The Defence SA Advisory Board is a formidable line-up of Australia’s top Defence and industry experts. The Board provides high-level strategic advice to promote the growth of the defence industry in South Australia and plays a key role in guiding the state’s defence strategy.
Vice Admiral Russell Crane AO CSM RAN (Ret'd) – Chair
During his tenure as Chief of Navy (2008-2011), Russell (Russ) Crane drew on a lifetime of Navy experience to spearhead fundamental reform of Navy leadership, training and culture through the New Generation Navy (NGN) initiative. NGN aims to ensure that Navy people remain inspired and supported to meet Navy’s obligations around Australia and abroad. The program has been extremely successful and remains in place today.
A Junior Recruit turned Navy Diver, Russ held a raft of positions at sea and ashore during his 40-year Naval career. He was promoted to star rank in March 2000 and posted as the Director General Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare before being appointed as the Commander Australian Naval Systems Command in October 2001. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in May 2004 and assumed duties as Director General Coastwatch and Commander of the then inaugural Joint Offshore Protection Command. Russ was subsequently appointed as Deputy Chief of Navy in June 2006 before being selected as Chief of Navy in July 2008. In recognition of his conspicuous career, Russ was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal in 2000, appointed as a Member in the Order of Australia in 2007 and elevated to an Officer in the Order in January 2010.
Following his transition from permanent service, Russ became a sole trader in his consultancy business ‘Bowline Consultants’ advising on matters affecting leadership and corporate behaviours particularly in Defence and national security areas. Russ is also chairman of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Veteran’s Mental Health and both a trustee and patron of a number of service-related organisations.
Kathryn Toohey AM CSC
Kathryn Toohey retired from the Australian Army at the rank of Major General in March 2023 and was appointed to the Defence SA Advisory Board in May 2023.
A graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Royal Military College – Duntroon, Kathryn held a raft of positions during her 35+ year Army career. She has served in the 7th Signals Regiment (Electronic Warfare), the 1st Brigade Headquarters and in the Strategic Operations Division of Headquarters Northern Command. She was posted as an instructor at the Royal Military College – Duntroon and as the Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General of Australia and completed a 13-month deployment as a troop commander in the Force Communications Unit as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority – Cambodia.
For the past two decades, Kathryn has specialised in military modernisation and project management, which has seen her serve as a Capability Liaison Officer for Defence in Europe, assigned directorship of the Capability and Technology Management College and appointed Director-General Integrated Capability Development, responsible for varied joint Australian Defence Force projects. She also served as the Acting Head of Capability Systems within the group.
In 2017 Kathryn was appointed Head Land Capability, responsible for the modernisation of Army equipment, facilities and organisational structures, before taking on the role of Head Force Integration, within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Executive in 2019, responsible for a range of complex, strategic functions impacting all three Services.
Kathryn holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA), a Masters of Management in Defence Studies; a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Honours). She is a graduate of the Australian Joint Command and Staff College and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD, Singapore.
In recognition of her exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force, Kathryn was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in 2008 and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2017.
Mr Steve Ludlam FREng
Steve Ludlam is a global submarine expert who was Chief Executive of naval shipbuilding company ASC Pty Ltd from 2010 to 2014. Before moving to Adelaide to take up this role, Mr Ludlam was President of Submarines at Rolls-Royce plc in the United Kingdom, where he led the successful modernisation of the country’s nuclear-powered submarine program.
Mr Ludlam’s career began with Rolls-Royce as a development engineer working on nuclear submarine programs. He became General Manager of the Submarine Nuclear Reactor Test Establishment and then President of Submarines, a senior executive position.
Mr Ludlam holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Nuclear Engineering. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers in 2010. He has been voted one of Engineers Australia’s 100 most influential engineers on four separate occasions.
Mr Merv Davis AM
Mr Merv Davis AM has over 30 years’ experience serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). While originally a specialist Combat Systems Engineer, he later worked as the Combat Systems Manager within the ANZAC Ship Project and subsequently as the Project Director for the Minehunter Coastal Project. Mr Davis’ Defence experience also includes having a leading role in the evaluating the Defence Reform Program, as well as managing the Australian Defence Forces IT and Communications Network.
After leaving the RAN in 2003, Mr Davis was employed as the Managing Director of Saab Systems, and subsequently being appointed the Vice President of Saab’s global Naval operations in the Saab Systems Business Unit.In 2008, Mr Davis was made Director, Maritime at BAE Systems Australia. He has also been a consultant for the Defence Materiel Organisation, undertaking a range of major Project Gate Reviews as an independent external Gate Review Board Member.
Mr Davis also served as the Chief Executive Officer of CEA Technologies Pty Ltd before retiring in January 2019.Mr Davis holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Honours) Degree, as well as a Masters in Business Administration. He is a graduate of the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies and a Graduate Member of the Institute of Company Directors. His core expertise lies in operational management and strategy and business development. Mr Davis was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2001.
Catherine Roberts AO,CSC
Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Catherine (Cath) Roberts AO CSC has over 40 years’ experience serving in the Royal Australian Air Force as an Aerospace Engineer.
Her most recent appointments include as the Defence Space Commander responsible for establishing and maturing Space capability in Defence, as the Head of Air Force Capability responsible for conceptualising and shaping the development of Air and Space power across the capability life cycle, and as Head Aerospace Systems Division project managing all Air Force fixed wing acquisition and sustainment activities.
Cath’s experience in Defence includes space capability analysis, project management, governance, airworthiness and safety, contracting, diplomatic postings and networking across Defence, Government, Industry and Academia – domestically and internationally.
Cath has a passion for Diversity and she has been involved in assisting women in the wider community to enter the field of aerospace and STEM through her work with Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia, Women in Aviation International and has mentored in both the Future Through Collaboration (Defence and Industry) and Superstars of STEM programs.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Management and Defence Studies from University of Canberra and a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from RMIT. She is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors and was a member of the Australian Space Agency Advisory Board from 2019-2023.
In recognition of her achievements, Cath was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for her contribution to Aviation Safety in 2004 and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2022 for her service as Head Aerospace Systems Division and Head of Air Force Capability.
Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO (Ret’d)
Prior to joining the Defence SA Advisory Board in October 2024, Lieutenant General Rick Burr AO DSC MVO (Ret’d) had a distinguished military career including Chief of the Australian Army from 2018-2022.
Rick’s other significant military appointments include Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army (Pacific); Command of the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment; Director General Military Strategic Commitments and senior advisor in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (National Security Division).
Rick is an authentic and visionary strategic leader with unique experience leading dynamic organisations, building partnerships and improving capabilities throughout Australia and the Indo-Pacific region.
Rick’s ongoing focus is on supporting Australia’s national interest, enabling capability advantage, strengthening international relationships, and investing in future leaders.
He is a Certified Chair for best practice Advisory Boards, member of the AICD, graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, United States Marine Corps’ Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Warfighting, and of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He holds a Master degree from US Marine Corps University and Bachelor degree from the UNSW.
He is an Officer of the Order of Australia, recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross and Member of the Royal Victorian Order. His leadership has also been recognised with numerous foreign honours.
Rick grew up in Renmark, South Australia before embarking on his Army career.
