Keynote Presentations

The keynote speakers for SimTecT 2008 are:

Opening Speaker

The Hon. Theo Theophanous
Minister for Industry and Trade, Information and Communication Technology, and Major Projects

Defence Keynote Address

Air Vice-Marshal John Quaife, AM
Head Capability Systems

Air Vice-Marshal John Quaife graduated from No 112 Pilots Course in September 1981. After a brief tour flying Canberra aircraft, his early career focussed on fighter operations. He has flown Mirage IIIO aircraft and has extensive experience operating F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. He is a Fighter Combat Instructor with in excess of 2000 hours fighter experience and from 1996 to 1998, AVM Quaife commanded No 77 Squadron.

Between 1992 and 1994, he served as a fast jet specialist officer in the Force Development Directorate of the Australian Defence Headquarters, primarily in developing the proposal for the acquisition of Hawk aircraft for Lead-in Fighter training. In 1999, AVM Quaife returned to that headquarters as the Director of Aerospace Combat Development.

During 2001, AVM Quaife directed the project that planned and implemented the amalgamation of all RAAF fast jet operations into a single Air Combat Group. In January 2002, he was appointed to command the newly created group. During his tenure, he commanded the air component forces established to provide air defence for Australian airspace under Operations GUARDIAN and MIATA, and Air Combat Group units deployed for Operations SLIPPER and FALCONER.

In January 2004, AVM Quaife was appointed the RAAF's first permanent Joint Force Air Component Commander. In this appointment he was responsible for developing Air Operations Centre functionality within the Australian Theatre air component. Between December 2004 and April 2005, he served as the director of the US Combined Air Operations Centre where he was responsible for orchestrating coalition air power in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

AVM Quaife was promoted to his current rank in June 2005 and appointed as Air Commander Australia. In this role, he was responsible to the Chief of Air Force for the production and delivery of all air force combat capability. During his tenure, his responsibilities expanded to include the activity of Air Force Training Command.

He commenced his appointment to Head Capability Systems in August 2007.

AVM Quaife was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2004 Honours List. He is a graduate of Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, a fellow of the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies and holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from Melbourne's LaTrobe University.

Simulation Applications

Mr Doug Greenlaw
VP Business Development and Advanced Systems
Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support

Doug Greenlaw is the Vice President of Business Development and Advanced Programs for the Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support (STS) business. He is responsible for leading the growth, strategic development, and Independent Research and Development activities for this industry leading simulation, training, and logistics business with a world-wide purview in defense and civil markets. 

Mr Greenlaw has 28 years of experience in the training and simulation market with extensive expertise in the use of simulation across the system life-cycle. 

Mr Greenlaw has worked extensively in international training and simulation programs with projects in 26 countries. He has supported ADF simulation and training programs since 1982. Early in his career he developed simulations of cruise missile systems for the RAN and RAAF, including the development of the Harpoon Interactive Tactical Training System (HITTS) at HMAS WATSON and Harpoon Engagement Training Aid (HE TA) at RAAF Amberley, Williamtown, and Edinburgh. More recently he led the analysis of simulation assisted acquisition approaches for the RAN Air Warfare Destroyer and led an audit of distributed simulation technologies for the Joint Combined Training Capability (JC TC). 

Mr Greenlaw holds a B.S. degree in Mathematics from the College of William and Mary and a M.A. degree in Mathematics from the University of Maryland.

Developing Serious Games

Dr Jan Cannon-Bowers
Senior Research Scientist, Institute for Simulation and Training
University of Central Florida

Dr Jan Cannon-Bowers will overview the latest trends in Serious Games.

Jan Cannon-Bowers, Ph.D. holds MA and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. She recently left her position as the Navy's Senior Scientist for Training Systems to join the School of Film and Digital Media at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL as an Associate Professor. As the team leader for Advanced Training Research for the Navy, she was involved in a number of research projects directed toward improving performance in complex environments. These included investigation of training needs and design for multi-operator training systems, tactical decision-making under stress, the impact of technology on learning and performance, training for knowledge-rich environments, human-centered design, human performance modeling and development of knowledge structures underlying higher order skills.

