Mike Burgess

Michael Paul Burgess is an Australian intelligence official, and the current Director-General of Security in charge of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Prior to his appointment to this role on 16 September 2019, Burgess was director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).

Early life Burgess was born in England, and immigrated to Adelaide, South Australia in 1973 at the age of seven. He was the first member of his family to study in higher education, receiving a degree in electronics engineering from the South Australian Institute of Technology in 1988.

Intelligence career Burgess has spent more than three decades as an intelligence, security and technology professional, in both the public and private sectors. He also served on the federal government's naval shipbuilding advisory board.

In February 2022, Burgess announced that ASIO had foiled a plot by foreign interference that involved an attempt by a foreign government to install political candidates.

Journalist Michelle Grattan described him in 2025 as "better known than some junior ministers" and a "relentless public promoter of ASIO's role and successes".

In November 2025, while warning about attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government to access the critical infrastructure of Australia through groups like Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon, Burgess vowed to continue speaking out despite Chinese officials complaining about him to the Australian government and business groups.

In February 2026, Burgess met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during the latter's state visit to Australia following the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting.

Honours In the 2024 King's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "For significant service to public administration, particularly national security and intelligence".