My concern with governance has its origins in my decision to resign from the Office of National Assessments (ONA) on 11 March 2003 in protest over the Iraq war. I was the only serving intelligence official in Australia, the UK and US to resign publicly before the invasion. I told ABC Radio shortly afterwards that ‘Iraq does not pose a security threat to any other country at this point in time, its weapons of mass destruction program is very disjointed and contained, and there is no hard intelligence linking the Iraqi regime to al Qaida in any substantial or worrisome way.’

Prior to my work in ONA I served in the Army where I rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. I’ve also worked in senior management roles with the American defence contractor Raytheon. Currently I run a Hobart small business with my wife.

I am not a member of any political party nor involved with one in any way. I was a member of the Greens between 2003 and 2008, during which time I stood twice as a candidate including against Prime Minister John Howard in his Sydney seat of Bennelong at the 2004 federal election. I’ve also been a member of the Liberal Party.

At the 2010 Tasmanian State election I came within 315 votes of being elected as an Independent when I finished as the fifth highest vote-getter in the Denison electorate and in the top 25 in the state. I’m pleased I helped energise some of the really important issues at the election, for instance the poor standard of governance in the State and the scourge of pokies. The new State Government would do well to reflect on my result and the fact that it hinged on the high level of public concern with many of the issues on which I campaigned.

My qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Management and Graduate Diploma of Defence Studies. Awards I’ve received include the Australian Intelligence Community Medallion (twice), Australia Day Achievement Medallion, UN Association of Australia Whistleblower Award, Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Association Civil Justice Award and Free Speech Victoria Voltaire Award.

I’m 48 years old, married to Kate Burton and live in Sandy Bay. We have two young daughters, Olive and Rose.