The Defence SA Advisory Board is a formidable line-up of Australia’s top Defence and industry experts. The Board provides high-level strategic advice to promote the growth of the defence industry in South Australia and plays a key role in guiding the state’s defence strategy.
Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO (Ret’d) – Chair
Lieutenant General Rick Burr AO DSC MVI (Ret’d) was appointed Chair of the Defence SA Advisory Board in September 2025, bringing a wealth of strategic insight and leadership to the role.
Having first joined the Board as a member in October 2024, Rick now leads its efforts in helping shape South Australia’s strategic direction in the defence and space industries.
Rick has a distinguished military career including Chief of the Australian Army from 2018-2022Other significant military appointments include Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army (Pacific); Command of the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment; Director General Military Strategic Commitments and senior advisor in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (National Security Division).
Rick is an authentic and visionary strategic leader with unique experience leading dynamic organisations, building partnerships and improving capabilities throughout Australia and the Indo-Pacific region.
Rick’s ongoing focus is on supporting Australia’s national interest, enabling capability advantage, strengthening international relationships, and investing in future leaders.
He is a Certified Chair for best practice Advisory Boards, member of the AICD, graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, United States Marine Corps’ Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Warfighting, and of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He holds a Master degree from US Marine Corps University and Bachelor degree from the UNSW.
He is an Officer of the Order of Australia, recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross and Member of the Royal Victorian Order. His leadership has also been recognised with numerous foreign honours.
Rick grew up in Renmark, South Australia before embarking on his Army career.
Catherine Roberts AO,CSC
Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Catherine (Cath) Roberts AO CSC has over 40 years’ experience serving in the Royal Australian Air Force as an Aerospace Engineer.
Her most recent appointments include as the Defence Space Commander responsible for establishing and maturing Space capability in Defence, as the Head of Air Force Capability responsible for conceptualising and shaping the development of Air and Space power across the capability life cycle, and as Head Aerospace Systems Division project managing all Air Force fixed wing acquisition and sustainment activities.
Cath’s experience in Defence includes space capability analysis, project management, governance, airworthiness and safety, contracting, diplomatic postings and networking across Defence, Government, Industry and Academia – domestically and internationally.
Cath has a passion for Diversity and she has been involved in assisting women in the wider community to enter the field of aerospace and STEM through her work with Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia, Women in Aviation International and has mentored in both the Future Through Collaboration (Defence and Industry) and Superstars of STEM programs.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Management and Defence Studies from University of Canberra and a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from RMIT. She is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors and was a member of the Australian Space Agency Advisory Board from 2019-2023.
In recognition of her achievements, Cath was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for her contribution to Aviation Safety in 2004 and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2022 for her service as Head Aerospace Systems Division and Head of Air Force Capability.
Christine Zeitz
Christine Zeitz is a highly accomplished defence industry leader with more than 35 years of experience in senior executive roles across Australian and international defence companies.
Christine has held CEO positions at Northrop Grumman Australia and Leidos Australia, where she led strategic development, business growth and large-scale transformation.
Her career spans Australia, Asia, Europe, the USA and the Middle East, bringing a global perspective to her board portfolio. Her expertise includes strategy development, business turnarounds, mergers and acquisitions, stakeholder engagement and governance. Christine is known for building high-performing teams and fostering strong board-executive relationships.
Christine spent 25 years at BAE Systems Australia, progressing from graduate accountant to President of North East Asia, based in Tokyo. She played a key role in major acquisitions and international contract negotiations, contributing to the company’s significant growth.
She holds a Bachelor of Economics (Accounting), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and completed Harvard Business School’s Strategy IQ program.
Christine currently serves on several boards, including SBS (Special Broadcasting Service), Defence Trailblazer and Port Adelaide Football Club. Former roles include Director at CEDA, Centre for Defence Industry Capability, Adelaide Festival Centre and Flinders University Council.
Her contributions to the defence sector have been recognised with multiple awards, including the Australian Defence Magazine Hall of Fame & Lifetime Achievement Award, Defence Connect Female Defence Leader of the Year and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Corporate Finalist.
Kathryn Toohey AM CSC
Kathryn Toohey retired from the Australian Army at the rank of Major General in March 2023 and was appointed to the Defence SA Advisory Board in May 2023.
A graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Royal Military College – Duntroon, Kathryn held a raft of positions during her 35+ year Army career. She has served in the 7th Signals Regiment (Electronic Warfare), the 1st Brigade Headquarters and in the Strategic Operations Division of Headquarters Northern Command. She was posted as an instructor at the Royal Military College – Duntroon and as the Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General of Australia and completed a 13-month deployment as a troop commander in the Force Communications Unit as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority – Cambodia.
For the past two decades, Kathryn has specialised in military modernisation and project management, which has seen her serve as a Capability Liaison Officer for Defence in Europe, assigned directorship of the Capability and Technology Management College and appointed Director-General Integrated Capability Development, responsible for varied joint Australian Defence Force projects. She also served as the Acting Head of Capability Systems within the group.
In 2017 Kathryn was appointed Head Land Capability, responsible for the modernisation of Army equipment, facilities and organisational structures, before taking on the role of Head Force Integration, within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Executive in 2019, responsible for a range of complex, strategic functions impacting all three Services.
Kathryn holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA), a Masters of Management in Defence Studies; a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Honours). She is a graduate of the Australian Joint Command and Staff College and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD, Singapore.
In recognition of her exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force, Kathryn was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in 2008 and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2017.
Mr Steve Ludlam FREng
Steve Ludlam is a global submarine expert who was Chief Executive of naval shipbuilding company ASC Pty Ltd from 2010 to 2014. Before moving to Adelaide to take up this role, Mr Ludlam was President of Submarines at Rolls-Royce plc in the United Kingdom, where he led the successful modernisation of the country’s nuclear-powered submarine program.
Mr Ludlam’s career began with Rolls-Royce as a development engineer working on nuclear submarine programs. He became General Manager of the Submarine Nuclear Reactor Test Establishment and then President of Submarines, a senior executive position.
Mr Ludlam holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Nuclear Engineering. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers in 2010. He has been voted one of Engineers Australia’s 100 most influential engineers on four separate occasions.
