A sweeping leadership shake-up at the Department of Home Affairs has reshaped its top executive team, cementing a stronger focus on national security, digital infrastructure and multicultural affairs.
The reshuffle follows Machinery of Government changes earlier this year that saw Home Affairs absorb several functions from the Attorney-General’s Department, including cybercrime, intelligence and social cohesion.
In the newly restructured Home Affairs, Hamish Hansford will lead the national security and resilience portfolio — which replaces the national security and resilience group and cyber and infrastructure group — as deputy secretary for national security.
Over the past four years, Mr Hansford has steered the department’s cyber and infrastructure security capabilities, most recently serving as deputy secretary of the former cyber and infrastructure security group.
He also served as the inaugural head of the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre between 2021 and 2023, where he oversaw policy, regulatory and program delivery across critical infrastructure protection.
Mr Hansford will be supported by Brendan Dowling, who will transition from his post as Australia’s ambassador for cyber affairs and critical technology to become deputy secretary for critical infrastructure and protective security on 14 August.
Mr Dowling has served at the Department of Foreign Affairs for the past two years and has been a prominent figure in the international cyber diplomacy space, guiding Australia’s cybersecurity engagement and emerging tech policy abroad.
In his new role, Mr Dowling is expected to lead the Home Affairs’ approach to safeguarding critical assets and supply chains.
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