Assoc. Prof O’Brien brings over 3 decades of leadership in counter terrorism to his position as Head of School. Prior to his transition to academia, Assoc. Prof. O’Brien was the Counter Terrorism Liaison Officer at the British High Commission in Canberra, with a watching brief on the South-East Asia region. Before his posting to Australia he was in charge of international counter terrorism at Special Branch, New Scotland Yard including responsibility for the National Terrorist Financial Investigations Unit (NTFIU) and International Liaison.
Contact usAssoc. Prof. O’Brien’s extensive knowledge base and experience has seen him speak on counter terrorism at professional and academic conferences across Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific. In authoring G8 paper Best Practices in Dealing with Suicide Terrorism he undertook research into suicide bombing in both Israel and Sri Lanka. Nick is a visiting Fellow at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Co-operation in Indonesia, sits on the Board of Management of the Australian Graduate School of Policing. He is on the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO) Journal Editorial Committee.
Assoc. Prof. O’Brien is a highly sought after speaker on counter terrorism matters, and frequently provides media commentary in regards to terrorism and policing more broadly.
Levi West is the Director of Terrorism Studies at Charles Sturt University. His primary research interests relate to the intersection of information and communications technology with terrorism specifically, but also with other forms of non-state violence.
Contact usLevi has lectured extensively to law enforcement, intelligence, and military audiences both domestically and internationally, including at the Naval War College in the United States, the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation in Indonesia, the National Security College at ANU, and at the Australian Command and Staff College at the Australian Defence College. Additionally, Levi has undertaken research in the Middle East, South Asia, and South East Asia. Levi regularly contributes to the ASPI Strategist blog, and is a sought after speaker on terrorism and other national security issues. In addition to lecturing in higher education contexts, he frequently delivers professional development training and consulting to a broad range of government agencies and private sector clients.
You can follow him on Twitter @levijwest.
His research interests include: • Terrorism and insurgency • Diversity and evolution of violent non-State actors • Use of technology by non-State actors • Transnational crime and illicit finance • State responses to non-State violence • Cyber security, particularly as it pertains to non-state actors
Before joining AGSPS, Charles was a Research Fellow at the Defence Department’s Land Warfare Studies Centre in Canberra. Charles completed his PhD research at QUT, where he examined the coercive effects of State repression on popular support for insurgents.
Contact usIn military roles, Charles served in Europe, Central America, Asia and the Middle East and his diverse experience ranges from RAF pilot training, through four years commanding Baluchi troops with the Omani Army, to operational counterinsurgency training. As a reservist he has served with the Parachute Regiment in the UK, the Commandos in Australia and commanded an Infantry Battalion.
Charles is also a specialist in Urban and Complex operations and his extensive involvement in Special Operations capability development included delivery of new Special Forces doctrine and ground-breaking future studies methodologies.
His research interests include • Decision Making, Planning and Social Dynamics for and in Conflict • Political Violence and the Conduct and Countering of Armed Rebellion • Urban, Complex and Special Operations
Dr. Campion is a historian by training and has undertaken archival research in the UK and Ireland, focusing on the complex and diverse history of terrorism.
Contact usDr. Campion has lectured and tutored in terrorism studies to undergraduate students and postgraduate students, consulted for specialist audiences, and engages in media and public commentary. She is currently working on the first comprehensive history of terrorism in Australia.
Dr. Campion’s PhD thesis, Under the Shadow of Swords: Propaganda of the Deed in the History of Terrorism, was nominated for the Terrorism Research Initiative’s Best Doctoral Thesis in Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies in 2017.
Her research interests include: the history of terrorism, and how its informs contemporary terrorism; the evolution and innovation of terrorism strategies; propaganda of the deed, especially in relation to the targeting of arts and antiquities; and terrorism in Australia.
Mr. Alverez joined the team in March 2017. He holds the following qualifications:
Mr Irvine has 33 years of experience (since 1970) as a diplomat in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, with experience in the promotion of Australia’s bilateral and regional political, economic and trade relationships with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. His career includes high level diplomatic postings as High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea (1996-1999), Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Mongolia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (2000-2003).
