The recently appointed Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) director-general Rachel Noble has appointed Abigail Bradshaw as the new head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Noble was previously ACSC head and left at the end of January for the ASD role replacing Mike Burgess, who departed in September to take on the leadership of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
Bradshaw began her career as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy and has served in a range of other senior roles in Home Affairs and in the National Security Division in PM&C.
“Ms Bradshaw has deep experience in crisis management and incident response, having served as the Deputy Commander Maritime Border Command at the height of the people smuggling trade, as well as her current role as the Deputy Coordinator of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency,” Noble said.
“Cyber threats in Australia continue to increase in sophistication. Ms Bradshaw has the proven experience to continue the ACSC’s commitment to ensuring Australia is the safest place to connect online.”
Bradshaw said she was “delighted to be returning to the Defence Portfolio, bringing my crisis management experience, and domestic and international connections to this exciting role in ASD”.
Meanwhile, Linda Geddes has been appointed deputy director-general SIGINT and network operations effective 16 March. Ben Staughton has been the acting deputy director-general since January.
She is currently the Commonwealth counter-terrorism coordinator and brings counter-terrorism and national security experience to the role. She has previously held senior roles with Home Affairs, PM&C and ONI, has served in ASD, New Zealand’s GCSB, and served for 11 years in the Australian Army.
“I am very excited to be returning to ASD. I have had the privilege of working in this great organisation twice before, both as a member of the ADF and as a public servant, and I look forward to renewing old relationships and making new ones. I also look forward to working with Director-General Noble once more,” Geddes said.