The Hon Pat Conroy MP

Pat Conroy

Designation

Minister for Defence Industry

Minister for International Development and the Pacific

Media contacts

media@defence.gov.au

(02) 6277 7840

General enquiries

minister.conroy@dfat.gov.au

Designation

Minister for Defence Industry

Minister for International Development and the Pacific

Minister profile

The Hon. Pat Conroy MP is the Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for International Development and the Pacific and the Federal Member for Shortland.

Pat was elected to the House of Representatives as the Member for Charlton, New South Wales in 2013 and, following an electoral redistribution, as the Member for Shortland, New South Wales in 2016 and again in 2019 and 2022.

From 2016 to 2019, Pat was Shadow Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure. In 2019, he was appointed Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Shadow Minister Assisting for Defence and Shadow Minister Assisting for Climate Change and Energy.

From 2008 to 2013, he was Principal Policy Adviser and then Deputy Chief of Staff to the Hon. Greg Combet, AM, MP, who served as a Minister in the Rudd and Gillard Labor Governments. In these roles, Pat worked in developing significant policies in areas including Defence Materiel, Defence Science and Industry and Innovation. 

Born in 1979, Pat was raised on the NSW Central Coast and went on to study Economics at the University of Sydney, graduating with Honours in 2000.

Pat is married with two children and lives in his electorate of Shortland which covers the Eastern Lake Macquarie area and the Northern Central Coast. He enjoys cooking, playing rugby union and watching rugby league.

Responsibilities

  • Lead on capability approval decisions through National Security Committee and National Security Investment Subcommittee as directed
  • Lead management of capability acquisition and sustainment projects once approved by government, including projects of concern and project of interest
  • Capability disposals
  • Test and evaluation policy and procedures
  • Australian Industry Capability Program
  • Australian industry engagement on the Defence Industry Security Program
  • International engagement on defence industry matters, including industrial base collaboration
  • Science and technology engagement with defence industry including the Next Generation Technology Fund
  • Office for Defence Industry Support
  • Australian Defence Export Office
  • Defence Industry Development Strategy
  • Global supply chains
  • Defence Innovation Hub
  • Australian Strategic Research Agency
  • Assist on Defence engagement with the Pacific and Timor-Leste where requested