SPEAKERS

DAY ONE

Mr Ross Ardern | Advisory Board Member, Australia Pacific Security College

Mr Ardern is a diplomat and former New Zealand Police Officer having served with the New Zealand Police for 40 years. He has strong credentials in the Pacific including in the security sector. Mr Ardern was seconded from New Zealand police to the role of Chief of Police, Niue 2005-2009; held the position of New Zealand Police Liaison Officer based in Samoa from 2009-2013 where he worked with most Pacific Island countries on policing and security issues; was the New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue from 2014-2018; and from 2018 has held the position of Administrator of Tokelau.

The Hon. Inia Seruiratu | Fiji Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing

Jay Caldwell is the Interim Director of the Australia Pacific Security College. He is an educator focused on the interaction between academic research and government effectiveness. Jay was the Director of Professional Education at the National Security College (NSC), ANU from 2016-2019. Prior to that appointment, Jay had fourteen years of experience in the public service focused on national security and how central agencies can better support decision-makers.