, a Diploma of Project Management and a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) from UNSW.

ELLA KELL

SECRETARY

Ella Kell is the Chief Technology Officer for Defence & Intelligence at Dell Technologies Australia. 

Ella is driven by her belief that technology saves lives, particularly in Defence and National Security sectors. She works closely with partners in these areas to develop and realise strategies for edge compute through to cloud, secure data and infrastructure fabrics, AI and ML implementation, and cyber threats. Ella has held a range of engineering, enterprise software delivery, and business development positions across Research, Defence Industry, and National Security in Australia and Europe. Ella holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (1st class), specialising in mechatronics and systems, and a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University. She is passionate about encouraging participation in STEM from school students to young professionals, with an emphasis on Australia’s Defence and National Security domain.

COLIN COOPER

BOARD MEMBER

Colin Cooper is General Manager of Bravo Zulu Professional.

Colin has a unique breadth of experience in the Australian Defence and Defence Industry environment. His broad command, operational and staff experiences during a 25 year Naval career have been significantly augmented by senior executive roles in leadership positions in a number of large European, Japanese and US international Defence and ICT companies.

Mr. Cooper has a strong track record of leadership in defence and industry relationships and project, program, and organisational transformation and change management.

Mr. Cooper earned a BSc in Multidiscipline Physics, Computing and Electronics from Monash University, a Diploma of Applied Science in Maritime Studies from the University of NSW, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Satellite Communications from Melbourne University. He is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

KARISSA LANCASTER

BOARD MEMBER

Karissa Lancaster is a Business Development Manager at Boeing Defence Australia

Karissa Lancaster is a Business Development Manager at Boeing Defence Australia (BDA), where she leads teams to capture new business in support of BDA’s growth strategy across new and existing markets. Karissa joined BDA in 2018 initially as a Project Engineer in the Business Development and Strategy team, prior to moving into her current role in 2022.

Prior to joining Boeing, Karissa was a consultant at Nova Systems. As a consultant, Karissa worked as an avionics and systems engineer, primarily on Australian Defence acquisition projects. She supported the early capability definition phase of a number of programs including LAND2097 Ph4 (special operations helicopter), the both the CH-47F Chinook, and the P-8A Poseidon acquisitions.

Early in her career, Karissa held a number of technical positions at the Defence Materiel Organisation (now the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group or CASG) supporting various acquisition programs across the capability lifecycle. This foundation provided Karissa with a good understanding of high level Defence engineering policy and the acquisition of defence materiel.

Using her background in Defence acquisition, Karissa has recently led capture teams in Boeing’s Battlespace Communications Systems program to win subcontract work under Lockheed Martin’s AIR6500-1 Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS) program and has submitted a competitive tender response for the LAND200-3 (now LAND4140 Battle Management System (BMS)) program, procuring a new Battle Management System for Army.

Karissa holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Avionics, Hons) from the Queensland University of Technology and a Masters in Project Management from the University of New South Wales.

Karissa moved back to Brisbane (home) from Canberra in 2015 and has two young children with her husband Andrew.

JOE MCCULLAGH

BOARD MEMBER

Joe McCullagh is Co-Founder of Logikata

With a robust foundation in military service and business, Joe brings over a decade of mission-focused, outcome-driven experience in program leadership, technical design and execution. His military career included deployment on HMAS Newcastle to Op MANITOU, operational and strategic policy execution within Navy Capability Division and the Maritime Warfare Centre. This experience was formative both culturally and in knowledge for his future roles in industry.

Building on this military background, Joe transitioned seamlessly into roles where he could leverage his mission-oriented mindset. He has occupied various program execution and business development positions focused on the defence and wider public sector markets, always maintaining a strategic and results-oriented approach.

As an owner of Logikata, Joe's aim is to simplify market entry for complex technical solutions. He advises companies on technical strategy, data design, market entry and strategic growth, with a particular focus on Australian SMEs and public sector-focused businesses in AUKUS regions.

