CAN.B Group® was established to address a critical issue in how complex capability is delivered across government and regulated industries.
The challenge is not a lack of capability. It is a lack of coordination.
Technology, infrastructure, AI, cyber security, and delivery expertise exist, but are often fragmented across vendors, misaligned at the point of procurement, and forced into delivery models that dilute accountability and slow outcomes.
CAN.B Group® was built to operate differently.
We act as the connective tissue between industry and the end customer, bringing together the right capability, aligning it early, and ensuring it is delivered as a coordinated, accountable whole, with governance and guardrails embedded from the outset.
From inception, the company has been designed to operate as the accountable front door for mission-critical programs, carrying responsibility across the full lifecycle of delivery.
This approach is formalised through the AUSOVRN™ Ecosystem and Capability Stack.
AUSOVRN™ is a sovereign-first operating model that integrates specialist capability across architecture, AI, cyber security, infrastructure, and assurance into a single, structured framework. It maintains single-prime accountability, with CAN.B Group® retaining end-to-end responsibility for governance, solution design, compliance alignment, delivery coordination, and assurance.
This provides customers with one accountable interface, while enabling access to the depth, expertise, and technologies typically associated with Tier 1 providers, without the structural overhead and margin layering of traditional consulting models.
The model also embeds sovereign supply chain resilience across hardware sourcing, logistics orchestration, and infrastructure deployment, reducing exposure to external disruption while ensuring controlled and assured delivery pathways.
AUSOVRN™ ensures capability is aligned from the outset, not corrected downstream.
At CAN.B Group®, the focus is simple. Deliver outcomes that stand up to scrutiny, in environments where failure is not an option.
Executive Leadership
Chris Abideen
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder
Chief architect of AUSOVRN™, a sovereign capability delivery ecosystem designed to coordinate and deliver national-scale outcomes.
Chris is a former senior executive within the Australian Public Service with deep experience leading complex, multi-agency programs in highly scrutinised environments. He understands how policy, procurement, assurance, and technical delivery intersect, and how to translate strategy into outcomes at scale.
As the chief architect of AUSOVRN™, Chris designed a sovereign-first operating model that addresses a fundamental gap in the market. Not capability, but coordination. The model brings together best-of-breed partners across all layers of delivery under a single, accountable structure built for execution.
As CEO of CAN.B Group®, Chris leads the company’s strategic direction, market positioning, and partner ecosystem, establishing the firm as the accountable front door for mission-critical programs.
Chris is known for cutting through complexity and driving clarity where it matters, with a focus on outcomes that stand up to scrutiny.
Alex McNamara
Managing Director and Co-Founder
Architect of AUSOVRN™, focused on translating sovereign capability design into structured, real-world delivery.
Alex is a senior leader with extensive experience across complex program delivery, transformation, and capability development within highly governed environments. He has a strong track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivering outcomes where coordination, structure, and accountability are critical.
He brings deep capability across procurement, program delivery, change management, and stakeholder alignment, with a consistent focus on execution under real-world constraints.
As an architect of AUSOVRN™, Alex is responsible for translating strategic design into executable delivery, structuring operating models, aligning partner inputs, and establishing the coordination mechanisms required to deliver across multiple layers and stakeholders.
As Managing Director of CAN.B Group®, Alex leads business operations, delivery strategy, and execution planning, ensuring the company’s capabilities are aligned, scalable, and built for mission-critical outcomes.
Alex brings a structured, delivery-focused approach, ensuring that strategy is not just defined, but executed effectively.
Advisory Board – Strategic Leadership and Sovereign Capability
At CAN.B Group, our Advisory Board is more than a guiding body. It is a strategic force that anchors our mission to enable Australia’s sovereign future.
Comprising leaders with deep expertise across national security, law enforcement, cyber, risk management and emerging technologies, the Advisory Board ensures our direction is informed by experience at the highest levels of government and industry.
Working closely with CAN.B Group’s leadership, the board provides critical insight into policy shifts, regulatory landscapes and strategic growth opportunities. Their collective APS and industry experience strengthens our ability to design and deliver sovereign-first models that meet the needs of government and high-compliance sectors.
