Commodore Vicki McConachie CSC RAN
Director General Navy People (RAN Representative)

Following completion of her BA/LLB at the Australian National University and admission to practise as a barrister and solicitor, Vicki McConachie joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1984. 

After initial training she served as a legal officer in Canberra, Darwin and Nowra, as well as at sea as a Supply Officer. In 1990 she was posted as Fleet Legal Officer during the First Gulf War. During that posting she contributed to the cultural change processes required to deal with the challenges arising from the significant decision to post women to warships. In 1994 Vicki McConachie was presented with the NSW Law Society Excellence Award in Government Legal Service and awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for her work as Fleet Legal Officer.

Following time as the Command Legal Officer, Naval Support Command, where she established a mediation program for work place disputes, Vicki McConachie was posted as Commanding Officer HMAS KUTTABUL. She was responsible for some 1700 personnel and ensuring that Fleet Base East was responsive to the needs of ships based and visiting Garden Island.  She was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003 for her contribution to Centenary of Federation events at HMAS KUTTABUL.

In 2003 Vicki McConachie was posted as the inaugural Chief of Staff to the Inspector General Australian Defence Force. In 2006 she served as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and Chief of International Law in the Headquarters of Multi National Force Iraq. She was awarded the US Meritorious Service Medal for her service.

On 23 February 2007 she was promoted to Commodore and posted as Director General Australian Defence Force Legal Services – the head uniformed legal advisor to the ADF advising on such matters as international law affecting operations, administrative law, the Defence Force Discipline Act 1984 and the proposed creation of a court created in accordance with Chapter III of the constitution to deal with offences committed by ADF members.

In January 2011 she was appointed as Director General Navy People and is currently acting as Head Navy People and Reputation.

She is married to fellow Naval Officer Ian McConachie and has two children.