Contact usMr Irvine’s appointments also include being Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (2003-2009) and more than 5 years as Director-General of Security, in charge of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
During the five years prior to his appointment in Papua New Guinea, Mr Irvine held several senior management and policy positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra, including management of Australia’s relations with the major markets of South, North and East Asia, as well as Indochina.
In 2005, Mr Irvine was awarded an Officer of the General Division of the Order of Australia for services furthering Australian international interests. Mr Irvine has also published two books entitled, Bisma, Warrior Priest of the Mahabharata (1990) and Leather Gods and Wooden Heroes (1996).
Bruce Hoffman has been studying terrorism and insurgency for over four decades. He is a tenured professor in Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and until recently was director of its Center for Security Studies and Security Studies Program. Professor Hoffman is also visiting Professor of Terrorism Studies at St Andrews University, Scotland.
Contact usHe previously held the Corporate Chair in Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency at the RAND Corporation, where he was also director of RAND’s Washington Office and vice president for external affairs. Professor Hoffman was appointed by the U.S. Congress as a commissioner on the 9/11 Review Commission and has been Scholar-in-Residence for Counterterrorism at the Central Intelligence Agency; adviser on counterterrorism to the Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad, Iraq; and, an adviser on counterinsurgency to Multi-National Forces-Iraq Headquarters, Baghdad, Iraq.
In November 1994, the Director of Central Intelligence awarded him the United States Intelligence Community Seal Medallion, the highest level of commendation given to a non-government employee, which recognizes sustained superior performance of high value that distinctly benefits the interests and national security of the United States.
Earlier in his career (1992-95) Scott was a command post operator and forward observer’s assistant in the Royal Australian Artillery Corps. After the army Scott worked as a guide and as a professional mountain rescuer in emergency services for the Department of Conservation at Mt Cook in New Zealand (1997-2004). Between his Masters and PhD studies, (2006-08) he worked in ASIO’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Directorate as lead intelligence analyst for the Banking and Finance and Oil and Gas sectors.
Contact usScott is a Fellow at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne. He holds a PhD in Public Policy and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the Australian National University, (ANU). Scott’s research main focus has been on non-Muslims who convert to Islam and the radicalization of Muslim converts. He has published in leading peer-reviewed academic journals including: the Journal of Islamic Studies, Novo Religio, the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, the Journal of Pacific Affairs, Journal of Pacific History, and the Australian Journal of International Affairs. Scott also has ongoing research interests in the Pacific region, particularly Papua New Guinea where he has worked as a consultant in security and resettlement advisory roles for multinational resources companies such as Exxon Mobil, BHP Billiton and Xstrata.
Scott has been awarded a number of prestigious national and international research grants for his research projects. He was funded by the Australian Civil Military Centre (2011-13) to lead a project with Dr David Hyndman investigating the use of the social sciences by Western militaries to develop socio-cultural analytical capabilities that support Civil-Military Stabilisation, Peace-Building and Conflict Prevention operations. He most recently lead research in the US and Canada (funded the US Dept. of Defense and Public Safety Canada respectively) investigating conversion to Islam in each country and the radicalisation of converts there.
Dr Kira Harris is an Adjunct Lecturer with the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security at Charles Sturt University. Kira has previously lectured in both psychology and counter terrorism.
Contact usKira's doctoral research examined the psychology behind exiting extreme social groups, including terrorism groups, right-wing extremism, one percent motorcycle clubs, cults, as well as fundamentalist religious and political groups. She has published and presented in areas relating to disengagement, social psychology and gangs.
Her research interests include:
Paul Lushenko is a U.S. Army Major and serves as an Executive Officer to the Senior Intelligence Officer for the Department of the Army, Lieutenant General Scott Berrier.
