Andrew Kirby gladly accepted the nomination and was elected President of RUSIQ in September 2025
Colonel Andrew Kirby is a strategic thinker, soldier and educator who brings more than two decades of experience in defence, national security and leadership to his role as President of the Royal United Services Institute Queensland (RUSIQ).
Andrew is the founder and Principal of Strategise Australia, a consultancy specialising in strategic-level plans and planning for Defence, government and industry. His work has included developing Australia’s first maritime strategy for robotics, autonomous systems and AI, and supporting complex, cross-agency projects where technology, policy and people all intersect.
Across his Army career, Andrew has served in a variety of command and staff roles, including as Deputy Director military strategic futures and commander of an infantry battalion.
He has deployed on multiple operations overseas and has been closely involved in thinking about amphibious warfare, joint operations and Australia’s regional posture, co-authoring widely cited articles in the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings on Australia’s amphibious resurgence and strategic imperatives in the Indo-Pacific.
Andrew is also deeply engaged in education and veteran support. He has served as an adjunct lecturer in security, strategy and leadership at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and is a PhD candidate focused on enhancing national resilience in strategic contexts. He is a founding partner of the Veterans Industry Partnership and has helped design programs that connect veterans’ skills with opportunities in small and medium enterprises, as well as speaking and teaching widely in Australia and overseas.
Academically, Andrew holds master’s degrees in business and defence & strategic studies, along with bachelor’s degrees in business and economics, and has been recognised for academic excellence by the Golden Key International Honour Society and the Australian Honour Society.
His professional passion is helping leaders “make sense of the messy” – reframing complex problems, designing practical options and guiding organisations through uncertainty.
As President of RUSIQ, Andrew is focused on keeping the Institute innovative, welcoming and relevant: a place where serving and former ADF members, public servants, industry partners, students and interested citizens can meet, listen, question and contribute to Australia’s defence and security conversation.
Away from work, Andrew enjoys overseas travel and trips to the local beach with his family, and can often be found drone racing with his three children.
