Nicole Spencer

A/g Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Capability Australian Border Force

Nicole commenced acting in the Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Capability Group role in August 2024. Strategy and Capability brings together policy, strategy and capability development to modernise the border and plan and deliver capability uplift and sustainment across trade, travel, civil maritime, and ABF workforce domains. Nicole has more than twenty years in the Australian Public Service across Health, Infrastructure, Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Home Affairs. In December 2023 Nicole stood up the Civil Maritime Capability Taskforce in the ABF, to lead a large reform program to rebuild Australia’s civil maritime capability, with a 10-year capability development trajectory. This is now a permanent division of ABF and works closely alongside Maritime Border Command operations and Department of Defence.

Nicole initially joined the Home Affairs portfolio in 2021, initially as First Assistant Secretary COVID Border Measures where she led whole of government strategy, policy and coordination of reopening the international border, followed by a period as First Assistant Secretary Executive Coordination and Chief Risk Officer. In Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) Nicole was the Acting First Assistant Secretary and Head of the COVID-19 Response Taskforce during the peak of Australia operating a ‘closed’ border, coordinating with states and territories and across the Commonwealth. In PM&C Nicole has also covered agriculture, infrastructure, customs, and biosecurity, as well as brief secondment to stand up the National Bushfire Recovery Agency. Nicole has also temporarily worked in Ministerial offices, as an adviser and Chief of Staff.

Nicole’s SES experience is wide ranging and covers a mix of regulatory, program, and policy reform, as well as international capacity building roles, with a focus on transport and infrastructure. Nicole is proud to be ABF’s LGBTIQA+ Champion. Nicole has led many high performing teams who have received multiple awards, including nationally recognised industry awards. Nicole spent her earlier career in the regional health sector and in international development, following state and community sector roles in Western Australia. Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History, and a Masters of Regional Development from the University of Western Australia. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies at Harvard Kennedy School of Government.