Craig Bickell | Assistant Secretary, Commonwealth Security Policy
Department of Home Affairs

Craig is the Assistant Secretary – Commonwealth Security Policy (CSP). Craig leads a team responsible for the coordination and administration of whole-of-government cyber and protective security policy. Commonwealth Security Policy implements the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF); the Hosting Certification Framework (HCF); and the Systems of Government Significance regime on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) and enables the governance and assurance of protective security policy arrangements for Government. He leads for policy development for Cyber Security hardening of Australian Government IT through the coordination of the Commonwealth Cyber Security Uplift plan – part of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy.  He brings more than 30 years’ experience across national security, intelligence, emergency management and crisis coordination. Craig joined the Australian Public Service in May 2021 following a 31‑year career in the Australian Defence Force. He commenced with Home Affairs as Assistant Secretary, National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) within Emergency Management Australia, where he led whole‑of‑government crisis planning and coordination and contributed to the development of the national multi‑agency exercising capability. During 2021–22, Craig led the National Coordination Mechanism throughout the COVID‑19 pandemic, working closely with industry and all levels of government to manage complex and concurrent national crises. From January to June 2022, he also led the multi‑agency Supply Chains Taskforce to mitigate the impacts of COVID‑19, economic disruption and severe weather. He later coordinated the Joint Inter‑Agency Exotic Animal Disease Preparedness Task Force, assessing Australia’s preparedness for potential incursions of foot‑and‑mouth disease and lumpy skin disease. Throughout his ADF career, Craig held intelligence command and staff appointments at tactical, operational and strategic levels. His international experience includes service as Defence Attaché in Kabul, Chief of Analysis in a US‑led Intelligence Operations Centre in Afghanistan, and instructor at the UK Defence and Intelligence Security College. He has also served as Army Security Adviser and Army Safety Coordinator. Craig was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal in 2007 for his contribution to stabilising security in Timor‑Leste and is a veteran of operational service in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Timor‑Leste. He continues to serve as a Colonel in the Australian Defence Force Reserve.