ABF Commissioner Michael Outram speaks after being sworn is in May 2018. Photo: ABF.
The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF), Michael Outram, has been reappointed to the role until 9 November 2024.
In a 12 April statement Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil said, since its establishment in 2015, the ABF has proven it is a vital economic and national security asset, protecting Australia’s border while enabling legitimate travel and trade.
“Mr Outram has been with the ABF since 2015, and acted as Commissioner from May 2017 before being sworn in as Commissioner on 14 May 2018,” she said.
“He has provided exceptional leadership and stability to the ABF and has brought a sharp focus on driving operational excellence, professionalism, culture and values.
“As part of the Home Affairs portfolio, the ABF is an unfailing partner in the national security community, working closely with other agencies to share knowledge, expertise and intelligence in order to detect, deter and prosecute those who attempt to do us harm at the border,” she added.
“Under Mr Outram’s leadership, the ABF will continue to be a global leader in border security and a trusted partner that helps build a safe, resilient and prosperous Australia.”
Mr Outram has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including community policing, covert operations, criminal intelligence, protective and major event security, public order management, and the investigation of terrorism, transnational organised crime, corruption and other serious crime.
Prior to his role as Commissioner, Mr Outram managed the ABF’s Operations Group, which is responsible for compliance and enforcement operations relating to the movement of travellers and goods through the border.
He has also served as an Assistant Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and had responsibility for that service’s national protection function, including close personal protection, the National Witness Protection Program, uniform protection and special event planning.
In 2014, he was the AFP’s operational commander for the G20 Summit in Brisbane, and he led the response to Russia’s downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine.
Mr Outram has also served as Executive Director of Serious and Organised Crime with the Australian Crime Commission, where he played a leading role in developing and implementing national approaches for managing crime targets and with peers from the AFP and Australian Tax Office.
In 2005 he established Operation Wickenby, which created a framework for future joint-agency operations.
A former British national, Mr Outram migrated to Australia in 2002 after a secondment to the New South Wales Police Service while serving with the London Metropolitan Police.
One of his first roles in Australia was working at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in New South Wales as the Executive Director of Strategic Operations, with responsibility for investigations and intelligence operations.
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