Message from the new president of ANI, Commodore Peter Leavy
I am writing to introduce myself as the incoming President of the ANI Council, taking over the role from Vice Admiral Peter Jones, AO, DSC, RAN (Rtd), at the AGM on Monday, 20 November. It is a great honour to have been elected President and I am well aware of the calibre of those I follow. I would like to particularly thank Peter for his fantastic leadership of our Institute since 2015. He is our longest-serving President, and under his leadership, our membership, finances, and range of activities have all grown. I hope that we can continue that trend.
Some personal background. I joined the RAN in 1984 through the RANC and, in my third year, transferred to the inaugural year at ADFA. I followed a traditional Warfare route, specializing in ASW, and was fortunate to have commanded HMA Ships Stuart and Sydney. Over the last decade, I have served as COMFLOT, Naval Attaché Washington, and Commandant ADFA, and I am just completing two years at HQJOC. I expect to retire in early 2024.
At the risk of preaching to the converted, there has been no more important time for a national discussion over the role of maritime affairs in our nation’s economic prosperity and security since the end of World War 2. The growing challenges we face, from emerging powers seeking to reshape the international order to better suit their objectives to the growing threats of climate change, maritime resource extraction, and sea-based crime, will all impact our nation’s security and prosperity. Compounding these challenges are emerging technologies that now allow for activities not fully catered for in the Law of the Sea Convention, such as deep-sea mining and vital seabed infrastructure that needs protecting. The Institute’s remit is to promote public debate and discussion about all aspects of maritime security, so our raison d’etre has never been more important.
In that vein, I ask for your assistance in growing our membership base, particularly with junior members within the ADF, the national security community, and our industry partners. If you are a subscriber to our excellent weekly newsletter, have you considered joining as a full member?
Over the last few years, the range of ANI activities has grown with the annual Goldrick Seminar, the Vernon Parker Orations, a renewed Australian Naval Journal, the Themed Dinners (which allow close discussions between Navy, Defence, Academia, the Attaché Corps and Defence Industry) and of course, our Saltwater Strategist podcast series that has proven very popular. While there is certainly personal value in being a member of the ANI, I also ask you to view your membership as also a small financial contribution to help the ANI facilitate discussion through our various events – in a sense, doing your bit to help the ANI do ours. We are a non-profit organisation, and the Council are all volunteers, so your financial assistance is vital to our work. Please highlight both aspects of membership – personal benefit and investment in the wider maritime debate – to potential new members.
To join go here.
Finally, a reminder that 2025 will mark 50 years of the ANI. We are already looking at a busier-than-normal program of events to mark our Golden Anniversary, and we have a small team already scoping options. I welcome suggestions.
I feel incredibly proud to have been elected President of your Institute and look forward to the valuable contribution we can all make to our nation’s security and prosperity.
