Raelene Lockhorst is the Deputy Director of ASPI’s National Security Program. During her time at ASPI Raelene has successfully delivered multiple Track 1.5 Intelligence Dialogues and intelligence symposiums with Defence delegates from Southeast Asia and the Pacific as well as policy and leadership programs for Defence and the National Intelligence Community.

Raelene provides regular commentary and analysis of the Defence estate and national security issues in The Strategist and national media and is an editor and peer reviewer for multiple ASPI reports and publications.

Raelene’s early Defence career included project management roles in major LAND and SEA capability acquisition projects. Raelene also held key roles in the Defence Security Authority responsible for developing and executing bilateral international security agreements, overseeing the Defence Industrial Security Program.

During her time in Defence, Raelene served as an Officer Cadet in the Australian Army Reserves and was awarded an Australian Service Medal for her participation in the peace-keeping deployment Operation Bel-Isi in Bougainville (PNG) in 2000.

After leaving Defence, Raelene held infrastructure project and program management roles with the UK Government (National Health Service and London Underground) then with NSW Government (NSW Health Infrastructure and Deptartment of Planning and Environment).

Raelene has also held strategic leadership roles in private sector consulting firms leading the planning for mid-term refresh and redevelopment of major Defence bases across Australia, planning for upgrades to support new capability such as LAND 121, LAND 400, AIR7000 and developed the procurement strategy for the $1.2b Defence Fuel Transformation Program.

Raelene is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Masters in Professional Communication and post graduate qualifications in International Relations, Security Risk Management and Defence Studies (ADFA).