Paul Maddison is a graduate of the Royal Military College in St. Jean, Quebec and served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 38 years. He commanded at all levels, both at sea and ashore, and retired in 2013 from his appointment as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Paul returned to public service in 2015 and served as High Commissioner of Canada for Australia, with accreditation to seven Pacific Island countries. In 2019, Paul was appointed inaugural Director of the University of New South Wales Defence Research Institute in Sydney and Canberra. There he built deeper relationships and increased collaboration with federal,  state, industry, university and international partners, all with the aim of strengthening UNSW’s  position as Australia’s leading defence university, and to playing a defining role in accelerating  the delivery of capability for the Australian Defence Force. Paul is now the Director of Compass Leaf Consulting through which he provides advisory services across the defence innovation ecosystem.