Andrew Wilkie’s concern with governance has its origins in his decision to resign from the Office of National Assessments (ONA) on 11 March 2003 in protest over the Iraq war. He was the only serving intelligence official in Australia, the UK and US to resign publicly before the invasion. Andrew 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.’ His assessment was correct.

Prior to his work in ONA, Andrew Wilkie served in the Army where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He also worked in senior management roles with the American defence contractor Raytheon. Currently Andrew runs a Hobart small business with his wife.

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

Andrew Wilkie’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Management and Graduate Diploma of Defence Studies. Awards he has 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.

Andrew Wilkie is 48 years old, married to Kate Burton and lives in Sandy Bay. They have two young daughters, Olive and Rose.