Appointment to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and Australian Institute of Criminology
I am pleased to announce the appointment of former ASIO Deputy Director General Heather Cook as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC).
The ACIC is Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency, with specialist investigative capabilities under the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002. The AIC is Australia’s national research and knowledge centre on crime and justice.
Ms Cook’s five-year appointment will commence on 15 January 2024.
Ms Cook has over 33 years’ experience as an intelligence professional – most recently as Deputy Director General of ASIO. Ms Cook is currently a Member of the Distinguished Advisor Panel at the National Security College, Australian National University.
I congratulate Ms Cook on her appointment. I also take this opportunity to thank Matthew Rippon for acting in the CEO and Director roles while the merit based selection process was undertaken.
For more information about the work of the ACIC and AIC, visit:
Biography
Heather Cook began her career in intelligence in 1989, serving with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service until 1995. Ms Cook was a Senior Policy Office in the Defence, Intelligence and Security Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet between 2000 and 2002. She served as First Assistant Director-General at ASIO between 2006 and 2015 and as Deputy Director-General until 2023.
Ms Cook is currently a Member of the Distinguished Advisor Panel at the National Security College, Australian National University.