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The Optimistic Spy Boss
A Commentary by Victor Perton
“I am an optimist - somewhat unusual for a spy boss,” Mike Burgess said.
In July 2025, Mike Burgess AM, Director-General of Security, delivered the 26th Annual Hawke Lecture at the University of South Australia, an address steeped in national security, historical insight, and, compellingly, optimism.
Mike Burgess shows us that optimism in a spy boss is not a contradiction; it is a leadership strength. Yes, he warns us plainly, twelve and a half billion dollars in losses, unprecedented spying, AUKUS under threat. But it is what follows that sets him apart. His optimism is not naive; it is grounded in trust, trust in ASIO’s dedicated officers and trust in the Australian people. He believes we are capable of meeting the threat. As he puts it, “We cannot catch every spy,” but together, with vigilance and courage, we can face any challenge. His example reminds us that optimism in national security is not only possible, it is essential.
“I am an optimist, somewhat unusual for a spy boss,” he said
In a world often focused on fear and threat, Burgess offered something rare and vital: realistic and infectious optimism. His lecture was not only about counting and countering the cost of espionage, it was a call for national resilience built on transparency, trust, and belief in our democratic institutions.
The Annual Hawke Lecture, hosted by the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at the University of South Australia since 1999, honours the legacy of Prime Minister Bob Hawke by showcasing voices committed to equity, democracy, and national purpose. Mike Burgess, an alumnus of the University, returned to share strategic insight and grounded optimism.
Mike Burgess: The Optimist Spy Boss
Earlier this year, Burgess stated:
“Despite the threats and the challenges, I am an optimist. I have faith in our ability as a country to rise to the challenge. I have faith in the Australian people, our values, and our democracy.”
That is purposeful optimism—a leadership stance grounded in confidence, courage, and the capacity for collective action. It is also what we call at The Centre for Optimism infectious optimism—the kind that inspires others to act with strength and hope.
Why Is Mike Burgess Optimistic?
Despite revealing the immense cost of espionage to the Australian economy, Burgess shared three clear reasons for his optimism in the Hawke Lecture, building upon themes he had outlined earlier in 2025:
Australia’s Democratic Values and Institutional Integrity
Drawing on his earlier 2025 remarks, Burgess affirmed his belief in the strength of Australia’s democracy, the rule of law, and the national character that underpins both.
The Character of the Australian People
Burgess sees everyday Australians as vital allies in countering espionage. “Security is a shared responsibility,” he declares, praising citizens who report suspicious approaches, like the applicant who flagged a fake job ad from a foreign intelligence service. He trusts ASIO’s team, which expelled Russian spies in 2022 and thwarted cyberattacks on industry bodies. His call for new intelligence officers reflects confidence in Australia’s talent to face escalating threats bravely. By urging all Australians to be vigilant, Burgess’s optimism empowers them to step toward danger, not retreat.
Ethical Intelligence and Public Engagement
By lifting the veil of secrecy and speaking directly to the public, Burgess fosters what we call transparent optimism, a bold trust in the power of shared understanding.
Optimism in Leadership and Strategy
As the University of Sydney’s Optimism Effect study shows, optimism is not merely emotional; it is a strategic advantage. It lifts national productivity, drives innovation, and builds societal confidence.
And as The Optimism Principle by Robert Masters AM and I states:
“Optimism is the answer to life’s most pressing questions.”
Mike Burgess exemplifies this. He does not deny the existence of threats, he confronts them with calm, clarity, and belief in Australia’s future.
The Power of Realistic Optimism in Security
Espionage is a serious issue. But Burgess does not respond with fear. Instead, he responds with hope backed by evidence. He shows that optimism and work can co-exist powerfully. His style is not “rose-tinted”; it is clear-eyed and forward-focused.
Burgess’s optimism shines brightest when confronting espionage’s darkest threats. He warns of nation-states spying at levels surpassing the Cold War, with foreign agents hacking exporters, stealing $2 billion in trade secrets, and targeting AUKUS to blunt Australia’s defences. Yet, he steps toward these dangers with confidence, trusting ASIO’s intelligence officers who disrupted 24 major plots in three years and Australians who report suspicious job ads or approaches. This blend of stark warnings and infectious optimism transforms fear into action, proving that a spy boss need not shy away from danger but can face it bravely with faith in his people.
This is the kind of optimism that attracts trust, unites purpose, and invites every citizen to contribute.
Questions for You
Reading Mike Burgess’s reflections from the Hawke Lecture, I was inspired not only by his clarity but by his courage to lead with optimism. That takes conviction, especially from someone entrusted with the most sobering responsibilities in our nation. His warnings were stark, yet his trust in Australians and his invitation to shared vigilance turned fear into purposeful engagement.
So now I turn to you:
- Where do you see optimism emerging in your leadership or community?
- What is already working well in building trust where you live or work?
- What might a public service or corporation look like if purposeful optimists led it?
- How might we weave optimism more visibly into the way we speak, lead, and educate?
- How might leaders in your community blend stark warnings with optimism to inspire action against threats?
- Where have you seen Australians step toward challenges with the resilience Burgess champions?
- What actions make you confident in Australia’s ability to counter espionage bravely?
- And above all: What makes you optimistic about Australia’s future?
I challenge you to take a moment and share your answers. Because optimism is not a feeling, it is a choice, a way of being. And as Mike Burgess has shown us, even in the most serious of professions, it is a strength worth choosing.
“I am an optimist – somewhat unusual for a spy boss.”
Unusual? Perhaps.
But essential.
Mike Burgess proves that even in the intelligence community, where people are working to counter some of the most evil forces and are often witness to the darkest aspects of human nature, optimism is not just possible, it is powerful. His leadership reminds us that national security, like any challenge, is best faced not with fear, but with confidence in who we are and what we can become.
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