COMMODORE VICKI MCCONACHIE CSC RAN

Following completion of her BA/LLB at the Australian National University and admission to practise as a barrister and solicitor, Vicki McConachie joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1984 as a Legal Officer.  After initial training she was posted to the Directorate of Naval Legal Services. Following her time in Canberra, she served in Darwin and at HMAS ALBATROSS.  In 1989 she qualified as a Supply Officer and then served as Deputy Supply Officer HMAS JERVIS BAY and Supply Officer (Finance) HMAS PLATYPUS. 

After the birth of her son in 1990 she was posted as Fleet Legal Officer and promoted to Lieutenant Commander.  This posting occurred during the first Gulf War and involved a refresher in operations law. Commodore McConachie also contributed to the cultural change processes required to deal with the challenges arising from the significant decision to post women to warships.

In 1994 Commodore McConachie was presented with the NSW Law Society Excellence Award in Government Legal Service and awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for her work as Fleet Legal Officer. Her daughter was born that year and in 1995 she was posted as Command Legal Officer.  She was promoted to Commander on 1 July 1996.  During this posting Commodore McConachie trained as a mediator and applied her skills in developing a workplace dispute resolution system for the Command.

During 1998 Commodore McConachie undertook full-time civil schooling studying her Master of Laws, concentrating on International and Environmental Law. In the following year she had two of her essays published.

Commodore McConachie was once again posted as Fleet Legal Officer in 1999.  She found that posting to be both interesting and challenging, particularly in the area of Operations Law, noting commitments in the Persian Gulf and East Timor.  From January 2000 until January 2003 Commodore McConachie was posted as Commanding Officer HMAS KUTTABUL where she was responsible for some 1700 personnel and ensuring that Fleet Base East was responsive to the need of ships based and visiting Garden Island.  She was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003 for her contribution to Centenary of Federation events at HMAS KUTTABUL.

Commodore McConachie was promoted to Captain on 1 January 2003 and posted as the inaugural Chief of Staff to the Inspector General Australian Defence Force. She enjoyed the significant challenges posed by creating the office of the Inspector General and developing the legal and administrative processes for its operation. In 2006 she served as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and Chief of International Law in the Headquarters of Multi National Force Iraq. During this time she advised on international and Iraqi law affecting operations, including matters dealing with reinforcing the rule of law in Iraq. She was awarded the US Meritorious Service Medal for her service. On 23 February 2007 she was promoted to Commodore and posted as Director General Australian Defence Force Legal Services.

She is married to fellow Naval Officer Commander Ian McConachie RAN.