Supporting Navy’s Strategic Objectives - Commodore Greg Yorke, CSC, RAN

Rotary Melbourne Podcast

Speaking on "Senior Naval Officer Victoria – Supporting Navy’s Strategic Objectives". Commodore Yorke first joined the Royal Australian Navy from Sydney in January 1974 and is a Principal Warfare Officer, specialising as a Gunnery Officer. His sea postings include HMA Ships Perth (II), Ibis (II), Townsville (II), Parramatta (III), Brisbane (II), Gladstone (II) and Arunta (II) and HMS Liverpool. Career highlights include Principal Warfare Officer training with the Royal Navy in 1984/85 followed by an exchange posting with the Royal Navy serving as a Principal Warfare Officer in HMS Liverpool from 1985 to 1987. Commodore Yorke had two most successful Commands, HMAS Gladstone in 1990 to 1992 and was the commissioning Commanding Officer of HMAS Arunta and in command from 1998 until 2000. On promotion to Captain he served as the ANZAC Capability Element Manager and then as the Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Maritime Headquarters. He was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for his leadership role as CSO (Ops) MHQ during Operational Falconer in 2003. He subsequently attended the College of Defence Strategic Studies in 2005. Commodore Yorke transferred to the Active Reserve in 2006 and commenced a second career as a Management Consultant where he has undertaken many and varying roles, including workforce renewal, preparedness reform, project, program and change management and organisational restructure. During this time he remained engaged with the RAN as the Project Manager, Project Demeter and a brief role as the Director Joint Amphibious Capability Implementation Team. He was promoted to Commodore in June 2016 and assumed a full time position within the Navy Strategic Command as Director General and Project Director Plan Acrux, a Navy Workforce Continuous Improvement Project. He was appointed by the Chief of Navy as the Senior Naval Officer Victoria to date 1 January 2018. Commodore Yorke is also a member of the Board of the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM), a unique organisation that provides arts-based programs and experiences for current and former members of Australia’s military services and families. ANVAM invites participants to choose from a range of expressive possibilities that can enhance mental, physical and social wellbeing, and provide relief from the impact of service.