Bill Elischer joined the ANU National Security College in July 2023 on secondment from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Originally from Perth, Western Australia he gained a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Western Australia.

After joining the British Army and training as a Commando, he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, commissioning into the infantry. After four operational counter-terrorism tours, and two NATO staff appointments Bill studied Arabic and was posted to British Embassies in Saudi Arabia, then Yemen to coordinate Counter-terrorism (CT) programs until he transferred to the Australian Army in 2007.

After joining DFAT in 2010, Bill was responsible for the security of Australia’s diplomats in Islamabad, Baghdad and Kabul then assumed a global diplomatic security remit as Director of Operational Security Section. In June 2013 Bill became Director, Defence and National Security Section, responsible for Defence liaison and contribution to its strategic planning, US Alliance issues, National Security, and strategic political-military cooperation issues.

In 2014, as part of DFAT’s response to the so-called Islamic State threat, Bill became the first Director of Counter-terrorism Middle East, Africa and South Asia, responsible for bilateral and multilateral CT policy engagement. In 2018 Bill moved to a role responsible for conventional weapons counter proliferation and Defence Exports Control until he started Arabic language training in early 2020.

Bill’s most recent role was as Deputy Head of Mission, Riyadh. He speaks Arabic, French and holds a Certificate in Security Risk Management from CIT.