SPA Australia

Advanced Modelling, Analysis, and Decision Support for Government and Defence

SPA Australia is unique as a specialist sovereign analytics company, combining the attributes of a highly qualified and security cleared workforce, contemporary military operational and analytic experience, access to advanced modelling and analysis tools, and complete objectivity with no commercial interest in the results of the analysis. Our depth and breadth of joint operational experience, as well as proficiency in modelling and analysis of complex operational problems and force level missions, is what differentiates SPA from other service providers in Australia.

The Australian team draws on the proven people, processes, tools, and techniques of our parent company who have been supporting the US Department of Defense since 1972, and the Australian Department of Defence since 2010.

SPA has been trusted to provide objective analysis and decision support for some of Australia’s most significant force structure considerations. The quality and value of our work is recognised at senior levels of Defence and Government.

Phil Gordon, General Manager Australia

SPA has been trusted to provide objective analysis and decision support for some of Australia’s most significant force structure considerations. The quality and value of our work is recognised at senior levels of Defence and Government.

Phil Gordon, General Manager Australia

Decision Support for Australia

Since 2018, SPA Australia has delivered a range of high quality, high impact, analytical products and services to the Australian Department of Defence.

  • Concept development and validation
  • Support to experimentation and wargaming
  • Mission risk and performance analysis
  • Capability requirements analysis
  • Force structure analysis of alternatives
  • Operations analysis
  • Sustainment analysis and optimisation
  • Independent cost assurance
SPA icons

Australian Defence Force Headquarters

Capability and force structure analysis, support to joint experimentation, and independent cost assurance spanning the entire joint force.

SPA icons

Royal Australian Navy

Operations analysis, force structure, and capability decision support spanning undersea and surface maritime systems and capabilities.

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Australian Army

Force structure analysis and capability decision support spanning land, air, robotic, and autonomous systems.

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Royal Australian Air Force

Capability and Force Structure analysis, risk qualification and concept validation for Integrated Air and Missile Defence.

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Joint Capabilities Group

Architecture, concept, and capability analysis and decision support to Defence Space Command and Joint Capability Division.

Decision Support for Australia

Since 2018, SPA Australia has delivered a range of high quality, high impact, analytical products and services to the Australian Department of Defence.

  • Concept development and validation
  • Support to experimentation and wargaming
  • Mission risk and performance analysis
  • Capability requirements analysis
  • Force structure analysis of alternatives
  • Operations analysis
  • Sustainment analysis and optimisation
  • Independent cost assurance
SPA icons

Australian Defence Force Headquarters

Capability and force structure analysis, support to joint experimentation, and independent cost assurance spanning the entire joint force.

SPA icons

Royal Australian Navy

Operations analysis, force structure, and capability decision support spanning undersea and surface maritime systems and capabilities.

SPA icons

Australian Army

Force structure analysis and capability decision support spanning land, air, robotic, and autonomous systems.

SPA icons

Royal Australian Air Force

Capability and Force Structure analysis, risk qualification and concept validation for Integrated Air and Missile Defence.

SPA icons

Joint Capabilities Group

Architecture, concept, and capability analysis and decision support to Defence Space Command and Joint Capability Division.

Meet our team

SPA Australia General Manager Phil Gordon Headshot
General Manager Australia
Phil Gordon, AM

Phil joined SPA Australia after a successful 36 year career in the Royal Australian Air Force. He left the service as an Air Commodore with extensive experience in command, operations, and capability development. As General Manager Phil is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of SPA Australia.

SPA Australia Director Joint Phil Arms headshot
Director Joint
Phil Arms, CSC

Phil joined SPA Australia after a successful 34 year career in the Royal Australian Air Force. He has an extensive background in test and evaluation, joint force experimentation, and operations analysis. As Director Joint, Phil is responsible for analysis of air, land, and joint domain security challenges.

SPA Australia Chief Analyst Joe Mattis headshot
Chief Analyst
Joe Mattis

Seconded from our US parent company, Joe has over 40 years of analytic, defence support, and warfighting experience. As Chief Analyst Joe is responsible for enhancing all analytic efforts, overseeing professional development of Australian analysts, managing our quality assurance program, and maintaining our modern suite of analytic capabilities.

SPA Australia Director Space Portia Wolf Headshot
Director Space
Portia Wolf

Portia is an experienced space analyst with a background in astrophysics and space operations. She worked for the US DoD for more than a decade as a Space Systems Engineer before moving to Canberra in 2020. As Director Space Portia leads SPA Australia’s team of professional space analysts supporting Defence.

SPA Australia Director Maritime Dave Brown headshot
Director Maritime
David Brown, CSM

Dave joined SPA Australia in 2019 after a successful 24-year career in the Royal Australian Navy.  As a submarine and surface combatant Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer Dave completed multiple operational deployments and Maritime capability development and acquisition roles. As Director-Maritime Dave is responsible for SPA's Maritime Domain professional services.

SPA Australia Director Integration Anthony Ween headshot
Director Integration
Anthony Ween

Anthony has 30 years of experience working across all Defence domains and whole-of-force planning.  With Engineering, OA and Strategic Studies qualifications he has expertise spanning strategy, FVEY force development, technology innovation, delivery and current operations. As Director Integration Anthony leads SPA Australia’s force-level and integrated force analysis.