By combining the leadership of our Advisory Board with the depth of our sovereign ecosystem, CAN.B Group is positioned to guide and deliver capability that is resilient, nationally aligned, and built to serve Australia’s long-term interests.
Christopher Page
Chair - CAN.B Group Advisory BoardChristopher Page has a diverse professional background, beginning in the performing arts and entertainment industry before transitioning into operations, strategy, and performance within the government sector. His ability to distil complex issues and creatively construct solutions has been instrumental in leading large-scale transformation initiatives.
Christopher has extensive experience in portfolio, program, and project management (P3M), governance, and business transformation. He has designed and implemented Independent Portfolio Offices overseeing multi-billion-dollar programs, led service delivery teams to align assurance and compliance across acquisition and sustainment programs, and provided high-level strategic advice to senior government executives. His leadership spans Defence, Home Affairs, and enterprise-wide reform projects, ensuring effective decision-making and operational excellence.
In addition to his government expertise, Christopher has a long history in the global entertainment industry. As a Creative Director and Company Manager, he has led worldwide theatrical productions, managed large-scale creative and logistical operations, and mentored world-class artists and performers. His experience includes strategic leadership across international touring productions, digital entertainment ventures, and high-profile television shows, such as Dancing with the Stars Australia. His ability to lead diverse teams, manage complex stakeholder environments, and drive innovation has been a hallmark of his career.
As the inaugural Chair of the CAN.B Group Advisory Board, Christopher will work closely with fellow board members to provide strategic oversight, governance, and transformational leadership. His expertise will help shape CAN.B Group’s direction, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of innovation and delivers high-impact solutions for its clients.
Michael Willing APM
Member – CAN.B Group Advisory BoardMichael Willing APM is a distinguished member of the CAN.B Group Advisory Board, bringing over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, national security, and crisis management. As the former NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner, Michael played a crucial role in leading complex operations and driving national security strategies across Australia. His extensive experience in operational leadership, risk management, and public safety has positioned him as a thought leader and expert in building secure, resilient systems.
Michael’s leadership spans numerous domains, including crisis and emergency management, counter-terrorism, and operational security. He has helped design and implement security strategies that protect organisations, communities, and nations. His leadership in law enforcement has earned him multiple accolades, including the Australian Police Medal (APM) in the 2016 Queens Birthday honours list.
As a member of the CAN.B Group Advisory Board, Michael’s expertise will help shape our security strategies, ensuring we provide the most secure and resilient systems and solutions to our clients. His unparalleled understanding of operational security and resilience will guide our efforts to create solutions that are not only secure but also adaptable to evolving threats. Michael’s insight will be vital in helping us maintain the highest standards of security, resilience, and public safety across all our services.
Dr. Rajiv Shah
Member - CAN.B Group Advisory BoardDr. Rajiv Shah is the Managing Director of MDR Security, an Australian-based cybersecurity company, and an expert in quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI). With a PhD in Quantum Physics, and 30 years of experience in the IT industry Dr. Shah is a highly regarded ICT expert both in Australia and internationally. His deep understanding of emerging technologies and their intersection with cybersecurity enables him to provide innovative solutions for the most pressing technological challenges. He has also held a range of executive leadership roles across technical and non-technical functions, including as Australian Director for the BAE Systems ICT and cyber security division, and experience of working in the UK, US and Australia.
As a member of the CAN.B Group Advisory Board, Dr. Shah will offer invaluable guidance on integrating advanced technologies like AI and Quantum Computing into our cybersecurity strategies. His executive experience in leading businesses of all shapes and sizes will also help to guide CAN.B Group as it grows and matures. His expertise will be pivotal in advising CAN.B Group on how to remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and implement future-proof solutions for our clients.
Dr. Shah’s role in advising CAN.B Group will help us leverage the potential of quantum technologies to enhance the security and resilience of the systems and solutions we build, ensuring we are not only meeting current security requirements but are also prepared for technological challenges of tomorrow. His extensive background in both theoretical and applied physics, combined with his practical experience in cybersecurity, positions him as a key advisor in shaping our direction as we move forward into a future driven by innovation and technological advancement.
CAN.B Group: Delivering sovereign capability, driving national resilience.
Please review our latest Capability Statement for an overview of our expertise, services, and experience.