Todd Frew, Former First Assistant Secretary , Australian Department of Immigration & Citizenship, Australia

Speaker Biograghy: Todd has worked in senior positions in the Australian Department of Immigration, and as the First Assistant Secretary of the Visa & Offshore Services Division, responsible for the processing and delivery of all Australian visa client services. He has worked in many areas of the Department of Immigration, and in offices in Australia and several countries overseas, most notably as Regional Director for China. Todd has extensive experience in policy and operational matters. He worked in and then led the Border Security Division, where he was responsible for Australia’s border management policy and processes. In this role particularly, Todd had much direct experience in overseeing the implementation of advance border management capabilities to DIAC, including advance passenger processing. Todd has been active for many years in international forums dealing with border security and facilitation, including as a member of the IATA/CAWG Working Group.


Day 2 - 16 March
Session: Aviation & Border Security, Control & Facilitation

09:55 - 10:20 - Exporting the border: the benefits of pre-departure authorisation
Synopsis: The Australian Government pioneered pre-travel authorisation with an electronic travel authority system (ETAS) in 1996. ETAS gives Australia the opportunity to pre-screen travellers against known wanted persons and risk profiles, improving overall security. ETAS enabled Australia to cope with a huge influx of visitors to the Sydney Olympic Games, without compromising border security. Australia further enhanced its innovative approach to border operations with the implementation of advance passenger processing (APP), which integrated pre-travel authorisation into the airline check-in process, allowing pre-screening and the ability to authorise or deny the boarding of travellers in real time.

Audience will learn: