Droneshield appoints retired Rear Admiral Lee Goddard to its board as independent director

Lee Goddard, a retired rear admiral, is the new independent non-executive director of Australian company Droneshield, the company announced recently. His leadership experience spans more than three decades – in defence and national security as well as in government and industry.

Goddard has already gained extensive experience on boards and in the leadership of organisations that operate at the intersection of advanced technology, defence capability and government. He currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Austal Limited, Southern Launch and the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, among others. Previously, he held board and advisory roles at a range of defence and technology organisations.

From the navy to the Droneshield board

He held numerous senior leadership and command posts in the Royal Australian Navy, where he rose to the rank of rear admiral. Over the years he built broad expertise in Australia, the United States and allied nations: in defence capability and strategic planning, government procurement systems, international defence cooperation and stakeholder management.

As head of Maritime Border Command and Operation Sovereign Borders, Goddard led complex multi-agency operations in which defence, border protection and intelligence services combined their capabilities. He also held senior strategic policy roles, both at Defence Headquarters and in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, which roughly corresponds to the Austrian Federal Chancellery. There he advised at the highest level of government on international policy issues and led government initiatives involving the departments of defence, home affairs, finance and foreign affairs.

Hamish McLennan, Chairman of Droneshield, commented on the appointment:

“Lee brings an exceptional combination of experience in defence, national security, government and on boards to Droneshield. Over the course of his career he has worked at the highest levels of the Australian Defence Force and government, and more recently has built a strong track record as a director of defence and relevant industry organisations”— Hamish McLennan, Chairman of Droneshield

Goddard himself said of his appointment to the board:

“Droneshield has built a strong reputation as an innovative Australian defence technology company of growing international significance. I am delighted to join the board and look forward to the opportunity to contribute my experience in defence, government and international security as the company pursues its next phase of growth.”— Lee Goddard