Marc Ablong PSM is the Managing Partner of Geostrategic Risk Partners Pty Ltd, helping organisations manage geostrategic risks and find opportunities to succeed in an uncertain world.
Marc left the Australian Public Service in 2024 after a 31-year career that culminated as a Deputy Secretary within the Australian Department of Home Affairs, where he held responsibility for strategic guidance and capability planning; national security policy; international relationship management; immigration policy; law enforcement policy and electronic surveillance reform; data and biometrics policy; regional processing and resettlement; emergency management; intelligence; critical and emerging technology policy; cyber security policy; national resilience and strengthening democracy.
Prior to joining the Department of Home Affairs, Marc was a senior executive across 25 years within the Australian Department of Defence, where he held positions in capital equipment and acquisition policy, international policy, military strategy, maritime capability development, Air Force long-range planning, futures and scenario-planning, national support and mobilisation planning, information strategy and futures, strategic reform, Defence strategic policy, Defence industry policy, corporate governance, media and ministerial coordination, contestability, and naval shipbuilding policy. Marc was Chief of Staff of the 2009 Defence White Paper Team, providing strategic advice and support to the Principal Author, and led the development of the 2016 Defence White Paper, Integrated Investment Program, and Defence Industry Policy Statement. He left Defence after a period as acting Deputy Secretary Strategic Policy and Intelligence.
Prior to joining Government service, Marc had an earlier career in the Australian banking and finance industry.
Marc is a graduate of the Joint Services Staff College (1997), the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (2002), and the Advanced Management Program 190 (2016) at the Harvard Business School. Marc was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2018 Australia Day Honours.
Recent Work
Marc’s first TAFI commentary is forthcoming. In the meantime, see his work at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and through Geostrategic Risk Partners.