Michael Outram was the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) for seven years. He was responsible for securing 33,000 km of coastline, 8.2 million km² of ocean, and overseeing tens of millions of containers, parcels, and passengers crossing the border. With a workforce of 5,500 officers, he transformed the ABF’s risk and operating model to enable agile, intelligence-led responses to evolving threats. Michael’s strategic partnership with industry was pivotal in facilitating nearly $1 trillion in two-way trade while enhancing border security through precision risk management. His industry advisory network played a key role in navigating the ABF through the closure and reopening of Australia’s borders during the global pandemic.

Michael’s leadership as Asia-Pacific Chair of the World Customs Organization (WCO) drove major international advancements in illicit trade enforcement, trade-based money laundering countermeasures and trusted supply chain partnerships.

Before the ABF, Michael held senior roles in the Australian Federal Police (AFP), where he led protection operations for Australian and visiting heads of state, senior ministers, diplomats, sensitive military sites, and major global events, including the G20 Summit in Brisbane. He also led the AFP’s historic deployment to Eastern Ukraine following the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, coordinating an unprecedented international security and investigative response. Michael began his career as a police officer in London - the start of a distinguished career in policing and law enforcement, specialising in protective and national security, criminal investigations and strategic intelligence.

Michael now runs his own consultancy firm, leveraging his expertise in international borders, the aviation and maritime sectors and global supply chains. He provides strategic insights into balancing trade facilitation with security, and risk management in complex, crisis-driven global environments.