Advisor
Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Maddison recently served as the Director of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Defence Research Institute, where he led the integration of the university’s advanced defence research across Sydney and Canberra campuses. His efforts enhanced UNSW’s reputation as Australia’s leading defense university and have strengthened collaborations with the Australian Defence Force, Federal and State governments, industry, and international partners.
Mr. Maddison’s distinguished military career comprised 37 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, with experience commanding at all levels both at sea and ashore. In 2013, he retired as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and later served as the High Commissioner of Canada for Australia from 2015 to 2019. During his tenure, Mr. Maddison played a pivotal role in strengthening bilateral relations between Australia and Canada. Additionally, he collaborated with other Five Eyes allies and core NATO partners to share best practices. This work addressed challenges to the rules-based international order across the spectrum of defense and security operations, including transnational criminal organizations and the undermining of regional democracies by authoritarian states.
