Staff
John Hartley graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in December 1965. Three months later, he deployed to South Vietnam as a platoon commander with the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
He returned to Vietnam in 1970 as a senior adviser to a South Vietnamese infantry battalion. In these two appointments, he was wounded three times, twice mentioned-in-dispatches, awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the US Army Commendation Medal for Valour on two occasions and the US Air Force Air Medal for Valour. As a General Officer, he headed Army’s Training Command, was the Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation, Deputy Chief of the Army and Head of Army’s Land Command.
He has lectured on geo-strategic issues at the University of Queensland and at Griffiths University and has published over 150 articles in newspapers and defence related magazines. He was the SBS commentator for the opening phase of the 2003 Gulf War, appearing on national TV on 20 consecutive nights and was also the ABC FM spokesperson on the same topic. He was appointed FDI Institute Director in September 2009.
Alyson is the Executive Officer with FDI. She commenced in 2001, when FDI was known as the Centre for International Strategic Analysis (CISA). She has been instrumental in helping to establish FDI.
Alyson has extensive corporate experience in administration, secretarial and events planning.
She worked for many years with Ansett Airlines, also worked within her family business, and spent several years with large corporates.
Leighton has a Master of Philosophy (Defence and Strategic Studies) from Massey University and a Master of Arts (Translation and Linguistics) from the University of Western Sydney. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Language Studies) and was awarded a place on the Faculty Honour Roll at Edith Cowan University.
He is also a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.
Leighton also has a diploma in French language studies (the Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française, issued by the French Government) and has studied Spanish and Portuguese.
Mr Gary Kleyn has a Bachelor of Economics, with a double major in Economic History, and International Business Economics from the University of Western Australia. He also has a Diploma in Business Management.
Mr Kleyn has an extensive background in journalism and his work has been widely published. He was a Senior Journalist at the South Western Times/Bunbury Herald, and a Journalist for the Western Australian Business News. He is a member of the Australian Institute of International Affairs and a board member of Heritage FM.
He also has a significant commercial background, as proprietor of BEES Business & Educational English Services from 2003 -2006, and as Assistant Farm Manager of a tourist and wildflower enterprise from 1990 - 1992 and as an international wildflower exporter.
Liam has a double Bachelor of Arts in Education and Politics from Edith Cowan University.
He also holds a Masters in International Relations from Curtin University.
Liam has held various positions within the education sector, and most recently was a lecturer at the School of Social Sciences and Asian Languages at Curtin University.
Sergei has extensive background in analysis and journalism emphasising security, defence and geopolitical issues relating to Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.
His research has been published widely and has appeared in the Australian Financial Review, Resource Stocks, The Diplomat, The Australian, Harvard International Review, The West Australian, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Jane’s Navy International, Jane’s Intelligence Review, Jane’s Intelligence Weekly, Naval Forces, Defense News, Force, South Asia Defence and Strategic Review, Asia Defence News, Defence Today, Policy, Asia Pacific Defence Reporter, Defence Review Asia, Australian Defence Magazine and The Interpreter.
He has previously worked as a Senior Interviewer for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs sponsored Australians at War Film Archive, and has appeared as a current affairs commentator on television and radio programmes such as the 7.30 Report, Australia Network, Discovery Channel, ABC Radio Australia – Asia Pacific and Late Night Live with Philip Adams on Radio National.
Sergei is also a regular presenter at the Australian Defence College on Indian Ocean geopolitics, including defence and security issues.
Jay holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia, with majors in Economics and International Relations. His degree included a period of study at the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), Europe’s leading political science institute. Jay is FDI’s Research Analyst, focussing on global and regional food and water security, and the likely future implications of changes in world demographic and food productivity, particularly for the Indian Ocean region.
Previously, Jay has served in the Royal Australian Navy as an Electronic Warfare specialist, during which time he saw active service, being assigned to operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Catalyst, as well as the International Campaign Against Terror.
Photographs Courtesy of www.shotbysean.com