Who we are
Graham Ashton AM APM
GCG Consortium · Member record
Australia
Tab 01 · Profile
Profile
Former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police (2015 – 2020) after 40 years in law enforcement, including Deputy Commissioner roles in both Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police. He led the Australian investigation into the 2002 Bali bombings, established the first Sports Integrity Police Intelligence Unit, and chairs Fortem Australia. A Member of the Order of Australia and Australian Police Medal recipient.
Graham led Victoria Police as Chief Commissioner from 2015 to 2020 — a force of approximately 20,000 people charged with ensuring the safety of all Victorians — modernising the force through an ICT upgrade and renewed air, water and mounted policing capability, and overseeing the development and completion of a new multi-million-dollar police precinct and headquarters. Earlier he led the Australian investigation into the 2002 Bali bombings for the joint Australian–Indonesian taskforce, led the establishment of the $50 million Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Co-operation in Semarang, Java — the first facility of its type — and established the Victoria Police Family Violence Training Centre, an Australian first.
He now chairs Fortem Australia, the first responder mental health agency, serves on the Department of Home Affairs Community Protection Board and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' Anti-Illegal Betting Council, and has held board roles with the Australian Institute of Police Management, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Institute of Criminology, the Victorian Public Sector Secretaries Board and the Champions of Change Coalition. His recent consultancies span a strategic review of national online gaming policy for Sport Integrity Australia, the ESTA capability review for Emergency Management Victoria, greyhound racing industry reviews in South Australia and New South Wales, and safety reviews for Centrelink, the NDIS and Courts Victoria. He is a graduate of the London Business School Strategic Leadership Course, holds a graduate qualification in management from Queensland University of Technology, and his honours include Member of the Order of Australia (2002), the Australian Police Medal (2001), the National Police Service Medal (2010) and the Victoria Police Medal for Excellence.
Tab 02 · Areas of expertise
Areas of expertise
- Strategic governance Board service spanning the Department of Home Affairs Community Protection Board and, formerly, the Australian Institute of Police Management, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Institute of Criminology, the Victorian Public Sector Secretaries Board and the Champions of Change Coalition.
- Leadership & team management Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police (2015 – 2020), leading a force of approximately 20,000 people with an annual budget in the billions; mental health and gender equality advocate, and Chair of Fortem Australia, the first responder mental health agency.
- Counter-terrorism & major investigations Led internationally significant investigations and counter-terrorism operations, including the Australian investigation into the 2002 Bali bombings for the joint Australian–Indonesian taskforce, in Bali.
- Emergency management Community leadership on all matters of community safety as Chief Commissioner; consultancy reviews including the ESTA capability review for Emergency Management Victoria and safety reviews for Centrelink, the NDIS and Courts Victoria.
- Sports integrity Established the first Sports Integrity Police Intelligence Unit in Victoria, and serves on the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' Anti-Illegal Betting Council.
Tab 03 · Service record
Service record
- Current Board and advisory portfolio Chair of Fortem Australia, the first responder mental health agency; member of the Department of Home Affairs Community Protection Board and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' Anti-Illegal Betting Council; consultancies spanning sports integrity, emergency management and safety reviews across government.
- 2015 – 2020 Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police Led a force of approximately 20,000 people with an annual budget in the billions; modernised the force including an ICT upgrade and air, water police and mounted units, oversaw a new multi-million-dollar police precinct and headquarters, and provided community leadership on all matters of community safety.
- 2015 Deputy Commissioner – Capability, Australian Federal Police Responsible for overseeing strategic organisational direction and information communication.
- 2011 – 2015 Deputy Commissioner – Specialist Operations, Victoria Police Responsible for forensic services, legal services, road policing and Crime Command, with governance and operational oversight of specialist units including homicide, arson and fraud.
- Earlier career Law enforcement service A 40-year career in law enforcement, including leading the Australian investigation into the 2002 Bali bombings for the joint Australian–Indonesian taskforce in Bali, and leading the establishment of the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Co-operation in Semarang, Java — a $50 million facility and the first of its type.
Tab 04 · Consortium delivery