Defence Leaders: Other Leaders
Mr Stephen Merchant
Deputy Secretary Intelligence, Security And International Policy
Stephen Merchant is the Deputy Secretary for Intelligence, Security and International Policy. In this position he oversees the activities of the three Defence Intelligence Agencies: Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), Defence Signals Directorate (DSD), and Defence Imagery & Geospatial Organisation (DIGO), and is responsible for the Defence Security Authority (DSA) and International Policy Division. Mr Merchant was promoted to the position of Deputy Secretary in February 2007 from the Defence Signals Directorate, where he was Director for four years.
Mr Merchant has long experience in the Australian Intelligence Community and in the Department of Defence, principally in the analysis of international strategic issues and the development of Australian defence policies. Immediately before joining DSD, Mr Merchant was Acting First Assistant Secretary White Paper. Together with Hugh White, he was responsible for the production of the Government’s Defence White Paper Defence 2000: Our Future Defence Force. During this process, Mr Merchant worked closely with the Community Consultation Team in preparing its report to Government and with the Defence Consultation process.
In 1999-2000, Mr Merchant was Director General Investment Analysis in the Capability Analysis and Options staff of the Defence Headquarters where he led a small team that critically reviewed capability development proposals going forward to the Defence Capability Committee or Sub-committee. He also led a team that reviewed the management of the ADF’s aviation capabilities.
In 1997, when head of the Strategic Policy branch, Mr Merchant played a central role in the writing of the 1997 strategic review “Australia’s Strategic Policy”.
In 1991-92, Mr Merchant headed the Intelligence Assessments Branch in the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO). The Branch’s functions were long-term intelligence estimates and quality control responsibilities for all DIO publications. He followed that appointment with a two year secondment to head the Strategic Analysis Branch in the Office of National Assessments, Australia’s national intelligence assessment organisation.
During 1987-91 he served with International Policy Division of Defence and was, on separate occasions, responsible for the management of Australia’s defence relations with the United States, with the ASEAN countries and with Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific. He was also a member of the writing team for the 1987 White Paper, the Defence of Australia.
Mr Merchant is married with two daughters at university and enjoys golf, gardening and reading.