UNSW Canberra Advisory Council

Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d) was awarded the Knight of the Order of Australia in January 2015 for extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to Australia, through distinguished service in the Australian Defence Force, continued commitment to serve the nation in leadership roles, particularly the national responses to the MH370 and MH17 disasters, and in a variety of roles in the community.

Sir Angus was Chief of the Australian Defence Force from 2005-2011. He served as Chief of the Australian Air Force from 2001-2005. He retired from the military in 2011 after 41 years of service.

Sir Angus is Chancellor for the University of the Sunshine Coast; Chair of the University of NSW Canberra Advisory Board; Chair of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and Chair of the Supashock Advanced Suspension Advisory Committee.

He is a Board Member of the Lowy Institute for International Policy and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. He is also a visiting fellow of the Australian National University National Security College.

Sir Angus is also a Senior Counsellor for The Cohen Group, a business advisory group headed by William Cohen, former Secretary of Defence in the United States.

In addition to his many board roles, he is also the Ambassador/Patron of numerous charitable and mental health organisations.

In 2022, Sir Angus was appointed by the Australian Federal Government to co-lead the Australian Defence Strategic Review. He continues to oversight the implementation of the Defence Strategic Review on a regular basis and reports to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Sir Angus served on the Virgin Australia Board from December 2018 until October 2020.

In July 2014, Sir Angus was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to lead Australia’s efforts to help recover, identify and repatriate Australians killed in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 disaster.

Sir Angus also led the Joint Agency Coordination Centre coordinating the Australian Government’s support for the search into missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014.

In 2012 Sir Angus was appointed Chair of the Order of Australia Council, a position he held for seven years.

In 2012 Sir Angus led the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers.

He was Chair of Air Services Australia from 2012-2018.

Sir Angus was also Chair of the Anzac Centenary Advisory Board from July 2011 until March 2014.

In 2011 he was named the Australian Father of the Year and, in 2012, the ACT Australian of the Year.

Sir Angus was awarded the Degree of Doctor of the University of South Australia in August 2017, Degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa from ANU in December 2016, Degree of Doctor of the University, honoris causa from UNSW in November 2015, and Degree of Doctor of the University from Griffith University in December 2013.

Sir Angus is married to Liz and they have three sons and three grandchildren.

Robert Clark was formerly an officer in the Royal Australian Navy, a Lecturer and Fellow of The Queen’s College at the University of Oxford, and Scientia Professor and Chair Professor of Experimental Physics at UNSW.

As an inaugural Australian Government Federation Fellow, he was the founding Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology in its first decade.

More recently, he was Chief Defence Scientist in the Australian Department of Defence, CEO of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and a member of Australia’s Defence Committee. In that role, he was the Australian Principal of The Technical Cooperation Program between Australia, the US, the UK, Canada and New Zealand, and a member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.

He’s a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Distinguished Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales and a Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Professor Clark has been privileged to receive a number of awards and honours,  including, the Australian Museum CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science, the Australian Centenary Medal, the Australian Defence Medal, the United States of America Secretary of Defence Medal, two medal awards for distinguished service from US government agencies, and he’s an Officer in the Order of Australia.

Stephanie Copus-Campbell is the Executive Director of the Oil Search Foundation, based in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Foundation implements annual health, leadership, education, and women’s empowerment and protection programs.

She’s also Chair of the Board of Directors of the Southern Highlands Provincial Health Authority in PNG and a Non-Executive Director (NED) and immediate past treasurer of Femili PNG.

Previously, Ms Copus-Campbell was a Board Director for UNICEF Australia and Executive Director of the Harold Mitchell Foundation.

She has experience leading Australian Government aid programs and, from 2009–2011, was the head of Australia’s aid program with PNG.

Ms Copus-Campbell holds a Master of Philosophy from Cambridge University in International Relations and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California in Political Science.

Gayle Ginnane has considerable public sector and private board experience for commercial and not-for-profit organisations. She currently holds directorships with Healthdirect and Police Health. Ms Ginnane also contributes to several Audit and Risk Committees either as Chair or an independent member.

Previously, she held Director/Board Member positions with the National Blood Authority, ACT Medicare Local, CIT Solutions, National Childcare Accreditation Council, Australian Pharmacy Council and the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority.

Ms Ginnane has more than 30 years of experience in the public sector. She was Chief Executive Officer of the Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC) for 12 years.

She holds Bachelor degrees in Arts and Economics from the University of Queensland, a Master’s degree in Defence Studies from UNSW and a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies from Joint Services Staff College (now the Australian War College).

David Michel is the General Manager of the Landmark Group.

Previously, he held executive roles in companies including Richard Crookes Constructions who built the current ADFA Auditorium and the Sports Centre, and was responsible for the cadet accommodation refurbishment.

Mr Michel managed the operational planning and preparation for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games villages before moving to Athens to advise on the planning and preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games.

He was also an Officer in the Australian Army for five years. 

Mr Michel holds a Bacholor of Arts (Hons) from UNSW, a Master of Business Administration (Copenhagen Business School) and a Master of Business Administration (AGSM @ UNSW). He has also completed the Company Directors Course from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.