His recent achievements include the development of the Defence Information and Communications Technology Strategy and the Defence Technology Plan. The Strategy provides a long-term plan for Defence to fight and win in the digital age; the Technology Plan delivers a future-focused vision of what technologies Defence will need to achieve its objectives. Justin was also responsible for the rapid development and deployment of Defence’s VERA Cloud-based collaboration tool during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. VERA enables real-time collaboration, video conferencing and information sharing at the Protected-level. This also coincided with a five-fold increase in the number of personnel requiring remote access to Defence ICT. Prior to joining the APS Justin spent 17 years working in the ICT consulting industry, specialising in business intelligence and information management. Justin Keefe first joined the Australian Public Service (APS) in 2013 as Assistant Secretary Shared Service Centre at the Attorney-General’s Department. In this role he developed and implemented a comprehensive corporate services reform, including the introduction of shared corporate and ICT services capability and the modernisation of the department’s enterprise systems. In 2016 he joined the Department of Defence as Assistant Secretary Application Sustainment and was subsequently promoted to Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in January 2020. As CTO, Justin is responsible for the design and delivery of Defence’s Single Information Environment, its ICT systems and to set technical standards and architectures for its Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities.

BIOGRAPHY
Commodore Turner joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1989, graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1992 with an Electrical Engineering Degree. He conducted a number of sea postings in PERTH Class Destroyers and ANZAC Class Frigates, as a Seaman Officer and a Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer, including Command of the ANZAC Class Frigate HMAS Warramunga. After command, Commodore Turner was the capability support manager for the ANZAC Class Frigate, before becoming the Surface Combatant Group Capability Manager’s Representative responsible for the ADELAIDE and ANZAC Class Frigates and HOBART Class Destroyers. Commodore Turner has extensive operational experience, serving on board HMAS ANZAC during OPERATIONS DAMASK and SLIPPER, and then on staff at the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain as Plans Officer, CTF 150 staff and Director of Operations respectively supporting OPERATIONS CATALYST, SLIPPER and MANITOU. He also conducted an exchange posting with the USN Navy in Norfolk, Virginia at the Surface Warfare Development Group. He is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff Course and the UK Royal College of Defence Studies. On 11 December 2020 Commodore Turner took up the role of Director General Force Exploration in Force Design Division of VCDF Group. He is married to Alexandra, and has two sons, Nicholas and Christopher, where they all enjoy playing tennis and skiing and watching AFL, Football, Rugby and Cricket.