Rear Admiral David Mann, CSC, RAN joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1989. His sea postings have included HMA Ships Geelong, Brisbane, Dubbo and Melbourne under training and Melbourne again as the Fighter Controller. As a Principal Warfare Officer he served in HMAS Darwin (twice), HMAS Adelaide and in Sea Training Group as the Fleet Gunnery Officer. He has enjoyed Joint postings as the Navy Air Defence Instructor at RAAF Williamtown, in Capability Development Group, as Directing Staff at the Australian Command and Staff College and a short period as the Director of Maritime Operations at Joint Operations Command. Rear Admiral Mann has completed deployments in support of Operation Warden/Stabilise in East Timor, Operations Slipper, Falconer and Catalyst in the Middle East and border protection Operations Relex and Resolute. He was the Executive Officer of HMAS Anzac and the Commanding Officer of HMAS Darwin. His staff positions have included the Director Navy Capability Needs Analysis within Navy Headquarters for which he was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross and on exchange in US Pacific Fleet Command, N5 Policy and Plans Directorate for which he received the United States Legion of Merit. On promotion to Commodore in May 2018 he was appointed as Director General Surface Combatants and Aviation. Rear Admiral Mann served as Commander of the Surface Force from December 2020until December 2022. Following promotion to his current rank, he assumed the newly created role of Head Joint Capabilities in January 2023. Rear Admiral Mann has a Master of Arts in Strategy and Security. He is arried to Nicole and they have two young daughters.

Rear Admiral Stephen Hughes, CSC, RAN, assumed his current role as Head Navy Capability in December 2022. He is responsible for identifying the needs and requirements of Navy’s future capabilities and for the development and delivery of these capabilities to the Fleet. Rear Admiral Hughes joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1986. He has served as a warfare officer in Frigate and Destroyer class ships, including exchanges with the Canadian Navy and Commander US Seventh Fleet. He commanded the guided missile frigate HMAS Melbourne. Shore postings have included Director Navy Information Warfare, Director Capability Development in the Air Warfare Destroyer program; Director Joint Amphibious Capability Implementation Team responsible for the introduction into service of the Canberra Class amphibious ships; Director General Littoral accountable for Navy’s strategic sponsorship and oversight of the Amphibious and Afloat Support, Mine Warfare, Hydrographic, and Patrol Boat programs; Commander Surface Force responsible for the force generation of Navy’s major fleet units; and Head Intelligence Capability responsible for the capability development and assurance of Defence’s joint intelligence capabilities. He was awarded the United States Meritorious Service Medal for duties as the Seventh Fleet Exercise Planning and Schedules Officer in 2002; and awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2017 Australia Day Honours List for his outstanding devotion to duty in the field of major warship introduction into service. Rear Admiral Hughes is a graduate of ADFA and the Australian Defence College. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering, a Master of Business Studies in Project Management, and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies. Rear Admiral Hughes was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2023 Australia Day honours list ‘for exceptional service to the ADF in senior command and staff roles.

Born and educated in country Queensland, Major General Vagg joined the Army in 1992, graduating from the Royal Military College – Duntroon in 1993 to the Royal Australian Artillery. He has enjoyed an exciting career with regimental experience at 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and on exchange with 40 Regiment (AS-90), Royal Artillery. He was also the inaugural Commanding Officer of 16th Air Land Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. His training experience includes appointments at the School of Artillery and Duntroon, while his staff experience includes appointments at the British Defence Intelligence Staff, the Defence Intelligence Organisation, as well as Modernisation and Strategic Plans – Army. He was MA to Commander Forces Command, the Director of Military Art, Royal Military College – Duntroon and the Director General Systems and Integration – Army. After working as Director General Air and Land Capability Analysis in Contestability Division, Major General Vagg was seconded to the Defence Strategic Review as the lead military Director General. He assumed his current position as Head Land Capability in March of 2023. Major General Vagg has operational experience in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. His most recent deployment was as Commander Task Group Taji, Rotation Four in Iraq—for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He has also been awarded a Commander Multi-National Brigade (Central) Commendation for his role in several operations along the Kosovo/Macedonian/Albanian border and a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his work as the inaugural Commanding Officer of the Artillery Training Team – Kabul. He is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College, the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies and Australian Institute of Company Directors. Major General Vagg holds a Masters of Arts – Management and Strategy from the University of New South Wales and a Masters of Business Administration from Deakin University. Whilst studying at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies he received the Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey Award. Major General Vagg’s work in capability development combined with his regimental, operational and training appointments have provided him with broad exposure to the Defence enterprise. He enjoys the challenges of modernising Defence and setting the conditions to create options for an integrated Joint Force. Major General Vagg is a keen spectator of most sports, a passionate Queensland Reds supporter, rows to relax, and enjoys watching his children’s sporting events. Richard and his wife Charlotte have one adult daughter and two school aged children. The family enjoys spending time improving their hobby farm.

Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Wendy Blyth has a proven reputation for delivering complex capital acquisitions, sustaining major capability programmes, for successful organisational transformations, and leadership. As Director General Air Capability Enablers, she was Capability Sponsor for the Air Mobility fleet, pilot and mission aircrew training systems, Air Traffic Management, Airbases, Air Force Security, Cyber Warfare and Networks, the unique Woomera range capability, and Jericho - Air Force’s innovation capability. AVM Blyth was uniquely suited to raising the strategic profile and needs of each of these capabilities in Air Force discussions. As Officer Commanding of the Surveillance and Response Systems Program Office (SRSPO), AVM Blyth established sustainment arrangements for the P-8 Poseidon whilst assuring all sustainment for the P-3 Orion, Heron Uncrewed Aerial System, and Australian Defence Force Aerospace Life Support Equipment. Her efforts ensured high levels of operational capability were sustained on the P-3 Orion and the P-8 Poseidon as they transferred roles. AVM Blyth established and maintained complex contractual and industry relationships, and nurtured relationships with the United States Navy. As the Project Manager for the P-8 Poseidon acquisition, AVM Blyth achieved Government approval of the P-8 Poseidon fleet. She initiated key relationships with the United States Navy to develop the procurement arrangements necessary to support systems delivery. AVM Blyth has proven ability to Command, both at SRSPO, and also at the C130J Logistics Management Unit (C130JLMU), where she was responsible for all sustainment support of C130J aircraft both at home and deployed. AVM Blyth’s efforts resulted in the C130JLMU and C130J sustainment contract becoming some of the highest performing contributors to Air Mobility. She was able to recover Air Force’s confidence in C130J sustainment support. AVM Blyth has extensive experience in management of technical risk, logistics, supply chains, contracts, finance and engineering, and design. She was the Senior Engineering Officer at Number 11 Squadron. In 2020 AVM Blyth became a Member of the Order of Australia for her exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in C-130J Super Hercules sustainment reform; and in P-8A Poseidon capability development and system sustainment. AVM Blyth is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy. She has a Bachelor of Engineering, and three Master degrees. She is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College, and of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. She is a Fellow with Engineers Australia and a Certified Practising Project Director with the Australian Institute of Project Management. AVM Blyth received the inaugural 2019 Australian Defence Magazine’s Women in Defence award for Project Management. AVM Blyth became Director General Force Options and Plans in November 2021, and in January 2023, was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal as Head of Air Force Capability. AVM Blyth is married, has two wonderful daughters, and is a fan of the Brisbane Broncos.