Errol McCormack Lunch - Tom Hamilton, DEPSEC Defence Strategic Review Implementation

Tom Hamilton
Deputy Secretary Defence Strategic Review Implementation

Mr Tom Hamilton is Deputy Secretary Defence Strategic Review Implementation, a role he was appointed to in February 2023. In this role, Mr Hamilton is leading the implementation and delivery of the Australian Government’s response to the Defence Strategic Review which aims to prepare Australia to effectively respond to the changing regional and global strategic environment and ensure Defence's capability and structure is fit for purpose and delivers the greatest return on investment.

Prior to his current role, Mr Hamilton was Director Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) from March 2022 to February 2023, and was responsible for AGO’s operations as an intelligence agency within the National Intelligence Community and the Department of Defence.

Mr Hamilton joined the Australian Public Service, in the Department of Defence, in 2001. In Defence he has held senior leadership roles in strategic policy, international policy and capability analysis, including as First Assistant Secretary Strategic Policy and a significant period as acting Deputy Secretary Strategic Policy and Intelligence.

From August 2020 to March 2022, Mr Hamilton was the First Assistant Secretary of the Foreign Investment Division in the Treasury. In this position Mr Hamilton was responsible for leadership of all aspects of foreign investment policy and regulatory operations and was the executive member of the Foreign Investment Review Board.

In 2019, Mr Hamilton led a review of Defence policy and was author of the consequent 2020 Defence Strategic Update which reset the Australian Government’s strategic defence policy. He was also the principal drafter of the 2016 Defence White Paper.

From 2009 to 2013, Mr Hamilton served in the Office of the Minister for Defence as a policy adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff.

From 2004 to 2009, Mr Hamilton served in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet: in the National Security Division with responsibility for defence capability and domestic security polices; and in the Social Policy Division, with responsibility for indigenous and employment services policies.