Lesa Gale was appointed to the role of Deputy Commissioner in March 2023 and has responsibility for the International & Specialist Capabilities (IS&C) portfolio. The I&SC portfolio delivers the AFP’s specialist capabilities including Intelligence, Covert Services and Forensics as well as leads AFP’s international engagement aimed at combating transnational crime, capacity-building missions, contributing to regional stability and responding to international incidents.
During her distinguished 36-year career, Deputy Commissioner Gale has combined significant leadership expertise across national investigations, community policing, victim-based crime, protection operations, aviation security and national security portfolios. This has included leading the delivery of business outcomes through deployments in AFP Commands in the ACT, Queensland and NSW. In addition, Deputy Commissioner Gale was the designated specialist command lead for the AFP’s global, national and local response to Human Exploitation crimes and the head of the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Police Management’s flagship program, the Australia New Zealand Police Leadership Strategy, and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Deputy Commissioner Gale holds a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management (2017) and was awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM) in the 2019 Australia Day Honours.
