Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand

Dr. Catherine Bair is an accomplished global leader, strategist, and scientist with over two decades of experience spanning medicine, science & technology (S&T), defense, and innovation ecosystems. She currently serves as Managing Director for Australia and is the Co-Founder and Director of the AUKUS Industry Collaborative Network (AICN), an industry-led accelerator driving Pillar 2 of the AUKUS initiative.

Dr. Bair brings deep expertise in national security, biomedical research, and international collaboration. She is a Board Member of the Future of Space Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), a Mentor with the Defence Trailblazer Program, and a trusted consultant to several Australian SMEs, where she supports the growth of sovereign capabilities and innovation pipelines.

Prior to relocating to Australia, Dr. Bair served in the U.S. Department of Defense as a GS-15 Chief of Science & Technology and was the U.S. Lead for the Five Eyes (FVEY) S&T Working Group—spearheading global coordination of emerging technology efforts across allied nations. Her career began in biomedical research, including leadership roles at the National Cancer Institute and Intrexon Corporation, where she was part of the executive team advancing DNA-based gene regulation platforms. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Biochemistry from the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Dr. Bair also holds several influential roles, including:

• Global Ambassador, Science and Policy, Raincloud Defense – An exclusive, invitation-only hub connecting over 5,000 defense tech innovators and companies globally.

• Coach, SigmaBlox Incubator – Advising top-tier small business innovators tackling critical defense challenges for the U.S. and Allied military.

• Australia Lead, Defense Technology Sector – Leading AUS-U.S. industrial partnerships to enhance collective resilience and deterrence.