At UCF, Dr. Cannon-Bowers is continuing her work in technology-enabled learning and human performance modeling. Her goal is to leverage and transition DoD's sizable investment in modeling, simulation and training to other areas such as entertainment, workforce development and life-long learning and education. To date, she has been awarded several grants to support this work, including a recent award by the National Science Foundation under their Science of Learning Center program. Dr. Cannon-Bowers has been an active researcher, with over 100 publications in scholarly journals, books and technical reports, and numerous professional presentations. She is a Fellow of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Division 14 of the American Psychological Association).

Simulation - the Human Factor

Associate Professor Marcus Watson
A/Senior Director Skills Development Centre
Queensland Health, Australia

Professor Watson will discuss the role of simulation in Organisational Learning.

Marcus is a Cognitive Systems Engineer who has worked in defence and healthcare simulations. He is the Senior Director of the Queensland Health Skills Development Centre. The Skills Development Centre provides the tools and training to improve the skills for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in Australia and Asia Pacific, to enhance the quality of patient care. He is also an Associate Professor of Medical Education in the School of Medicine and an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at University of Queensland. Marcus’ current research examines the use simulations to assess communication skills, procedural skills and equipment design. He has received national awards for innovation and the Jerome Ely Award for the Best Paper in Human Factors for 2004.

The Use of Modelling and Simulation in Emergency Management

Commissioner Greg Mullins AFSM
New South Wales Fire Brigades

Greg Mullins joined the NSW Fire Brigades in 1978, having been a volunteer bush firefighter since 1972. He was appointed to the rank of Assistant Commissioner in July 1996, and on 4 July 2003 became the first fire officer in the 120 year history of the NSWFB to be appointed as both Chief Fire Officer and CEO.

He holds a Masters Degree in Management, has completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the United States Fire Academy, the Oxford Strategic Leadership Program, and has been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal, National Medal and 1st Clasp, NSW Fire Brigades Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Clasp, Commendation for Courageous Action, and St Johns Ambulance Emergency Services Award. He is a Churchill Fellow and a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers and Australian Institute of Management.

Opportunities and Issues for Simulation in Mining and Construction

Mr Derek Hunter
Chief Executive Officer
Mining Industry Skills Centre

Derek Hunter, the Chief Executive Officer for the Mining Industry Skills Centre has spent almost 20 years as a specialist in education, organisational change, and leadership development for large international and national companies.

In his position at the Mining Industry Skills Centre, Mr. Hunter has taken on the challenge of assuring the timely development of a sustainable workforce aligned to the industry's requirements.

In the organisation's 2007 strategy, Mr. Hunter outlined that the role of the Mining Industry Skills Centre is to facilitate the requirements of Industry and Government in relation to all matters of training provision and specifically Vocational Education and Training (VET). He added that the long-term focus is to negate the skills shortage for the future of the industry and provide a world class VET system tailored to industry need.

Through the development of innovative projects and initiatives as well as regular industry consultation and engagement, Mr. Hunter and his team at the Mining industry Skills Centre are well on their way to ensuring the implementation of this strategic direction.

Prior to joining the Mining Industry Skills Centre Mr. Hunter held a variety of senior consulting positions which saw him working with a range of diverse companies, including Energy Resources Australia, Comalco Aluminum and Rio Tinto Ltd, to implement organisational change and leadership development programs.

From 1998 -2000, Mr. Hunter held the position of CEO at Kormilda College in Darwin where he was responsible for developing a unique multi-cultural independent school, servicing the needs of families in Darwin and the remote communities of the Northern Territory.

Mr. Hunter's current position and his previous experience combine to give him a deep insight into the key issues and challenges facing the Australian mining industry.

©2007 Simulation Industry Association of Australia
Updated: 23 April 2008