Speaker Biography

Ian Spencer

Executive Director Defence and Industry

Defence SA

Ian Spencer, Defence SA’s Executive Director Defence and Industry, is responsible for delivering initiatives that support the growth of South Australia’s defence and space sectors, while strengthening relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

His distinguished career spans four decades across defence, electronic warfare and space in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Ian served 22 years in the Royal Australian Navy as a Sailor and Aerospace Engineer before he founded an electronic warfare consultancy and a satellite technology business.

Through his executive leadership and directorship roles, notably as CEO of a defence SME, Ian spearheaded ground-breaking initiatives and drove innovation in electronic warfare technologies.

He holds qualifications in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science and Technical and Scientific Communication from RMIT.