Previously, Joe held Defence and Intelligence-focused roles at Salesforce and Palantir Technologies, where he drove mission-critical solutions aligned with the strategic objectives predominately within National Security and Defence. His education in Engineering, Business Administration, and Management further enhances his ability to combine technical expertise with business acumen, delivering impactful solutions and strategic insights.

DAVEN PETTERSEN

BOARD MEMBER

Daven Pettersen is the Chief Technology Officer for the Fujitsu Global Defence Office.

Daven is an experienced leader, strategist, and program manager with over 30 years in the information technology and service delivery sector. He’s known for delivering complex systems in challenging and fast-changing environments, building strong international partnerships, and driving meaningful change through innovative and respectful leadership.

Daven is currently employed as the Chief Technology Officer for the Fujitsu Global Defence Office. Before his current role, Daven was Fujitsu’s Head of Defence – Service Delivery, where he led initiatives to boost productivity and service delivery excellence across the Australian Defence Force.

A former career military officer turned senior technology leader, Daven thrives at the intersection of operational needs and digital innovation. He’s passionate about transforming how Defence leverages technology—from the battlefield to the enterprise—to deliver mission-ready capabilities faster and more effectively.

Daven holds a Master’s in Management Studies, along with Graduate Diplomas in Information Technology and Information Systems Management. He’s also a graduate of the Canadian Joint Command and Staff Course.

NICOLE SEILS

BOARD MEMBER

Nicole Seils is Head of Government Relations & Legislative Affairs, Northrop Grumman Australia

Nicole is an experienced senior executive with nearly three decades of prolific activity in the public and private sector in both Australia, APAC and the USA, in specialty areas such as deep tech, space policy, cyber, defence and AI. Nicole brings a wealth of legal, policy and reform campaign expertise.

Some of the notable senior and executive positions Nicole has held are:

Head of Government Relations, Lockheed Martin Australia & New Zealand; Chief of Staff and Policy Advisor to a variety of senior government Cabinet Ministers; Deputy Director-General, Innovation at ACT Health; Co-Chair and Founder of the Women in Defence and Security Network based at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute; Non-Executive Director roles for East Coast Traffic Control and Graham Lusty Trailers; and Director on the Australian Rail Track Corporation and Lockheed Martin Partnership Board.

Nicole was also involved in the listed Private Equity company TeamInvest Private Group and sat on their Risk and Compliance Committee, and Investment Committee. She was the Chair of their former Governance Committee and Member of the Allocations Committee for TeamInvest Diversified Growth Fund. Nicole is a longstanding member of the philanthropic group NEXUS Australia. She was the Chair of the NEXUS Australia COVID-19 Action Team in 2020 as well as being a founding member of the New York based NEXUS Global, Space Braintrust, which is currently working closely with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.

Nicole is a credentialed graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has dual degrees in Law and Commerce, and is an admitted Legal Practitioner. She also completed an Internship in the US Senate in 2007, in the Office of Senior lawmaker Senator Christopher J. Dodd (CT-Dem).

Her legal focus is primarily on Constitutional, Contract, Commercial and Intellectual Property law, with a growing interest in Space law. In 2022 Nicole successfully completed to a HD standard the Competitive Strategy and Innovation course at the London School of Economics.

In 2024 Nicole was recognised as a finalist in the ADM Women in Defence Awards 2024 as a Finalist – Executive Management Category.

Nicole is also current Chair of the AMCHAM - Space Committee; and Board member of ADEISA, Treasurer of the Women in Defence Association -ACT (2025 appointee); and a continued advocate and supporter of the Women in Defence and Security Network Collaboration hosted at ASPI which she pioneered 10 years ago (2014).

MURRAY THOMPSON AM, CSC

BOARD MEMBER

Murray Thompson AM, CSC is a senior executive with Kinetic IT

Murray Thompson AM, CSC is a senior executive with Kinetic IT, one of Australia’s largest information technology providers. Previously he served as a Major General in the Australian Army, where he was responsible for the operation of the Defence global satellite, information, communications technology networks and the cyber security for the Department.

Murray is presently a member of the University of Western Australia Defence & Security Institute Advisory Board, a Senior Fellow of the Australian Defence College and Deputy Chair Certa Cito Foundation Scholarship Committee.