Graham is a distinguished Australian leader with more than 40 years of experience across law enforcement, governance, strategic leadership, and public policy. He served as Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police from 2015 to 2020, leading a workforce of approximately 20,000 personnel and overseeing a multi-billion-dollar annual budget. In this role, he was responsible for statewide community safety, major emergency responses, public communications, and the modernisation of policing capabilities, including ICT systems, specialist assets, and new infrastructure.

Prior to this, Ashton held senior executive roles as Deputy Commissioner of Victoria Police and Deputy Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, where he led specialist operations, crime command, forensic and legal services, road policing, and organisational capability. His operational career includes leadership of internationally significant counter-terrorism and transnational investigations, most notably Australia’s involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings investigation. He also led the establishment of the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation, a $50 million facility that remains a cornerstone of regional security collaboration.

Beyond policing, Ashton has built a strong portfolio in governance and advisory roles. He is widely recognised as an international authority on sports integrity and corruption, having established the world’s first Sports Integrity Police Intelligence Unit. He is a committed advocate for first responder mental health and gender equality and has chaired and served on numerous boards across public safety, community protection, and integrity organisations. His service has been recognised through multiple national honours, including appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia.