Michelle McGuinness appointed national cyber security coordinator

Military intelligence veteran Michelle McGuinness has been appointed national cyber security coordinator by the Department of Home Affairs. 

Home Affairs' national cyber security coordinator Michelle McGuinness.

McGuinness was the deputy director for Commonwealth integration (DDCI) at the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in her last role.

She replaces Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)'s Air Commander Australia Darren Goldie who was recalled from his inaugural appointment to the cyber security coordinator role after four months, citing a “workplace matter,” which Capital Brief reported pre-dated his time as coordinator.

"I’m excited to get started and continue to ensure that Australia is best positioned to respond to threats of the digital age," McGuinness said in an X (formerly Twitter) post.

"I want to thank the acting coordinator, Hamish Hansford, for his service in the role and the coordination of Australia’s response to cyber threats in recent months."

Hansford, Home Affairs’ deputy secretary of cyber and infrastructure security, has been the acting national cyber security coordinator since November. 

Cyber security and Home Affairs minister Clare O'Neil confirmed McGuinness’ appointment this morning, which was suggested by unconfirmed reports earlier this month. 

“Lieutenant General McGuinness has served in the Australian Defence Force for 30 years in a range of roles in Australia and internationally,” O'Neil said in a LinkedIn post. 

“Her [McGuinness's] mission will be to protect against and respond to major cyber security threats and incidents facing Australia.

“With the National Office of Cyber Security (NOCS), the coordinator will drive forward the necessary work to ensure Australia is best positioned to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the digital age.” 

The Albanese government launched the National Office of Cyber Security in February last year as part of a seven-year plan to synchronise Commonwealth agencies' responses and protections against cyber incidents; it managed the response to the HWL Ebsworth leak that impacted 65 government entities.

NOCS builds on the remit of Home Affairs’ cyber security response coordination unit (CSRCU), which was set up in December 2022 in response to an internal review of the department’s handling of the Optus and Medibank data breaches.

McGuinness worked at DDCI for three years; responsible for advising the US Defence Intelligence Agency’s director on strengthening collaboration and information-sharing between the Five Eyes nations.

Before she was appointed to the DIA, McGuinness was director general of counter-proliferation and terrorism at the Australian Defence Intelligence Organisation.