Description
Major General Fergus (Gus) McLachlan, AO (Retired) spent 37 years in the Australian Army. He rose to the rank of Major General. Today, Fergus McLachlan keynote speaker sessions bring those same leadership lessons to corporate stages worldwide. Gus graduated from the Royal Military College – Duntroon and the University of NSW. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies. He later completed the Harvard Advanced Management Program and the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership.
Fergus McLachlan Keynote Speaker: A Career at the Highest Levels of Command
Gus commanded operational teams in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also served in international roles in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the United States. In his senior leadership role, he was responsible for 35,000 personnel in Army Land Forces Command. There, he oversaw the modernisation of Australia’s defence capabilities, with a focus on cyber security, drones and command systems. For his service, he received the US Legion of Merit. He was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
From the Battlefield to the Boardroom
Since retiring from the military, Gus has held senior roles in people, strategy and business improvement with Boral, Australia’s largest construction materials company. He now advises defence and technology companies on strategy and leadership. His current directorships span cybersecurity, AI and aerospace innovation. He also serves as inaugural Chair of the AI and Cyber Futures Institute at Charles Sturt University. He is Adjunct Professor at Monash University and Senior Adviser to the University of Sydney, where he helps develop Australian sovereign innovation.
In his keynotes, Gus draws on both worlds. The Geopolitical Landscape explores how global events in Russia, the Middle East, China and the US are reshaping risk and opportunity for Australian organisations. Leadership in the Modern Era translates lessons from frontline command into practical frameworks for leading through disruption, crisis and digital change. Organisations that book Fergus McLachlan keynote speaker sessions can expect battlefield-tested lessons in resilience and strategic decision-making. Gus is based in Sydney. Explore more leadership keynote speakers represented by Corporate Speakers Global, or connect with Gus on LinkedIn to learn more about his story.