Commissioned as an Intelligence Officer in 2005, Paul is a distinguished honor graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. From 2010 to 2012 he studied at The Australian National University as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. He received a Master of Arts in International Relations and a Master of Diplomacy, both with highest honors. In addition to earning the “Graduate Studies in International Affairs Thesis Prize” for the highest mark on the dissertation component, he was awarded the James Ingram Prize for Excellence in Diplomatic Studies. In 2016, he graduated first in his class from the U.S. Naval War College with a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies and was awarded the William Sowden Sims Award as the class’ honor graduate. In 2019, Paul was selected as one of 11 Officers across the U.S. Army to serve as a General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster Scholar, which affords the opportunity for doctoral study.
Contact usPaul is the author of numerous articles appearing in publications and journals, and speaks widely on irregular warfare and regional security order-building. In addition to serving as an Adjunct Lecturer for the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security located at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, Australia, Paul is also a Council on Foreign Relations Term Member. In 2018, he was inducted into the North Salem High School Hall of Fame for outstanding recognition in the U.S. Army and field of International Relations.
Since 2007, Paul has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with both General Purpose and Special Operations Forces where he has directed intelligence operations in support of counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency operations at the Battalion, Combined Task Force, and Joint Task Force levels. He recently redeployed from Afghanistan where he served as the Senior Intelligence Officer for a Joint Special Operations Task Force.
His military education includes the United States Army Airborne School, Ranger School, Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captain Career Course (Honor Graduate), and U.S. Naval War College (Honor Graduate). His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal with “C” Device, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, and German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold).
Paul is also a recipient of the Military Intelligence Corps Association’s Knowlton Award for significant contribution to Army intelligence.He is married to the former Lisa Roche and has three girls: Evelyn (6), Madison (4), and Sydney (2).
COL Langford joined the Army in 1992. He graduated to the Infantry Corps from the Royal Military College in 1995, having been awarded the Sword of Honour. He is currently posted at Headquarters Forces Command as the G5 - Plans Officer. His present responsibilities include managing the integration of major and minor systems within Forces Command and across the Army.
Contact usCOL Langford has served in a variety of command and staff appointments. His operational service includes multiple deployments to Timor Leste and Afghanistan, and single deployments to Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, the South-West Pacific and on domestic counter-terrorism duties within Australia. He has commanded multiple Special Operations Task Groups in Afghanistan, Iraq, and on counter-terrorism duties. COL Langford commanded the 2nd Commando Regiment in 2014-2015. For his service, COL Langford has been awarded a Chief of Defence Force Commendation, a SOCAUST Commendation, and the Distinguished Service Cross on three occasions.
In 2011, COL Langford served as the lead planner for the special operations support to the Papua New Guinea (PNG) general elections. In this role, COL Langford had a significant engagement and leadership responsibility with members of the PNG Defence Force and government, as well as multiple Australian departments and agencies including the Australian Ambassador. In a dynamic and politically sensitive environment, COL Langford ensured the effective inter-departmental coordination of disparate efforts amongst the PNG government, the Australian embassy, and the ADF as part of the overall aim to ensure the safe conduct of the election. Within Australia, COL Langford has supported several Joint Counter Terrorism Team operations with NSW and Victorian Police, mainly in the provision of intelligence analysis and liaison between the Counter Terrorism/Major Crimes Division (NSW), CJOPS and SOCAUST.
Katie is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with over 20 years experience providing clinical services to offenders in both custodial and community settings. Katie’s PhD thesis was in relation to the role that cultural experience and identity have in shaping the expression of violent interpersonal crime. This provided a natural extension in the field of terrorism, where Katie has both a clinical and academic interest.
Contact usKatie's primary research interests are in the area of cultural identity and motivations for criminal violence, including terrorism, as well as the psychological motivations for terrorist and other forms of group-based violence.
Katie has a particular speciality in working with high risk sexual and violent offenders. Katie’s current practice includes providing expert psychological assessments and evidence across the full spectrum of legal jurisdictions (including that in relation to terrorist offenders), in addition to providing group and individual treatment services to offenders and both consultancy and supervision services. For the past 10 years, Katie has been teaching at a post-graduate level in both clinical and forensic psychology and has also participated in, supported and supervised research in a variety of areas, both clinical and forensic.
Katie is also involved in public and media commentary and in programme development and other forms of expert consultation.
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