Following our announcement of the Women in Defence Awards 2023 finalists on 4 September, ADM will be introducing each of our amazing finalists across the 10 categories in more detail. Today we are focusing on the finalists in Legal/Contracting.
In this category, judges were looking for entries that exhibited outstanding success in legal/contracting matters in 2022. The finalists in this category all demonstrate this level of success, with additional evidence of having overcome personal challenges to do so and for the impact their success had on the wider Defence and industry community.
Anne Hough
Senior Subcontracts Specialist
Boeing Defence Australia Limited
In 2022 Anne successfully negotiated and executed a three-party Head Agreement with one of Boeing’s key subcontractors and its Australian subsidiary. The 10-year Head Agreement took five months of negotiations and ensures a strong foundation for future collaboration between the companies. The key negotiation points included IP, liability, and indemnity.
Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Cooke (Winner)
Fleet Battle Staff Legal Officer (FBSLO)
Royal Australian Navy
Elizabeth was Legal Advisor to the Maritime Component Commander for RIMPAC-22, the largest maritime exercise in the world, a role normally held by an officer of O6 rank. Leading a multi-national team of lawyers, she had legal oversight of 38 ships, three submarines, over 170 aircraft and many thousands of personnel. She was singled out for praise by the US 3 star in Command.
Ebony-Jade Dignan
NIOA
General Counsel, NIOA Group
Ebony-Jade Dignan’s impact on NIOA Group’s purchase of US-based Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc was indeed “enormous”, highlighting her capacity for commercially focused legal advice and her aptitude for collaboration, communication, and leadership. It was this effort around policies, procedures, training packs, and templates that ultimately provided the groundwork for the successful acquisition.
Lisa Cornell
Head of Supply Chain for the Maritime Sustainment Line of Business
BAE Systems Australia
In 2022 Lisa led her team to a number of key achievements including over 4,000 Purchase Orders, totalling more than $70M; an 85% ‘on time’ delivery rate in December – an increase from ~60% in January; and a reduction in overdue commitments from 9% in January to 1% in December. Lisa has played a central role in driving greater collaboration across the Supply Chain teams amongst the organisations, through sharing data and information and conducting co-chaired meetings where issues, risks, and achievements are shared.
Tamara Ritchie
Senior Commercial Lead for the Aeronautics and Space Systems
Lockheed Martin Australia
During 2022 Tamara led the commercial aspects of strategic program tendering and execution activities including the JP9102 Military Satellite Communication Program; Southern Positioning Augmentation Network; C-130J Hercules Aircraft Long Term Sustainment; and F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Training Support Services contract execution and sub-contractor management. She proactively and successfully led Lockheed Martin’s negotiation of complex commercial activities, including intellectual property rights, audit provisions, international transfer pricing and subcontractor performance.
The winners and Hall of Fame inductee will be announced at a gala dinner at The National Arboretum Canberra on 25 October 2023. Book your tickets here – we hope to see you there!