Phil Temby has joined the Defence Innovation Partnership (DIP) as Associate Director, effective 1 July 2024.
Embedded as the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) representative for two-years, Mr Temby will bring more than two decades of Defence research experience to the role.
Armed with a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours from the University of Adelaide, a Masters in Psychology from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and a Graduate Certificate in Scientific Leadership from the University of Melbourne, Mr Temby has served on national and international research panels, published extensively, and been recognised for his contributions to Defence innovation, science and technology (IS&T).
Throughout his career, Mr Temby has collaborated with various parts of Defence, including the Army, Navy and Air Force, and worked extensively with universities and industry on Defence research projects.
“Much of my research has been focused on optimising humans, teams, technology and systems for mission success in complex Defence environments,” he said.
“Working for Defence has provided me with invaluable experiences and opportunities to develop real-world solutions for our war fighters. I’ve worked with brilliant people and gained exposure to many cutting-edge technologies; it’s been a wonderful journey thus far.”
Today, Mr Temby describes himself as a “connector”, passionate about facilitating and supporting opportunities for collaboration across academia, Government and industry to enhance Defence capability.
He adds that it’s an exciting time to work in Defence innovation. “The 2024 National Defence Strategy has outlined a need to accelerate research and technology innovation for Defence and this presents a host of opportunities.”
Excited by the prospect of working across agencies, Mr Temby applied for the role at DIP. “This was a feature of my previous role as a Scientific Adviser which I thoroughly enjoyed and gained amazing experience from.”
The DIP is part of the Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN), which seeks to connect Defence with researchers from universities, industry and the broader innovation community.
In his day-to-day role at DIP, Mr Temby builds Defence relationships across the academic and industry sectors while helping to achieve outcomes for state and federal Government that are aligned to Defence’s IS&T priorities.
Looking ahead, Mr Temby hopes to leave his mark at DIP. “By drawing on my knowledge of Defence priorities, networks within DSTG and the ADF, and bringing in a fresh perspective, I hope to build new partnerships that can deliver results and enhance Defence capability”.