Mr Pyne brings commercial, political, and global defence experience to HighCom, having served as a Member for Parliament (MP) for over 25 years, from which he retired in 2019. Christopher served as the 54th Australian Defence Minister and was responsible for delivering the $200 billion build-up of Australia's military capability. Christopher was elected to Parliament in 1993 and served as the Member for Sturt for 26 years. During this time, he was in the Liberal Party Leadership Group for ten years, Leader of the House of Representatives for six years and served in Cabinet for six years. He has worked to ensure the growth and sustainment of Australia's Defence Industry, and thus implemented Australia's Defence Export Strategy, Defence Industrial Capability Plan, and the Naval Shipbuilding Plan. Christopher also created the Defence Cooperative Research Centre, the Centre for Defence Industry Capability, the Defence Innovation Hub, and the Next Generation Technology Fund. Additionally, he was the driving force behind the recent establishment of the Australian Space Agency. Christopher is the Executive Chairman of Pyne and Partners, consulting to business in the domain of government and political engagement. Headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia, and operating nationally with a presence in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, and internationally in Washington DC and London. He is an Industry Professor in the Adelaide University Business School specialising in Defence and Space. Before entering Parliament, Christopher practiced as a solicitor at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Thomson Geer. Christopher is a Member of the Advisory Board of the NIOA Group and the Australian Missile Corporation, Neishlos Capital and the Orygen Institute. He is Chair of COTA Australia, Vision2020 and Co-Chair of the Australia UAE Business Council. He is Executive Chairman of government relations consulting firm Pyne and Partners Pty Ltd and a Director of Newpin Advisory Pty Ltd and the International Centre for Democratic Partnerships.
