Our Team

Professor Michael Webb

Director
Defence and Security Institute

Professor Michael Webb joined the University of Adelaide in July 2008 where he is currently Director, Defence and Security, and Deputy Director (Defence) at the Centre for Defence Communications and Information Networking (CDCIN).

Michael has a PhD in physics (millimetre wave optics) from the University of St Andrews and a Master’s in mathematical psychology from the University of Adelaide.

Prior to working in academia, Michael worked in the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, now known as the Defence Science and Technology Group, for more than 20 years.  While at DST Group he led research in: over-the-horizon and microwave radar; signals intelligence; and command & control.  Michael received the Australian Operational Service Medal (Iraq and ICAT) for his leadership of a mixed military and civilian team in the evaluation of the deployed Defence communications capability in the Middle-East Area of Operations during 2006.

Since moving into the university sector, Michael has led and contributed to a diverse range of applied research including: development of a C3 stress modelling methodology for application to Special Forces missions and Australia’s Joint Amphibious Capability; development of an information architecture for Australia’s highly dispersed Electronic Warfare capability; technology forecasting for Australia’s Special Forces; development of a prototype Strategic Common Picture (STRATCP) for Defence’s Strategic Command Group; as well as the development of a number of decision support and modelling applications in Defence communications.  In 2014 Michael received an award for excellence for his contribution to enhancing the safety of Australia’s deployed troops by quantifying the electromagnetic interference experienced by improvised explosive device detectors.

Michael’s current research interests include: proactive cyber security employing a security-by-design philosophy and exploiting recent advances in Software Defined Network and formal methods; operational modelling of complex military systems; and beam-forming antennas at mm-wave and THz wavelengths.

Professor Michael Webb: Researcher profile

Professor Bruce Northcote

Chief Security Officer
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research)
Division of Research and Innovation

Prof. Bruce Northcote is Chief Security Officer within the Division of Research & Innovation at the University of Adelaide. He is also CEO of TelAri Analytics - a commercial spin out from research in his prior roles as Director of the Teletraffic Research Centre and the Centre for Defence Communications Information Networking, within the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences (ECMS).

In those ECMS roles he brought his considerable private industry communications engineering consulting experience to the Commercial and Defence sectors. For 2 terms he was an Associate Member representative on the RPDE Board, primarily focussed on improving the engagement between RPDE and the academic community.

From 1994 until 1996 he worked at Bellcore (NJ, USA) as their lead consultant in Signalling System Number 7 and Advanced Intelligent Network congestion control research and Personal Communications Services performance analysis. In 1996 he joined Ascom Nexion to develop for them a coordinated performance benchmark test plan for multi-service switching platforms. After acquisition and promotion he became a Consulting Engineer in Fujitsu Nexion, working on broadband technology assessment, product definition and standardization activities for the Fujitsu broadband product range, actively participating in various standards forums (IETF, ATMF, ANSI T1S1 & ITU-T SG13).

Between returning to Australia in December 1999 and his current employment, he was a consultant for BSN Consulting Pty Ltd and Telic Australia Pty Ltd, working on projects for customers ranging from Vodafone Australia, Telstra, Telcordia (USA), Viridien (USA), to the Victorian Department of Justice. He has published over 20 refereed journal and conference papers, written numerous technical contributions for a variety of international standards bodies, is a senior member of IEEE and was an acreditted ATM Forum Ambassador for several years.

Jennifer Burgess

Institute Manager
Defence and Security Institute

Jennifer Burgess joined the University of Adelaide in June 2021 and is currently the Manager of the Defence and Security Institute. Responsibilities in this role include ensuring that the strategic initiatives are operationalised and reviewed in a coordinated way.

Jennifer has a Master of Science in Military Vehicle Technology from Cranfield University, Royal Military College Shrivenham, a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Adelaide and is an accredited Practising Project Manager, Prince2 Practitioner, and a member of the Chief Executive Women’s Leadership Connect Program.

Prior to working in academia, Jennifer worked for the Department of Defence and has extensive experience in defence strategy, policy, capability development and operations. Jennifer held various appointments during her more than 20 years’ service including with the United Kingdom (UK) Development, Concepts, Doctrine Centre (DCDC), Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).

Whilst at the UKs DCDC, one of her key responsibilities included an Indo-Pacific Strategic Implication Project, which explored a 2050 multipolar future through strategic game play in six culturally different countries in the region. Jennifer’s work with DSTG included enabling research and development for the Force-in-Being, Modernisation, Operations, and the Future Force. As the Senior Military Officer, she led the activities and outputs of the DSTG Military Staff including management of military resources in support of DSTG trials. Her work with the CASG, was recognised with a Commendation and Outstanding Achievement Award.

Jennifer Burgess: Staff directory

Greg Bell

Senior Business Development Manager
Defence and Security Institute

Greg Bell: Staff directory

Angela Hoffmann

Project Manager
Defence and Security Institute

Angela Hoffmann: Staff directory

Valerie Morris

Senior Business Manager
Defence and Security Institute

Valerie Morris: Staff directory

Gregory Davis 

CADR-RAS Centre Manager
Defence & Security Institute

Claudia Gottwald

Project Officer 
Defence and Security Institute

Claudia Gottwald: Staff directory