Simon BellDirector Infrastructure Development, Defence West JTSI
Simon is the Director of Infrastructure Development at Defence West. He leads a small, yet highly effective team focussed on the development of strategic infrastructure in Western Australia under the 2018 Defence and Defence Industries Strategic Plan.
Having emigrated to Western Australia in 2013, Simon initially worked in Emergency Response supporting the Oil and Gas Industry, before commencing his public servant career as in the Housing Authority and then Department of Communities. Simon was fortunate to be selected for sponsorship to study for the Executive Masters in Public Administration run by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. Whilst somewhat hectic and challenging studying and working full-time, this enjoyable and rewarding two year Master’s Degree program gave Simon the opportunity to work with fellow public servants and academics to better understand government – he is, however, happy to have ‘hung up his schoolbag’, for the time being in any case!
Simon’s pre-Australia life involved a 21 year career in the British Army as an officer in the Royal Engineers, leaving at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. A diverse military career in ‘The Sappers’ saw Simon achieving commando, airborne, bomb disposal and arctic warfare qualifications, as well as a Master’s Degree and Chartered Engineer status. With a love of travelling, Simon deployed to numerous countries including Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Romania, Norway, Brunei, the Falkland Islands, Kenya, Somalia, the United States of America, Iraq and Afghanistan. Simon’s last operational tour saw him commanding the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Task Force in Helmand province in Afghanistan, responsible for some 400 military personnel and, apparently the largest number of Military Working Dogs deployed since the second world war.
In his spare time, Simon enjoys spending time with his wife, Kayran and daughter Eloise. Simon also enjoys running and adventure racing challenges, as well as socialising with friends and enjoying wonderful Western Australia.
