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Australia

Brigadier Philip Winter is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Retuned and Services League of Australia (RSLA), having commenced in the role in January 2021, after an extensive career in the Australian Army (which continues) and the Australian Federal Police. The RSL is Australia’s peak body representing the interest of veterans and their families, with the National Office based in Canberra and over 150,00 national members and 160 Sub-Branches across the nation.

Phil has served in the Australian Army in Regular and Reserve appointments since 1978, mainly serving in Artillery and Intelligence appointments in his Regular service, and leading the Centenary of Anzac, Invictus Games and ADF Sports Cell projects as a Reserve officer.

He was a student at Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Glenfield prior to his Army enlistment. Highlights of his Regular Army service include leading the Counter Improvised Explosive Device Task Force (CIED TF) from 2006 – 2011, Commanding Officer of 8/12 Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) (1999 – 2000) and Commander, Land Command Artillery (2001 – 02). He was also Head of Regiment for the RAA from 2008-10.

Phil’s service in the Army Reserve began in February 2014 as Director General of the Centenary of ANZAC Planning Team, coordinating the ADF’s commemorations for World War One and other major commemorative events, including the 2016 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo held in Melbourne, and the 2019 Tattoo held in Sydney.

He assumed responsibilities for the ADF’s contribution to the Invictus Games in late 2016, including service as Chef De Mission for the Australian Invictus Teams - competing at Toronto in 2017, Sydney in 2018 and the Warrior Games in Tampa, USA, in June 2019.  In early 2019 he was appointed as lead of the ADF’s Sports Cell, to coordinate ADF conventional and adaptive sports and sports work for the ‘Pacific Step-Up’ project. He will be the Chef De Mission for the Australian team for the 2022 Invictus Games.

During his Regular Army service, he served overseas in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and the Balkans (while working in the UK with the Ministry of Defence). He was awarded a Commendation for his work in 1993 in the Office of the Military Secretary, a Chief of Defence Force Commendation in 1998 for bravery, the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2000 for his work in the Defence Intelligence Organisation and made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2011 for his leadership of the CIED TF.

Phil also served in the Australian Federal Police from late 2010 until January 2021, in Forensics and Intelligence appointments, where he led a group of specialists dealing with issues such as explosives and drug intelligence issues, mostly linked to counter terrorism and organised crime. This included significant mentoring throughout Policing agencies in South East Asia.  In July 2014 he assisted in the investigation and repatriation of Australian victims of the MH-17 crash, for which he was awarded an AFP Commissioner’s Commendation.

Phil has also worked in several voluntary community appointments including assistance with Canberra Legacy from 1997 to 2004.  He was President of St. Edmund’s College Rugby Union Committee from 2004 – 2008, and President of the Eastlake Cricket Club from 2013 until 2018, having served continuously on the Committee since 2007. He also served from 2016-19 as President of Cricket ADF, responsible for coordination of the ADF’s men’s and women’s sides in ADF Inter-Service Cricket carnivals.

Phil is a graduate of the University of Queensland (BA), the University of New England (MLitt), University of Southern Queensland (MMngt) and several other Graduate Diplomas in Management and Defence Studies. He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College (Queenscliff) and the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (Weston Creek), where he is a Fellow and graduate of Deakin University (Master of Strategic Studies).

Phil resides in Campbell. His elder son Matthew (an ANU graduate and Eastlake  1st Grade cricketer) also resides in Canberra and works with Colliers Australia. Phil’s younger son Nicholas resides in Adelaide where he is a member of the South Australian ‘Redbacks’ Cricket Squad and the Sydney Sixers ‘Big Bash’ side. Nick also studies at the University of Adelaide.

Phil also assists in the community as a Board Member of St John Ambulance ACT and volunteers as first aider and is a member of the Campbell Community Fire Unit.