Andrew Colvin APM AO

Andrew Colvin AO  joined the Champions of Change National 2016 Group in  2016.

Andrew Colvin is the former leader of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency. Previously the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner. Andrew Colvin worked for the AFP for nearly 30 years and he completed his tenure as the AFP Commissioner in October 2019.  He spent the majority of his early investigational career within the Sydney Office of the AFP where he progressed through the ranks of the AFP investigating a range of serious and organised crime offences, particularly narcotic importations, money laundering, politically motivated crime and terrorist financing.

In 2002 Andrew was promoted to Superintendent where he assumed the responsibility of National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism.  Between 2002 and 2005 Andrew coordinated the national and international aspects of the AFP’s response to terrorism, including the 2002 Bali bombings, 2003 Jakarta Marriott bombing and the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing. Andrew was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his contribution to the 2002 Bali bombing investigation and was subsequently promoted to Commander where he played a lead role in developing the framework for what is now the Counter Terrorism portfolio of the AFP.  During this time Andrew worked closely with both domestic and international law enforcement partners and governments on creating the processes, collaboration and leadership required to combat terrorism.

In July 2005, Andrew commenced as the AFP Chief of Staff where he had oversight of government relations, policy and strategy, business analysis, media communications, legal and professional standards.  In 2006, Andrew was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and in December 2007 he commenced work with retired Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court, Sir Laurence Street, on a review of the AFP’s interaction with its national security partners.

In 2008 Commissioner Colvin became the AFP’s first Assistant Commissioner in charge of High Tech Crime Operations with responsibility for establishing the AFP response to technology enabled crime, and delivering the AFP a leading edge technical capability.  Andrew worked with international and national partners, public and private sectors to modernize the law enforcement approach to technology; provide a safer Internet platform and ensure that Australian law enforcement was able to maximize its use of technology.

In June of that year Andrew was named in the Queen’s Birthday honours list and awarded the Australian Police Medal.

In 2009 Andrew was promoted to Deputy Commissioner and served as the AFP’s Deputy Commissioner Operations, with responsibilities for Crime Operations and Serious and Organised Crime between 2010 and 2013.

In 2013 Commissioner Colvin managed the responsibilities of the AFP’s Operations Support, Intelligence, Forensics and High Tech Crime Operations as Deputy Commissioner Operations Support and in May 2014, moved to Deputy Commissioner National Security, responsible for Counter Terrorism, Aviation, Protection and the International Deployment Group.

Commissioner Colvin holds a Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, attained in 2010 and was appointed the AFP’s 7th Commissioner on 02 October 2014.