Certa Cito Foundation
Certa Cito Foundation
The Official Charity of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals
Who we are // Board Of Directors //

Our relationship with the Army and the ADF is enhanced by the appointment of five directors on the Certa Cito Foundation board who are also appointed by the Chief of Army as Colonels Commandant to RA Sigs and they act as ambassadors between the Corps and the 
​wider RA Sigs community. 

Brigadier Alison Creagh AM CSC

President Certa Cito Foundation

Representative Colonel Commandant Royal Australian Corps of Signals


Brigadier Alison Creagh AM CSC (Retd) is a board director and strategic adviser with expertise across the veteran community, defence industry, cyber security and sports governance.  She is President of the Certa Cito Foundation and chairs the Veteran Community Business Chamber. She is a Trustee for the Commando Welfare Trust and a Non-Executive Director for GME, the Veterans Film Festival and The Hospital Research Foundation. Alison is President of Paralympics Australia and on the board of Rowing Australia. 

Alison has held roles as Strategic Defence Adviser for the Queensland Government, Defence Ambassador for the Australian Capital Territory and chair of the ACT’s Ministerial Advisory Council for Veterans and their Families. She was a Council Member on the Australian War Memorial Council, Strategic Adviser for UNSW’s Defence Research Institute, a member of AustCyber's Canberra Node Industry Advisory Group and President of Rowing ACT.


Major Leanne (Pip) Iseppi OAM CSM


Major Leanne (Pip) Iseppi is a current serving member of the Australian Army and has significant experience as both a Senior Enlisted Leader and Officer. She completed her Senior Enlisted Appointments as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd Division, Command Warrant Officer of Joint Task Force 633 and Warrant Officer Joint Operations prior to commissioning in January 2022.

Her extensive understanding of the management of sensitive and complex personnel matters; and supporting the implementation of wellbeing initiatives allows her to draw significant insight from this experience to support the mission and values of the Certa Cito Foundation and its members.

Major Iseppi was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2006 and a Conspicuous Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours List in 2020. She is a Life Member of the Australian Defence Force Hockey Association.


Kristian Howard


Kristian is a successful technology executive with over 20 years’ experience in leadership positions within government and industry. th Signal Regiment. 


His career includes appointments in the Australian Defence Force, Defence Industry, the US Department of Defense (Army) and NATO across a wide range of technology specialisations, with a strong background in telecommunications, engineering development, systems engineering, program and operations management. 


Kristian is part of the founding group of Penten, an Australian-based cyber technology company delivering innovative defence and security capabilities. In 8 years the company has grown to over 140 employees, won multiple awards and delivers solutions in Australia and overseas. 


Kristian transitioned from the Australian Regular Army in 2011 after a 20-year career in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, which included deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan.

Colonel James Roche


James Roche is a cyber security consultant, specialising in Governance, Risk and Compliance. He has been engaged with Cisco Systems Australia for almost five years, undertaking several significant cyber security and capability development projects for Defence. In 2020 he attained the Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) certification.


Prior to his current engagement James worked with the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as the Director Security Risk and Integration for the event transport organisation. 

                

James retired from the Australian Regular Army in March 2017 after a 30-year career where he deployed on operations to Western Sahara, Bougainville and East Timor. He continues to serve in the Army Reserve and holds the honourary appointment of Colonel Commandant, Queensland Region, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. 


Cleon Walters


Cleon Waters joined the Board in 2020 because she believes it is a good thing to do – it is essential to do good things, primarily when it supports those who have served and their families and those currently serving and their families. 


To CARE, CONNECT, and COMMEMORATE.


Cleon brings 23 years of experience as a volunteer executive and non-executive director in the Not-for-Profit sector. She attributes her readiness to support NFPs because of her experience and learning during her career in the Australian Defence Force.


1995 – 2000, Director, Women Sports & Recreation ACT, elite athlete's portfolio. 

2005 – 2011, Director, PRASAD Australia, Communications. 

From 2005 – 2019, Executive Director, Secretary & Public Officer the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project Committee established and closed the project. 


Cleon retired as a WO2, Senior Communications Manager in 1995 after 21 years in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, joining the Australian Public Service and focusing on her field of expertise in communications equipment, retiring in 2017 as the Capability Coordinator for approximately 140 different types of High Assurance Communication equipment's. 


Cleon enjoys time with her family and friends and still loves to teach and learn, a by-product of her time in the Corps. This sees her learning fine woodworking and teaching children woodwork, a passion inherited from her parents. 


Fun fact: On one of Cleon's promotion reports, her OC used the word 'altruistic'. She often reflects on this.


