Justin Bassi

Justin Bassi is the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

From June 2019 to March 2022 he was Chief of Staff to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne. Immediately prior to this, Justin was the Cyber Intelligence Mission Manager at the Office of National Intelligence, where he led the integration of cyber security and critical technologies across the National Intelligence Community. From September 2015 to August 2018, Justin was the National Security Adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He led the team advising the PM and Cabinet Ministers on Australia’s national security, defence and international relations. This included responsibility for all areas of security legislation, policy and operations, including counter terrorism, foreign interference, cyberspace, intelligence and border security.

Justin was also previously the National Security Adviser to Attorney-General George Brandis, focusing on Australia’s national security legislation, policy and activities, including counter terrorism and telecommunications security. Prior to that, Justin spent over 10 years in the Australian Public Service, including in the intelligence community for the Office of National Assessments and at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet where he had responsibility for cyber security policy.