Meet our team

SPA Australia General Manager Phil Gordon Headshot

Phil Gordon, AM
General Manager Australia

Phil joined SPA Australia after a successful 36 year career in the Royal Australian Air Force. He left the service as an Air Commodore with extensive experience in command, operations, and capability development. As General Manager Phil is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of SPA Australia.

SPA Australia Director Joint Phil Arms headshot

Phil Arms, CSC
Director Joint

Phil joined SPA Australia after a successful 34 year career in the Royal Australian Air Force. He has an extensive background in test and evaluation, joint force experimentation, and operations analysis. As Director Joint, Phil is responsible for analysis of air, land, and joint domain security challenges.
SPA Australia Chief Analyst Joe Mattis headshot

Joe Mattis
Chief Analyst

Seconded from our US parent company, Joe has over 40 years of analytic, defence support, and warfighting experience. As Chief Analyst Joe is responsible for enhancing all analytic efforts, overseeing professional development of Australian analysts, managing our quality assurance program, and maintaining our modern suite of analytic capabilities.
SPA Australia Director Space Portia Wolf Headshot

Portia Wolf
Director Space

Portia is an experienced space analyst with a background in astrophysics and space operations. She worked for the US DoD for more than a decade as a Space Systems Engineer before moving to Canberra in 2020. As Director Space Portia leads SPA Australia’s team of professional space analysts supporting Defence.
SPA Australia Director Maritime Dave Brown headshot

David Brown, CSM
Director Maritime

Dave joined SPA Australia in 2019 after a successful 24-year career in the Royal Australian Navy. As a submarine and surface combatant Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer Dave completed multiple operational deployments and Maritime capability development and acquisition roles. As Director-Maritime Dave is responsible for SPA’s Maritime Domain professional services.
SPA Australia Director Integration Anthony Ween headshot

Anthony Ween
Director Integration

Anthony has 30 years of experience working across all Defence domains and whole-of-force planning. With Engineering, OA and Strategic Studies qualifications he has expertise spanning strategy, FVEY force development, technology innovation, delivery and current operations. As Director Integration Anthony leads SPA Australia’s force-level and integrated force analysis.

Do work that matters

Do work that matters

Join Our Team

Secure, state-of-the-art facility

SPA is investing in growing the Australian sovereign analytical capability. In November 2023, SPA Australia moved into a new purpose-built office in Brindabella Business Park which includes a classified analytics lab and conference room. The lab is equipped with both Defence and SPA classified networks enabling the use of specialist analytical tools and modelling software. This investment in capability allows SPA Australia to perform classified analysis without the requirement to install specialist software on the Defence network.

SPA Australia state-of-the-art building exerior
SPA Australia state-of-the-art building interior
SPA Australia building interior entrance
SPA Australia Conference Room

Media highlights

Play Video about SPA Australia Ella P Testimonial Video

Meet Ella Pernice, a Junior Analyst in SPA Australia who embodies the innovation and spirit of our Canberra team.

Play Video about SPA Australia at IndoPac 2023

At the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exhibition, SPA Australia demonstrated Archer, our advanced capability network analysis tool.

Play Video about SPA Australia ARCHER Video

No more lightning bolts on PowerPoint charts. Time for 21st century evidence-based digital modelling and analysis of the integrated force.

Two SPA Australia employees look at a computer together while one points at the computer screen graphs
SPA Australia employees pose together in front of office entrance
An SPA Australia employee discusses the graphs on her screen with her coworker

Work with purpose

Help inform decisions that have lasting impacts on Australia’s national security.

SPA Australia is built around a team of highly qualified and motivated professionals. As a matrixed organisation, we harness the experience from across the company to meet the requirements of the specific task. This approach enhances the quality of analysis and fosters a culture of collaboration.

Like a challenge? SPA Australia specialises in solving complex analytical questions of consequence. We are trusted to contribute to some of the most interesting (and topical) decisions faced by Defence.

Serve your country by providing expert analysis and decision support that directly contributes to national security outcomes for Australia.

As a specialist analytics company, SPA Australia invests in the training and development of our team. We recruit people who demonstrate a raw talent for solving complex problems, and equip them with the skills, experience, and advanced tools to excel as an operations analyst.

Work with purpose

Help inform decisions that have lasting impacts on Australia’s national security.

SPA Australia is built around a team of highly qualified and motivated professionals. As a matrixed organisation, we harness the experience from across the company to meet the requirements of the specific task. This approach enhances the quality of analysis and fosters a culture of collaboration.

Like a challenge? SPA Australia specialises in solving complex analytical questions of consequence. We are trusted to contribute to some of the most interesting (and topical) decisions faced by Defence.

Serve your country by providing expert analysis and decision support that directly contributes to national security outcomes for Australia.

As a specialist analytics company, SPA Australia invests in the training and development of our team. We recruit people who demonstrate a raw talent for solving complex problems, and equip them with the skills, experience, and advanced tools to excel as an operations analyst.

Grow your career
while making a difference

Grow your career
while making a difference

Join our team

Contact us

Level 1/6 Brindabella Circuit,
Canberra Airport ACT 2609

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