Colonel Christopher J. Rule 
psc(j), BSc, BE(Elec), MSc (MESE), Grad Dip (Management), FIEAust, CPEng, GAICD


Chris is the RA Sigs Colonel Commandant for Victoria and Tasmania and is a Non-Executive Director of the Certa Cito Foundation. In a fulltime capacity Chris is an experienced Defence sector executive leader and trusted advisor known for his integrity and successful background in command, policy, program management, engineering, training and consulting roles. 

He is currently General Manager Defence and Security with GME, following a 27 year career in Army and business experience with Elbit Systems, Cisco Systems and Indec Consulting as well as long term service with the Leadership and Management Committee of Engineers Australia.

Chris is a former Commanding Officer of the Defence Force School of Signals and Commandant of the Defence Command Support Training Centre. His operational experiences traverse deployments in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and his wider Defence roles included Acquisition, Capability Development and Diplomatic appointments. Chris retired from the Regular Army in 2016.


Colonel Michael (Mike) Brennan (Retd)


Colonel Mike Brennan was born in Three Springs, Western Australia.  He enlisted as an Army Apprentice, at the age of 15.  He was selected for officer training at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea, graduating in 1979 as a second lieutenant.  He served in a variety of regimental postings, including commanding the 8th Signal Regiment. 


During 1999 he deployed to US Pacific Command, Hawaii as a liaison officer to assist with the US planning for Operation Stabilise, East Timor.  He was also involved in a number of East Timor activities including the development of the Signals units of the newly established East Timor Defence Force, under Australia’s Defence Cooperation Program.


During July – December 2000 he was deployed to Bougainville as a peace monitor on Operation Bel Isi as the Commanding Officer, Monitoring Team – Wakunai, Peace Monitoring Group. Mike retired in 2017 after a total of 45 years of Army service (34 years ARA and 11 with the Reserves).  He is a past Deputy Chairman of the Army Museum of Western Australia and the immediate past President of the Royal United Services Institute of Western Australia.  He is currently writing a history of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals in East Timor 1999-2012.

Bruce Long


Bruce Long is a retired business owner with extensive experience in both corporate and military sectors. He co-founded and operated a successful Security Industry business until its 2022 sale. With two decades of military service in the Australian Army's Signal Corps, including management roles, Bruce boasts a remarkable career.


He was also actively involved in the military community, serving as the President of the Royal Australian Signals Association in South Australia. During his tenure, he organized multiple successful National RASigs Reunions and maintained strong connections with past RASigs members.


Beyond his military involvement, Bruce contributed to his local community by holding positions in the Goolwa RSL and South Lakes Golf Club committees.


Bruce looks forward to contributing to the Corps Council and the Certa Cito Foundation, representing RASigs Associations and past Corps members.

Yvonne Butler


Yvonne Butler is a thought leader in strategy, governance, program management and risk management. She is highly regarded for her unique combination of deep industry knowledge, business consulting expertise and global general management experience across most industry sectors.  A skilled facilitator and transformational change agent, she is both a strategist and a tactician, known for “getting things done”. 

Having worked at executive levels with top 4 Accounting firms, 2 of the top 3 Law firms, top 100 ASX listed companies, global consulting firms, industry peak bodies as well as running her own successful business consulting practice, Yvonne is highly regarded for her professionalism and deep business insight.  She has provided governance and risk oversight on a variety of Boards and Committees over 30 years in the public, private and for purpose sectors.

Yvonne has deep experience in Defence, starting as an RA SIGS officer serving in 108 SIG SQN and 126 SIG SQN.  She has been External Board Member for the Department of Defence, supporting some of our most complex capability projects and programs.  She has held embedded positions in Defence including for the Chief of Navy and the Chief of Air Force.  Her deep expertise in delivery led to her being invited to become the CEO of the Australian Institute of Project Management, which is the peak body for project management in Australia. Yvonne has most recently been providing strategic and governance advice across Defence including with organisations such as Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Chief Information Officer Group, Defence Science and Technology Group, as well supporting strategic Army and Navy initiatives.

Corporately, Yvonne has held senior positions in leading professional services firms such Allens, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Ernst & Young, the Kaplan & Norton Palladium Group, and major infrastructure organisations such as APP Corporation and Transfield Services. Yvonne has extensive Board experience and is Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.  She is also currently a Committee member of the ACT Australian Commando Association.


Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to traditional lands and waters and pay our respects to their Elders both past and present.

We recognise the courage and sacrifice of all Veterans and their families.

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who have contributed to the defence of Australia in times of peace and war and those who serve in the Australian Defence Force and the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.

Certa Cito Foundation

The official Charity of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals — serving our current and former soldiers and officers,
our families and our community.  Registered Australian Charity. ABN 86 662 425 890 

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