New ASIO director general Mike Burgess signals 'digital transformation' at spy agency

Mr Burgess has been director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate since July 2018, although he started as director-general designate in January of the same year.

Mr Burgess has overseen the agency's increasing public profile after it became a statutory agency for the first time, previously being a branch of the Defence Department.

Before taking on the role at the directorate, Mr Burgess was an independent consultant in strategic cyber security and had advised the government on naval shipbuilding and cyber security strategy.

He was also deputy director for cyber and information security at the former Defence Signals Directorate from 2008 to 2013. From 2013 to 2016, he was Telstra's chief information security officer.

Mr Burgess said his intelligence career began when he answered a "weird, geeky-sounding" advert in the newspaper, more than 24 years ago.

"When I rang the number listed all I got was a hello, I responded with my hello and after a short pause all I got was a hello," he said.

"That was my introduction to the world of intelligence and security and a lot has changed in the last 24 years but some things haven't."

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said, "I don't think anybody would argue against the fact that Mike Burgess is one of the most respected people in the Australian intelligence community.

"Globally he's recognised for his leadership at ASD, for the work that he's done in a number of areas over a long period of time to keep our country safe."

Mr Burgess led the Signals Directorate at a time when its work became increasingly more cyber-focused, and signaled digital transformation was on the way at ASIO as well.

"ASIO's work is incredibly important in defending Australians from serious threats - [digital] transformation is a big part of that," he said.

"That is really all about how you put your best capabilities forward to make sure Australia is a safe place to live and work."

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Mr Dutton said Mr Burgess took on the role "at a time when Australia faces an unprecedented level of complex emerging threats at home and abroad".

Mr Lewis has been head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation since 2014.

- With AAP