Australia’s first Australian Border Force Commissioner responsible for protecting the country’s physical frontline, Roman Quaedvlieg, was named winner of QUT’s Outstanding Alumni Award for the Faculty of Law at a ceremony in Brisbane today.
The annual QUT Outstanding Alumni Awards recognise outstanding graduates of the university (and predecessor institutions), who have displayed exceptional professional, academic or research achievements and contributions to the community.
Mr Quaedvlieg’s high-profile appointment as Commissioner followed the merger of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service with part of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and the creation of the Australian Border Force, the operational arm of DIBP.
The Australian Border Force is a key agency in government efforts to target national security threats and employs counter-terrorism units at Australia’s major airports.
Under his leadership, the Australian Border Force has created greater effectiveness in how Australia manages border arrangements, while ensuring the Australian community’s safety from organised crime and other transnational threats.
Mr Quaedvlieg’s appointment in 2015, 17 years after graduating from QUT with a Bachelor of Arts (Justice Studies), followed an already impressive and honourable career in law enforcement.
He has served in a number of senior roles for the Australian Federal Police, Australian Crime Commission and Queensland Police Service, and was awarded an Australian Police Medal in 2011 for serving the Australian community with distinction.
His achievements include leading investigations into major criminal activity such as drug trafficking, people smuggling and child sex tourism offenses.
As Australian Federal Police chief of staff, Mr Quaedvlieg led a 1000-strong United Policing Model Workforce delivering enforcement services at major Australian airports.
As chief police officer of ACT Policing (the community policing division of the AFP), Mr Quaedvlieg introduced compulsory mental health training for frontline police officers, putting clinicians into the field to assist staff in need.
This was a world-first approach for police in recognising and responding to people living with mental health illness.
Mr Quaedvlieg continues to be a leader in policy development through current and previous roles as board member, chair and co-director of many professional bodies, including the Australian Crime Commission and the Ministerial Council for the Administration of Justice.
He is also an active campaigner to end violence against women as a White Ribbon Ambassador.
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