Major General (Retd) Gus McLachlan is a director and trusted advisor with a proven track record of leading large, complex organisations through transformation, innovation, and strategic change across defence, industry, academia, and the national security sector.

Formerly Commander of the Australian Army’s Land Forces, one of the nation’s largest and most complex organisations, and later a senior executive at Boral, Australia’s largest construction materials company, Gus has built a career around leading diverse workforces, simplifying complexity, and delivering results in challenging and high-pressure environments.

Recognised for his curiosity, strategic foresight, and commitment to innovation, Gus led the Army’s early exploration of cyber operations, robotics, autonomous systems, and data analytics. Since transitioning from full-time military service, he has focused on strengthening Australia’s defence-industrial competitiveness and national resilience.

Gus works extensively with early-stage and scale-up technology companies, defence prime contractors, universities, and not-for-profit organisations. His work includes advancing commercialisation pathways, shaping sovereign capability strategies, supporting Defence-industry collaboration, and guiding organisations through leadership, governance, and transformation challenges.

He provides strategic advice to boards and chief executives, contributes to national security discussions through public commentary, keynote presentations, and media engagement, and supports innovation programs across the university research sector and Australian technology ventures.

A graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, Gus brings a principled and future-focused approach to leadership. He is passionate about helping organisations adapt, innovate, and thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic strategic environment.