Kevin Taylor

Experience

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  Royal Australian Navy

  Jun 1999 - May 2007

  Throughout my career in the Royal Australian Navy, I developed a very keen interest in capability development and management, particularly from a safety and risk perspective. This interest was reinforced through many roles, particularly those associated with my specialty as a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer, 2IC or Commanding Officer of six warships and work as a capability developer and manager (from both a sponsors perspective and delivery agency perspective).My career also enabled me to gain significant experience and qualifications in safety and risk leadership, leadership and management, capability management/development as well as policy and strategy development. I am an experienced and well thought of leader and manager who throughout a lengthy career led teams through periods of significant change. By way of example I was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1994 for my command of HMAS Tobruk during Operation Solace in Somalia. In the same year HMAS Tobruk was awarded the coveted Gloucester Cup (the Navy’s most efficient and operationally effective warship) and three other major Fleet awards. Show less

  • Career Summary

    Feb 1975 - May 2007

  • Defence Attache Southern Europe

    Jun 1999 - Jun 2002
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  Australian Department of Defence

  Jan 2001 - May 2007

  Led the development, negotiation and implementation of defence policy for the East Timor and Pacific Island region. Streamlined all processes, established a values-driven culture of teamwork and mentoring, resulting in an engaged, productive workforce.Major Contributions• Chaired Governance Board of the Australian-sponsored Pacific Patrol Boat Program ($1.35bn lifetime value), improving maritime security, economic zone monitoring and safety and oversight of participants.• Identified significant shortcomings in the Pacific patrol Boat Program and took corrective action that resulted in a saving of $85 million over five years.• Instigated and facilitated strategic policy and working groups that aligned the cooperative defence program interests of Australia, New Zealand, the USA and France in the Pacific region.• Orchestrated the Palau Treaty which harnessed the use of scarce maritime patrol assets in the Micronesian Islands.• Developed and implemented Australian Government policy and strategies for dealing with emergencies in the East Timor and Pacific Island Region. Show less

  • Director General

    Oct 2005 - May 2007

  • Chief of Combat Support Group

    Jan 2003 - Oct 2005

  • Director General

    Jan 2001 - Jan 2003
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  Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB)

  May 2007 - Sept 2015

  Chief Executive Officer

  Appointed to drive RISSB’s influence in harmonising the Australasian Railways through the development of a common set of technical and operational capability standards, codes of practice and guidelines to enhance safety and risk aspects of the Australasian rail industry. Additionally my remit required the development and implementation of a solid governance and risk framework while expanding the organisation’s relationships with staff, stakeholders and the board.Impact:• Increased ‘cash’ bottom line by $900K (a 30% increase) over the past 5 years.• Boosted membership base by 50% in the past 5 years.• Reduced production costs by 30% over the past 6 years.• Lifted brand profile and reputation to household status in the industry.• Delivered a record-breaking Benefit-Cost Ratio of 17:1, compared to much lower industry ratios.•. Harmonised safety and risk practices in Australasian Railways.•. Produced 48 standards, 10 codes of practice and four guidelines for the development of Australasian Railway capabilityPROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTESCollaborative | Integrity |Big Picture | Empowerment | Respect | Transparency | Visionary | Loyal | Politically Astute | Relationship Builder | Financially Responsible | Win-Win | Outcome Focused | Capability Management | Capability Requirements | Change Manager. Show less

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  Australasian Maritime Safety Solutions Pty Ltd

  Sept 2015 - Jul 2017

  Managing Director

  Appointed as the Managing Director of Australasian Maritime Safety Solutions (AMSS) to increase the company's business opportunities while enhancing its strong reputation in the maritime safety and risk domain as a reliable and efficient service provider. An important aspect of the role was expanding the company's relationships with its stakeholders in the Commercial and Government domains. AMSS had offices in Sydney, Canberra, Cairns, Wellington in NZ and Port Moresby in PNG. It also has a number of strategic alliances with Defence primes and other like minded organisations.In July 2017 the company was sold as a result of it being a takeover target. Show less

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  Nova Systems

  Jul 2017 - Feb 2018

  Senior Safety Advisor

  As a senior safety advisor I was responsible for assisting the company addressing its client's safety requirements associated with Fleet Operations and Capability Development. My focus was on WHS compliance and conformance as well as safety culture change.

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  Projects Assured

  Feb 2018 - Dec 2023

  Senior Consultant

  As a senior consultant in the Company I am responsible for assisting the company deliver high quality management advice to Government departments in Canberra.

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  MAK Professional Solutions

  Dec 2023 - now

  Executive Director

  MAK Professional Solution is a boutique management consultancy focussed on delivering high quality solutions for Clients.