Rear Admiral Rachel Durbin has served in the Royal Australian Navy for more than 30 years, and currently holds the position of Head Navy Engineering and Defence Seaworthiness Regulator. She is experienced in maritime sustainment and upgrade, naval capability design, maritime safety, and environmental stewardship.

An exemplary leader with deep engineering and technical knowledge, she plays a pivotal role in the engagement, planning and delivery of complex, cross-sectoral capabilities. She has expertly navigated her role through increasing complexity, resulting in improved material seaworthiness, asset reliability and mission effectiveness of naval assets; and with a passionate contribution to revitalising and empowering the professional engineering and technical network. 

In addition to her technical expertise, policy and operational leadership, she is an outstanding role model, dedicated to growing the naval engineering profession and promoting the impact of science and technology in Australia.

Rear Admiral Rachel Durbin has served in the Royal Australian Navy for 31 years, currently holds the position of Head Navy Engineering & Defence Seaworthiness Regulator. She possesses a wealth of experience in maritime sustainment & upgrade, wide-scale organisational engineering reform, naval capability design & assurance, maritime safety & environmental stewardship, engineering professional development, & leadership & culture. Her career expands across service on multiple classes of Ship & in various roles in engineering, maintenance, capability development & assurance, leadership & culture reform, & pathways for engineers & technicians.
Rachel is committed to the continued growth of the Naval engineering profession, the fostering of technical mastery, & the delivery of Seaworthy assets.